Case Studies

Marc Ecko Case Study

Retailer decides to move beyond department store distribution model to create a new nationwide apparel store chain in two years.

Marc Ecko is an edgy fashion urban apparel retailer. Its rhinoceros logo graces everything from men’s and women’s sportswear to such items as eyewear, footwear, leather goods, and outerwear. Ecko’s wares were historically sold in department and specialty stores. However, in early 2008 the company began the creation of their own branded national store chain. Plans were announced for an aggressive new store expansion program reaching about 150 stores in two years throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and Hawaii.

Faced with creating a new construction development team and designing the store format from the ground up, complicated by senior management’s aggressive time line, Ecko’s construction team anticipated a high level of challenge and chaos in achieving the first year schedule. Seeing the value in a single entity being totally accountable for facilitation and coordination of vendor deliveries with multiple parties, reacting to constant change in schedules and the assurance of a dedicated team of professionals safeguarding the quality and continuity of each project’s all important owner furnished items, Ecko’s team turned to SolSource Logistics to manage their logistics needs.

Jerry Smith, Vice President of Construction had this to say about SolSource as a valued partner:
“SolSource was invaluable to our success and they brought clarity to a very difficult situation. We were able to control our overhead and they saved us on average about $5,000 per store over what the vendors could do. With our level of expansion that’s some real dollars!”