Mode bakom kulisserna
- Praktik och förutsättningar för snabbhet och flexibilitet i inköp
Purpose: To explore the purchasing function, mainly the supplier selection activities, in the fast fashion apparel industry. The purpose is 1) to explore the criteria associated with supplier selection for fashion products, and 2) to analyze the purchasing activities in order to find characteristics and trends which are considered to be strategic for the buying company. Method: The empirics consist of qualitative interviews with employees with responsibility for the companies' purchasing activities, as well as information gathered from articles, annual reports, and company websites. Result: The study indicates that qualitative criterias have increased in importance, and have become an important part of supplier selection for fashion goods. A number of characteristics where identified as important for purchasing fashion goods, which can affect choice of supplier; examples are increased collaboration, increased re-buys and increased use of logistics services. Conclusion: The main criteria for supplier selection in the fashion industry are reliability, speed, collaboration and flexibility. The desire to control the supply chain is increasing, while the number of intermediaries is decreasing and a holistic approach becomes more significant for success. Areas such as logistics and IT-management become important supporting functions for the purchasing function.