Many experts predict 2013 to be a year of continued recovery, slow growth and change as retailers, manufacturers and logistics providers scramble to maintain and grow profitability.
The many changes taking place include the growing importance of multi-channel retailing, as companies look to give customers a choice of ways to buy their products. A good example would be Land’s End, which has begun selling its clothing line in Sear’s retail stores in addition to its more traditional catalog and online sales.
Operating across three channels — retail, catalog and Internet — can create complex logistical scenarios that can either make or break profitability.
Other upcoming logistics concerns include shifts in global trade routes, the impact of new transportation legislation, trucking safety regulations, fuel prices and volatile global markets.
No wonder the fifth annual Georgia Logistics Summit, set for later this month in Atlanta, is already almost sold out more than a week before registration closes.
The only industry-driven, state-led event of its kind and size in the country, the summit is set for March 19-20 at the Georgia World Congress Center. Last year’s summit drew a record 1,600 attendees from 28 states and seven countries, 85 percent of them from the private sector.
As of this writing, registration is “well on pace to beat last year’s numbers,” said Page Siplon, executive director of the Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics.
This year’s two-day meeting will feature keynote speaker Richard Westenberger, chief financial officer for children’s clothing giant Carter’s Inc., who will address the impact of multi-channel commerce on logistics and retail operations.
In separate opportunity sessions on food, manufacturing and retail, a diverse group of industry executives will share their ideas on what supply chains will look like going forward, what they see as the opportunities and challenges and what they look for from logistics partners.
The food session will feature logistics and supply chain executives from Kroger, CSM Bakery, Delta Cargo, Chicken of the Sea, Whole Foods and Maersk Lines refrigerated services.
In the manufacturing session, summit-goers will hear from executives with Yamaha Motors, Toto Americas, Kia Motors, Blue Bird Corp. and UPS.
The retail session will feature Dell, NYK Lines, The Home Depot, Haier, Hibbett Sports and Envista.
Four new interactive panel discussions will focus on:
• New Kids on the Block: discussions with some of Georgia’s newest located and expanding companies.
• Rapid-fire Transportation Updates: reports from leaders in truck, rail, air and sea transport.
• Ask the Expert: an audience Q&A on trends in tomorrow’s supply chains with some of the industry’s most recognized experts.
• International Logistics: a discussion of business opportunities with experts from around the world.
Post-summit networking will wrap up the conference, with topic-specific tables facilitated by industry experts to field questions and connect those with related interests.
Registration, which costs $50 per person, closes March 8. To register or learn more, go to www.georgialogistics.com.
Senior business reporter Mary Carr Mayle covers the ports for the Savannah Morning News. She can be reached at 912-652-0324 or at mary.mayle@savannahnow.com.
SHIPPING SCHEDULE
These are the ships expected to call on Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City and Ocean Terminals in the next week. Sailing schedules are provided by Georgia Ports Authority and are subject to change.
Terminal Ship name Arrival
GCT PRESIDENT POLK Today
GCT OOCL SHANGHAI Today
GCT MSC BARCELONA Today
GCT ZIM BARCELONA Today
GCT MAERSK DRUMMOND Today
OT GRANDE GUINEA Today
GCT ST LOUIS EXPRESS Saturday
GCT ZIM TARRAGONA Saturday
GCT NAJRAN Saturday
GCT COLUMBINE MAERSK Saturday
GCT MSC LUDOVICA Saturday
GCT CLIPPER LEGACY Saturday
OT PARSIFAL Saturday
OT SPUIGRACHT Saturday
GCT EVER RESPECT Sunday
GCT MSC STELLA Sunday
GCT DRESDEN EXPRESS Sunday
GCT AKRITAS Monday
GCT NYK REMUS Monday
GCT UASC JEDDAH Monday
GCT NYK KAI Monday
GCT MSC UGANDA Monday
GCT HANJIN CHITTAGONG Monday
OT MONTECRISTO Monday
OT STAR KILIMANJARO Monday
Terminal Ship name Arrival
GCT ZIM LUANDA Tuesday
GCT MOL ENDEAVOR Tuesday
GCT YM ETERNITY Tuesday
GCT MAERSK DAMIETTA Tuesday
GCT KAAN KALKAVAN Tuesday
GCT HYUNDAI GRACE Wednesday
GCT EVER URBAN Wednesday
GCT NYK NEBULA Wednesday
GCT FOUMA Wednesday
GCT SEA-LAND MERCURY Wednesday
GCT MSC ALICANTE Wednesday
GCT MSC ANCHORAGE Wednesday
GCT BREMEN BRIDGE Wednesday
GCT HANJIN PRAHA Wednesday
OT STAR FUJI Wednesday
GCT CSCL BRISBANE Thursday
GCT ISLANDIA Thursday
GCT MAERSK WISCONSIN Thursday
GCT MAERSK DAVENPORT Thursday
GCT ZIM PUSAN Thursday
GCT MSC LAURA Thursday
GCT OOCL AMERICA Thursday