CASE STUDY – BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS
On-demand apparel solutions for Bell Stores
GBS Streamlines Apparel Ordering Process for BellStores
Ohio-based retailer, BellStores, operates a chain of convenience and food service stores that provide the highest quality products and services to its clients, but outfitting their in-store employees in branded apparel became a nightmare—constantly eating away at their employees’ time and the company’s budget. To alleviate some of this stress from its team members, BellStores began seeking a fresh, new take on their managers’ apparel program.
The existing apparel process was clunky, costly, time-consuming and, most of all, debilitating to the Human Resources team, which was tasked with managing the program. Entirely manual, this process required the team to collect hand-written order forms, contact the vendor to place the order, log payroll deductions for purchases and ensure each order reached the correct employee. With 75 locations and 1,100 employees, this process was a real headache!
Our new streamlined system eliminated the need for BellStores to order inventory in bulk.
This Branded Apparel Program, it has freed up a significant amount of time for BellStores’ Human Resources team—time which they now use to focus on their core responsibilities.
Solution
It was with these challenges in mind that the GBS BrandConnect team introduced BellStores to our on-demand apparel solutions. This new-and-improved ordering process allows end-users to order as few as one garment at a time and have it branded on an as-needed basis—all handled through a centralized, online company store. Not only did this provide a simplified way for employees to place and track their apparel orders, but it also eliminated the need for BellStores to order inventory in bulk.
Since implementing this Branded Apparel Program, it has freed up a significant amount of time for BellStores’ Human Resources team—time which they now use to focus on their core responsibilities. Additionally, the program has reduced costs associated with ordering unnecessary bulk inventory and made a new variety of apparel options available to BellStores’ managers.
Results
The program was so successful, that BellStores has extended its managers’ apparel program to other in-store employees as well as offering branded apparel for purchase in-store at each of its locations.