[ IN PRACTICE ] RETAILTALES
Lush Gets a Store-Level Inventory Control Makeover THE CUSTOMER Established in 1995, Lush creates pioneering beauty products, including
Lush, the cosmetics company known for its fresh and handmade products, has experienced tremendous growth. Across the globe, it boasts more than 850 store locations, including more than 250 in North America.
the bath bomb. The company operates in 50 countries with 850+ shops, 38 websites shipping worldwide, and a global network of native apps, broadcasting channels, and digital communities in more than 30 languages. THE PROVIDER Arkieva is a supply chain planning software company that delivers AI-powered, modular solutions for demand, inventory, and supply planning. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, with offices in Belgium and India, Arkieva works with global enterprises to create resilient, future-ready supply chains.
planning processes that had previously worked no longer were as effective as they needed to be to continue driving the company forward. Gregory’s responsibilities include planning for the 250 stores in North America, its digital fulfillment business, and two manufacturing sites—in Vancouver and Toronto. When it comes to demand and inventory planning, each store manager has a great deal of autonomy, Gregory says. Other than for product launches, Lush doesn’t use a traditional “push model” in which the corporate management team decides what inventory each store will receive. “Shop managers treat their store as if it’s their own business,” Gregory says, adding that inventory ordering is within shop managers’ direct control. Along with the roughly 600 core products that are available year- round, Lush introduces limited edition and seasonal product multiple times throughout the year. For example, its latest Christmas product range includes about 150 SKUs, Gregory says. The holiday peak in December is critical to Lush’s business. Lush also offers new product ranges for Halloween, Valentine’s Day, and Easter.
“Spreadsheets were no longer a viable solution for demand and supply planning and forecasting,” says James Gregory, demand planning manager with Lush North America. After implementing several solutions from Arkieva, a provider of supply chain planning solutions, forecasts now are well within the range of accuracy that Gregory and his team expect. Since its launch in 1995, Lush has grown to encompass operations in more than 50 countries. Along with its physical stores, it operates 38 websites that ship worldwide, as well as a global network of native apps, broadcasting channels, and digital communities that span more than 30 languages. In 2024, Lush sold more than 21 million of its famous bath bombs, as well as a range of lotions, hair care, makeup, and other beauty products. The company follows sustainable business practices, such as circular packaging. Its ultimate goal is to leave the world “lusher than we found it.” FORECASTING FALLS DOWN Achieving both business and sustainability goals requires solid information, efficient processes, and visibility. Lush’s growth, while positive, also meant that some forecasting and
by Karen Kroll
January 2026 • Inbound Logistics 173
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