18: The value of a strong strategic partnership in levelling up, with Aldo

Store consumables. They may not be the most invigorating part of the retail equation, but they are utterly essential. Each element of your consumables budget contributes to that vital employee experience, keeping stores running, keeping them clean and tidy, and ensuring that your staff have all that they need to thrive. 

They're necessary, to say the least, but if we're honest, they can also be a hassle. Every store has a different set of requirements. Order too much, and you're taking up valuable space. Order too little, and you're leaving staff in a huge predicament they may not be prepared to handle. "I once had a store go out and buy a brand new vacuum cleaner, when all they needed to do was change the bag!" laughs Mark Swinden, Operations Manager at Aldo.

So, what if we told you that with one fundamental decision, you could completely transform antiquated supplier processes, take control of your likely spiralling consumables budget, up the quality of those products and reduce your environmental impact?

It sounds too good to be true, but today we’re sitting down with Terry Gardner, Retail Consultant and Account Director at Acopia, and Aldo's Mark Swinden to explore how the global footwear brand has done just that through smarter, more strategic partnerships.

Casting his eyes back over the fruits of the relationship Aldo cultivated with Acopia, Swinden has only this to say: “Honestly, looking back, I just wish we’d made the move sooner.”

From tackling inefficiencies in in-store consumables to building supplier relationships rooted in trust, the conversation digs into how Aldo has sharpened its agility, reduced costs and set itself up for true sustainable long-term success.

By listening, you’ll gain valuable insight into what makes a partnership work, the red flags to watch out for, and why getting supplier relationships right can be a game-changer for retail operations.

This is a very special episode of Retail Gazette Unpacked, recorded inside the brand new Aldo store on London's iconic Oxford Street. We hope you enjoy.

To learn more about what Acopia can do for you (and gain the efficiencies Mark himself has benefitted from), reach out to Terry and the Acopia team today.