Software Helps Musician's Friend Manage Distribution and Rapid Growth at New Facility
Musician's Friend (Medford, Ore.), an online and catalog retailer of music gear, has doubled both revenue and SKU count over the past four years. This rapid growth and increasing distribution complexity requires it to respond quickly to new opportunities and challenges. After evaluating several leading SCE vendors, Musician's Friend chose the HighJump’s (Eden Prairie, Minn.) Supply Chain Advantage software to manage its growing distribution and fulfillment operations. The suite will be installed at Musician's Friend's new, 700,000-sq.-ft. fulfillment center, slated to open in Kansas City, Mo., in early 2007.
Musician's Friend will implement HighJump Warehouse Advantage to optimize fulfillment of more than 4,000 orders per day. In addition, the company will streamline the containerization process with HighJump Container Advantage, as well as improve picking and put-away efficiency with HighJump Slotting Advantage. The HighJump system will manage more than 35,000 constantly changing SKUs, representing music-related items that range from guitars and drum sets to microphones and apparel. The variations in size and handling specifications for this diverse inventory base require precise, specification-driven direction for material handlers when picking and packing mixed orders. In fact, the software will integrate tightly with the current online ordering system and the new facility's material handling equipment to boost order fill rates and customer service levels.
"Musician's Friend has chosen HighJump Software as a strategic partner to assist with our fulfillment requirements," said Jon White, executive vice president, operations, Musician's Friend. "Our customers are passionate about music and their music gear. HighJump Software will help Musician's Friend get the right product to the right customer as quickly and efficiently as possible."
Source: HighJump