Nearshoring or offshoring? B2B or DTC? These are both difficult questions all retail businesses need to face early on when scaling their business and logistics.

Today, learn some of the pros and cons each option offers from Rich Durham, Senior Supply Chain and Operations Manager at Pair Eyewear. Rich recalls previous challenges he faced at S’well when it came to B2B fulfillment, as well as how his team at Pair is working to address current pain points with DTC eyeglass prescription orders.

Rich discusses just how Pair is making the transition away from overseas production as they expand their Southern California manufacturing. He shares how critical it is that they take more control over the process to reliably manage their large number of SKUs and fully customizable orders.

You’ll also hear Alex and Michelle talk with Rich about the importance of maintaining strong relationships with all types of providers whether they be your supplier, fulfillment center, or your own in-house sales and forecasting teams.

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Guest Bio

Rich Durham is the Senior Supply Chain and Operations Manager at Pair Eyewear, an online glasses retailer founded in 2016. Pair started after one of their founders, Nathan Kondamuri, had enough with expensive, boring eyewear. One of their standout features is their “top” frames, which magnetically click into place, allowing wearers to swap colors, patterns, and more whenever they want.

Rich joined Pair as just their 15th employee, and has been leading the transition away from overseas production as they grow the team to over 100 people. Prior to his time with Pair, Rich managed distribution for the sustainable bottle company, S’well.

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Guest Quote

"There are a lot of similarities between the relationship you have with a supplier and the relationship you have with your warehouse or your fulfillment center. It really is kind of like a marriage and the two of you rely on each other.” - Rich Durham

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Time Stamps

*(1:43) When things didn’t go as planned

*(4:20) Why physical inventory tracking so important

*(7:10) International manufacturing pros and cons

*(12:43) Bringing manufacturing home with Pair

*(17:05) How D2C impacts your fulfillment

*(24:48) Rich’s career advice

*(27:28) Hard Hitting Questions

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Sponsor

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