Sustainable global sourcing report
FBUY3000 Sourcing and Supply
Sustainable Global Sourcing Report 2020/2021
Overview: To remain competitive fashion retailers need to ensure they not only develop
commercial product, but ensure they deliver to the right place at the right time, profitably.
To achieve this, retailers must develop an effective, sustainable supply chain for each product.
Task: You will assume the role of a Buyer for a named fashion retailer, your task is to source a new product (e.g. A printed shirt-dress from Next) and analyse the sourcing processes required to bring the product to market.
Write a report to demonstrate your understanding of your garment’s supply chain giving evidence of your research and critical analysis which will inform your sourcing decision-making processes.
Part one: Product Sourcing
You should include:
• Your retailer introduction
• Your retailer’s position within the market and target customer
• Your retailer’s competitors
• Your Product – include a visual picture/ spec including details such as fabrication and selling price, size breakdown and volume of order.
• A SWOT analysis of 3 countries that you could source the product from (add to your appendix). Include a wide range of PESTLE factors in this analysis.
• Critical analysis of these 3 countries, with clear reasoning as to why you chose the final country to source your product, including any advantages of any relevant trade agreements.
• Costing sheet, including currency rate, duty rates and Vat
• Critical path
• Garment Care code/ washing instructions
• Packaging considerations
• Logistics
• PLM discussion – how the product will be managed from design to launch, including quality management and how the retailer will communicate with the supplier.
Part Two: Sustainable Sourcing Strategies and good practise
In part two you should consider how you can source this product SUSTAINABLY.
Discuss what changes you would make to improve the sustainable footprint of this garment and what implications this may have on the cost of your garment and the intake margin.
In this section you should also critically analyse your chosen retailers CSR policy and bring in independent voices to the debate such as the UN SDGs, Fashion Revolution and compliance companies.
You should include:
• A critical analysis of your retailer’s CSR policies Vs a competitor
• Recommendations to improve sustainable sourcing strategies including improved technologies, new sustainable fabrics, new sourcing destinations and circular fashion models.
• Recommendations for improved efficiencies within sourcing product to help save cost in innovative ways.
• Overall you should offer 3-5 recommendations explore in depth with supporting research, images, Infographics.
Consider:
• Where is the sourcing destination of your product? What are the risks and rewards?
• Recommend an improved sourcing strategy which would optimise efficiencies across the supply chain. E.g. in terms of cost, quality management, logistics, sustainability, speed to market, reacting to sales. This could be using new technologies or systems.
• Business models or theories to support your view (e.g. Iceberg and TBL, vertical integration and quick response). Consider how can TBL be achieved?
• What are the current challenges on modern retail today and within the next 10 years, which may conflict with CSR principles and affect your retailers sourcing decisions?
• Primary research from Store Visits, Industry Visits, Interviews and Questionnaires
• Revisit the lecture and seminar material and use the materials/ articles on BB.
• use the checklist on BB to check your work against before submission
Research:
You MUST include material from:
One journal article
2 guest lecturer quotes
One industry yearbook
Recommended reading sources
Ethical companies such as BCI, ETI, Redress, Fashion Revolution
One business theory
Primary Research
Word count: 4000 (-/+ 10%) Remember to be concise and be creative with images and infographics to save words within the word count. Additional information can be added to appendices.
Your written content should be in a formal academic style so ensure you have up levelled your language and you check your work for spelling, punctuation and grammar errors – There is software to help you do this and of course the library are also there to help!
Harvard referencing conventions to be used throughout (reference lists and citations within the text).
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of the assignment you will have met the following learning outcomes:
1. Work independently applying taught knowledge to a personally managed project set in a ‘commercial context’.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the sourcing and supply process of textile products across international markets.
3. Demonstrate an ability to make justifiable decisions based on commercial information.
4. Demonstrate an awareness of the scope of supply chain management within the context of the textile industry and be able to demonstrate the practical application of this knowledge.
5. Demonstrate the availability to research commercial practice and compare this with theoretical concepts.
Marking Criteria:
Grading will be in accordance with the Fashion & Textiles mark descriptors (see attached sheets) and will be based on the following:
Research – 25%
As detailed above, appropriate use of referenced primary and secondary research from a variety of academic sources such as recommended books, journals, reputable websites, industry opinion pieces and guest lecturers. Work experience may provide useful primary research discussion.
Discussion of Sourcing Procedures – 30%
Demonstrating evidence of background reading supported by your own discussion including critical analysis.
You will demonstrate your knowledge of sourcing and showcase your decision making based on commercial information.
CSR critical analysis and Recommendations – 35%