FIRESIDE CHAT TOPIC: The ways SMBs are building a resilient supply chain
DETAILS: A discussion on the ways shippers are planning for the future of maritime logistics.
INTERVIEWER AND SPEAKER: Anthony Smith, lead economist at FreightWaves, and Nate Shutes, VP of global fulfillment and logistics at Blu Dot, a furniture designer and retailer.
BIO: Shutes has nearly 20 years of experience in the supply chain, having worked with leading brands and service providers both public and private. His current focus areas are customer experience, operations and technology.
KEY QUOTES FROM SHUTES:
On managing the supply chain through the pandemic: “Every new day right now seems to be another ripple that, or another black swan that, you have to adapt to over and over. So it’s not that there’s just one part of it that is disrupted, it is literally every single step in the process.”
On sourcing commodities: “For our manufacturing partners or suppliers, a lot of that comes down to understanding where they are at and how can we support them. If they have labor shortages, how can we try to give them as much advance notice as possible on what our purchasing plans are.”
On how retailers will think about inventory going forward: “I think this permanently changes things. I don’t see us going, or anybody going, back to the way things were. The move in some ways, away from lean and more towards having a good stock position, even in plentiful times, that used to be a heresy, you would never want to go that direction. But those who have inventory are winning.”
Brokerage Compliance Symposium
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
F3 Awards Dinner
The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
F3: Future of Freight Festival
Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowThe night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowIndustry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now