Webinar recap: How to safeguard margins in a shifting economy

The conversation brought together three voices from across the retail ecosystem:

Each shared practical insights on how specialty retailers and brands can work more effectively together, supported by data and more connected workflows.

Efficiency that creates breathing room

A recurring theme throughout the session was the strain that manual, outdated wholesale processes place on teams. Carson described how CBS Sports relied on one person to manually upload inventory and manage purchase orders—a bottleneck that slowed everything down.

After integrating Lightspeed and NuORDER tools, reorders became a quick, two-to three-click process that anyone on the team could complete.

On the brand side, Alysha noted how this efficiency removes friction for everyone involved. The fewer emails and clarifications required, the smoother the season runs. Specialty retailers can reorder confidently, and brands gain clearer visibility into what’s moving.

Data that brings clarity

Both brands and retailers depend on clean, digestible data to make decisions—whether that’s building assortments or planning production. Carson mentioned how useful it is to instantly see top performers, while Alysha emphasized the importance of accurate data for accounts who may not be tech-savvy.

Marie-Claire underlined how the Lightspeed Wholesale Network supports this by creating a single source of truth. A modern POS and connected wholesale platform should make sales history, forecasting, and performance insights easy to access and interpret. When data is reliable and simple to understand, both sides can move faster with fewer surprises.

Partnerships that actually work

Across the discussion, one point kept resurfacing: brands and specialty retailers perform better when they’re aligned. Shared visibility reduces back-and-forth. Faster reorders keep shelves stocked with what customers want. And consistent communication helps teams plan in-season adjustments with confidence.

As Marie-Claire put it, the value lies in “in-tandem communication” between brands and retailers. NuORDER’s connected workflows support that alignment by making information accessible, timely, and easy to act on.

Looking ahead

Brands and specialty retailers are navigating the same pressures, but modern tools and stronger partnerships can make the path forward clearer and more manageable. The insights from Alysha, Carson, and Marie-Claire all point to the same idea: better data, cleaner workflows, and more connected systems create a foundation for smarter wholesale operations—season after season.