{"id":19612,"date":"2020-05-14T10:09:05","date_gmt":"2020-05-14T14:09:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blueridgeglobal.com\/?p=19612"},"modified":"2025-09-15T18:34:58","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T22:34:58","slug":"macphersons-reduces-uncertainty-around-asian-import-lead-times-while-maintaining-95-fill-rate-with-blue-ridge-cloud-native-scp-solutions-lifeline-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blueridgeglobal.com\/case-studies\/macphersons-reduces-uncertainty-around-asian-import-lead-times-while-maintaining-95-fill-rate-with-blue-ridge-cloud-native-scp-solutions-lifeline-services\/","title":{"rendered":"MacPherson\u2019s Reduces Uncertainty Around Import Lead Times While Maintaining 95% Fill Rate with Blue Ridge Cloud-Native SCP Solutions & LifeLine"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\"macpherson-lifeline\"<\/a>One of the toughest parts of a demand planner\u2019s job is answering tough questions from the executive office upstairs, like: \u201cWhat are you guys doing down there?\u201d<\/p>\n

For Emeryville, CA-based art distributor MacPherson, Blue Ridge and its LifeLine supply chain experts provided that answer, and then some.<\/p>\n

A Wide Palette of SKUs<\/h3>\n

MacPherson is the largest art supplies distributor in North America, serving 2,600 retail customers through a variety of channels, including independent mom\/pops, regional chains, mass market and e-commerce. Their vast product portfolio spans more than 50,000 products and 250 brands and vendors worldwide.<\/p>\n

Technology to Inform Conversations<\/h3>\n

Given the large share of any company\u2019s assets going toward inventory, MacPherson\u2019s wanted technology that could reduce costly uncertainties in planning and empower the team to have confident conversations about the things they are doing to positively impact the business.<\/p>\n

A key priority was to preserve the company\u2019s high standard for service. But the expensive alternative of carrying high safety stock to make this happen was neither ideal nor necessary. In addition, MacPherson\u2019s struggled to get a handle on extremely long lead times for Asian imported products.<\/p>\n

\"\"They engaged Blue Ridge\u2019s LifeLine team to implement and use Blue Ridge cloud-native supply chain planning solutions, which empowered them to proactively correct issues and make the right decisions to drive the company toward their financial goals.<\/p>\n

The Power of The Cloud<\/h3>\n

MacPherson\u2019s is a veteran Blue Ridge customer, having first engaged Blue Ridge for inventory optimization in 2009. In 2017, they implemented Blue Ridge Supply Chain Planning to further refine inventory levels and automate their demand planning through the power of the cloud.<\/p>\n

Blue Ridge SCP\u2019s true cloud-native architecture provided MacPherson\u2019s with:<\/p>\n