Join us to help improve logistics

Every jazz musician knows, "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing."

At retail, the phrase that's playing and paying these days goes something like this: "You can't make a buck if your supply chain is stuck."

Bad parody aside, since the days of the earliest peddlers, retailers have known that you can't sell from an empty cart and without an effective supply chain and a sound logistics strategy, the odds are good that your cart isn't full.

While the concept of a truly seamless supply chain - a predictable and uninterrupted flow of products, procedures and protocols between supplier and customer - represents the ideal, uncertainty, disruption and chaos too often actually seem to be in charge.

With supply chain issues very much in mind, I wanted to let you know that we've set the date, location and theme for Furniture/Today's third annual Logistics Conference. Our theme for this year's event is In Search of a Seamless Supply Chain, and it will take place June 12 at AmericasMart in Atlanta.

We will take a look at the key segments, including ocean freight, legislation, trucking, home delivery and more, and then bring you experts to help you fully explore the challenges and solutions of each segment.

Last year, we had great representation from the retail community and this year will be no different. In fact, in recognition of the steadily growing popularity of online shopping, we will have a specific session devoted to e-commerce and the impact it continues to have on the supply chain within the home furnishings sector.

Change continues to be the only constant in our business, especially as one considers shifts such as the renewed emphasis on domestic manufacturing, ongoing uncertainty of offshore labor and production costs, spikes in raw material costs and the often unpredictable costs for ocean freight and more.

An effective supply chain is the key link to profitability. Plan on linking up with us in June to ensure that you are logistically in the loop!

For more information or to register online, go to http://accentsandfurnishings.com/conferences/logistics/2013/.