Home Décor
From an in-house buying office to a fully outsourced operation
Situation
A leading European home décor retailer sourcing more than USD 30 million annually from Asia had operated its own buying office for many years to manage supplier relationships, product development and daily sourcing activities. As the business evolved, management decided to close the local organization and replace it with a more scalable and flexible operating model.
The objective was not simply to reduce purchasing costs, but to retain a strong local presence while improving supplier management, merchandising, product development and operational efficiency.
Key challenges included:
• Replacing the entire buying office without disrupting daily operations.
• Maintaining close relationships with suppliers across multiple product categories.
• Managing product development, merchandising and production from Asia.
• Ensuring consistent product quality, delivery performance and supplier accountability.
• Strengthening CSR compliance and supplier governance.
• Creating a scalable organization capable of supporting long-term international growth.
To achieve these objectives, the company appointed EPG as its dedicated buying office in Asia, operating as a seamless extension of its buying and category organization.
EPG Contribution
Operating entirely under the client’s brand, EPG assumed responsibility for the complete buying office function in Asia, providing both strategic support and day-to-day operational execution.
Key responsibilities included:
• Managing all supplier relationships across the client’s Asian supplier base.
• Leading supplier sourcing, qualification and onboarding of new manufacturing partners.
• Managing the complete merchandising process from product development through production and shipment.
• Supporting product development, specifications, sampling and commercial negotiations.
• Working closely with the client’s buying, product and category teams on a daily basis.
• Coordinating production planning, factory follow-up, quality assurance and delivery performance.
• Driving supplier development, operational improvements and continuous product quality enhancements.
• Implementing CSR programs and supplier compliance across the entire supply base.
• Acting as the client’s dedicated buying office while providing complete transparency and operational control.
Business Outcomes
By replacing its in-house buying office with EPG’s dedicated merchandising organization, the client established a more flexible, scalable and commercially focused operating model across Asia.
Key outcomes included:
• USD 3 million in realized purchasing savings within the first 12 months.
• An additional USD 1.5 million in identified savings over the following six months.
• 15% reduction in purchasing costs over 18 months.
• Full implementation of Amfori BSCI CSR standards across the supplier base.
• Stronger supplier relationships through dedicated local supplier management.
• Improved product development, merchandising and production coordination.
• Greater visibility across sourcing, manufacturing and supplier performance.
• A fully integrated buying office supporting long-term growth without the overhead of operating an internal organization.
Client Confidentiality
To protect our clients’ commercial interests and confidentiality, company names have been omitted. All business cases are based on actual client engagements and measurable business results.
