Register Log in
EDI Options News: Official weblog of EDI Options

Tis’ the Season…

On December 10, 2010. By Fran, under Other News.

Tis’ the Season…. To be Compliant!

Are you sure you are compliant with all of your trading partners requirements?  Are you receiving constant chargebacks and do not know how to avoid them?

Let EDI Options help you. Serving the EDI community for 20 years, we know compliancy.

Comments: No comment   Tags: ,   Read more...

Tricks. No Treats?

On October 6, 2009. By Fran, under Tech Talk.

One of the spookiest parts of Halloween this year may be the amount people plan to spend on celebrating the 31st. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2009 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, consumers are expected to spend an average of $56.31 on Halloween, down from $66.54 total spending on the holiday is expected to plummet.

Like most holidays, Halloween will also be hit hard by the economic strife making this season a bit more frightful, but not in a good way. A report surfaced regarding that 71.2% households will forgo passing out candies to local children taking part in the most festive event, trick or treating. I find this appalling to suggest that the average American or 71.2% has suffered so greatly that a few bags of candy and the cost is a deal breaker for a few dozen children ringing neighborhood doors.

Frankly I also find the decline in costumes or dressing up, even pumpkin carving will plummet so drastically that kids & teens will show unpainted, uncloaked faces, pumpkins will only be cut for making pies to feed the homeless and Halloween parties will require canned goods before entering. I wonder sometimes who actually runs these reports and what group of educated persons comes to statics on such degrees of ridiculousness. Halloween has and always will be about resources. Taking bed sheets, broken charcoal for face painting, and flour in a sock, you know using what is around. I can remember getting pennies in my treat bag and as much as that was always a complete downer, it was still something.

I say take all the pennies you can find, or passing up fast food for lunch, lotto, even that rainy day cash we all have tucked away and spend it on treats, and if you’re still that destitute, send all those kids to my house, the one on the block with the carved pumpkins, spooky decorations and plenty of trick and treats to go round, even if it cost me a dollar and a dream.

Comments: No comment   Tags:   Read more...

Father’s Day Forecast

On June 4, 2009. By Fran, under Industry News.

Grills, big screen televisions and many other toys that Dad’s only dream about have gotten a head-start this year. Father’s Day advertisements and sales has been an aggressive push for retailers for this summer holiday.

Consumers are expected to spend $9.4 billion on gifts for Dad, or an average of $90.89 per person, down very slightly from $94.54 last year. That is not too bad considering the economic slump has affected gift giving over the past twelve months.

Consumers spend an average of $123.89 dollars or $14.1 billion on Mother’s Day as Father’s Day generally lacks behind with fewer sales every season. Not to say good old Dad is on the back burner or less important- Mom’s are just easier to shop for. With bulk of sales going toward floral senders, spa and personal care items and a slew of cutesy bric-a-brac, Father’s Day is usually the same- tie’s, cuff links, a wallet or his favorite aftershave.

Facts & sales
Handy pops who tinker with home improvements bring $522 million.
Hip Dad’s and their video games/electronics rake in a whopping $1 billion.
For the savvy man of the house, gift-cards represent a total of $1.2 billion
Four out of ten will spend Father’s Day on restaurant, brunch or dessert themed function.
Seven out of ten people will purchase a card from a drugstore or large chain stationary shop.

Dad may be the hardest of all to shop for considering the fact that he has everything already. Everything, not in material bulk like a new fishing rod or a plaza TV, but stuff one can’t shop for.

Gifts like wisdom, life experience, patience, war stories, a whole lot of understanding and plenty of criticism to boot. If we can’t give in sometimes, like say Father’s Day and tell him he is always right, then that may be the most perfect gift of all!

Comments: No comment   Tags:   Read more...

Mother’s Day Sale Forecast

On May 7, 2009. By Fran, under Industry News.

Big Love, Less Gifts: Mother’s Day Softer Sales

According to NRF’s 2009 Mother’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, Americans will spend an average of $123.89 per person, compared to last year’s $138.63. Total Mother’s Day spending is expected to reach $14.10 billion, which is slightly more than Easter.

Of the four in five Americans (83.3%) who will celebrate Mother’s Day, most people (62.4%) will purchase gifts for their mother and stepmother or wife (21.7%) and scale back on gifts for daughters (8.8% vs. 9.4% in 2008), friends (6.8% vs. 7.1% in 2008) and godmothers (1.6% vs. 2.1% in 2008) in order to save some money.

Retailers understand that people are on strict budgets, even for important holidays. Budget-friendly gift ideas will abound this Mother’s Day but less than the usual for this holiday.

The breakdown of Mom’s gift giving:

$1.9 billion in floral sales
$2.7 billion for special outings such as dinner or brunch
$2.4 billion on jewelry
$1.5 billion in gift card sales
$1.2 billion on apparel
$1.1 million for spa and personal services
$857 million on electronics
$587 million for house wares and garden
$487 for books or CD’s

“No one will forget celebrating Mother’s Day because of the bad economy, but they will put careful thought into what they buy and how much they spend this year.” –Industry insider

Considering our nation is feeling the effects of our current economic issues, Mom still gets VIP treatment. Maybe not every special lady will be showered with flowers, candy and diamonds come this Sunday, but that’s why we love her so. Who, understands more the old adage- it’s the thought that counts, then the value of a dollar, like good old Mom.

Comments: No comment   Tags:   Read more...

Holiday Volume

On December 8, 2008. By Fran, under Tech Talk.

After spending some time with our client support technicians, it seems that in the rush of the holiday season, our clients not only face shorter deadlines and shipping volume but unique EDI issues as well.

At holiday time, clients ship a much higher volume of goods, which can complicate every aspect of shipping logistics. From packing a much higher number of boxes and labeling to creating multiple invoices for stores or distribution centers. Holiday logistics can become exponentially more complex.

“During the holiday season many issues for support are easily fixed with features that are already built into The EC GearBox”-Tech Support

With our sheer variety of EDI capabilities & customization, each client has the ability to attain an automated EDI operation. Within our systems, there are tools for everyday business and tools that might only be used during this season when business traffic is high.

Clients found themselves learning how to easily edit items off an ASN or even delete items, while others use the GearBox reports to track invoices, ASNs or any transaction inbound and outbound that was sent or received from any given time frame even though these activities were easily performed manually during periods of low activity they would be impossible to perform without high level tools.

For business, especially in the wake of current economic challenges, it is imperative to manage every order to insure compete and timely fulfillment. The strength of an EDI system must mimic these goals allowing your EDI operation to be, productive & robust.

An EDI solution that is flexible & powerful is one part of managing holiday volume. Combine that power with knowledgeable staff, backed up by on call support & the result is a solution with all of the necessary tools to tackle a tough holiday season!

Comments: No comment   Tags:   Read more...