When Growth Slows, This Is How You Flip the Curve

Hey there,

Happy Wednesday! Another week, another shipment of strategies to keep your supply chain moving forward! 🚚📦

Every business hits a moment where things feel… stuck.

Growth slows. Costs rise. Inventory starts to pile up in the wrong places.
And suddenly, the momentum that once felt unstoppable starts to stall.

Taylor Holiday (@TaylorHoliday) recently summed it up perfectly:
🌀 “Switching from defense to offense. Time to invert the curve.”

He shared a chart showing years of steady revenue growth... followed by a plateau. But what stuck with me wasn’t the numbers—it was the mindset shift. Instead of hunkering down and hoping things pick up, he’s choosing to go on offense.

I love that. Because I’ve seen it again and again:
The brands that come out stronger aren’t the ones who simply cut costs or wait it out.
They rework the way they operate.
They rethink what’s no longer serving them.
They refocus their efforts on the pieces that actually drive growth.

And yes, that absolutely includes logistics/warehousing, forecasting and new product development.

Logistics: The Hidden Cost Center

When you're in growth mode, it’s easy to overlook inefficiencies in fulfillment. But once revenue slows down, those issues become very visible, very fast.

Here’s what we’re seeing work right now:
✅ Review your last-mile strategy. Are you overpaying for speed in areas that don’t need it? Or losing customers because you're too slow for others?
✅ Consider regional 3PLs or micro-fulfillment hubs. Getting closer to your top ZIP codes can cut costs and improve customer experience.
✅ Check failed deliveries. They quietly eat into your margins, increase support tickets, and hurt customer retention.

If you’re still relying on a one-size-fits-all fulfillment model from your early growth days, now might be the time to evolve.

Forecasting: Because Every Unit Counts

Inventory is where a lot of money goes to hide.

Too much, and your cash is stuck on shelves. Too little, and you’re losing sales (and trust).

Now more than ever, smart forecasting isn’t optional—it’s essential.
✅ Review your ABC categories.
✅ Tighten your lead time assumptions.
✅ Cut the noise in SKUs that aren't moving, and double down on proven winners.

📊 Pro tip: Brands that survive flat or declining quarters usually have excellent control over working capital, and inventory is one of the biggest levers.

NPD: Don’t Cut Innovation—Refocus It

Here’s something I want to emphasize: in a plateau or decline, the answer is not to stop launching products.
 
It’s to launch the right ones.

New Product Development (NPD) is often one of the most neglected growth levers during tough times. I get it—sampling costs, R&D time, design revisions... it can feel like a risk.

But if you’re only selling what you sold last year, while customer needs evolve, that’s the bigger risk.

What works during high-growth periods might not be relevant today. So this is the time to:
✅ Review your product roadmap—what’s still worth launching? What’s no longer aligned?
✅ Explore “quick win” launches—like line extensions, new bundles, or refreshed packaging.
✅ Align your NPD team with what your top customers are actually asking for right now.

This is the perfect moment to clean the slate and ask:
What should we launch now to spark demand again?

Warehouse Adjustments: Shrink the Footprint, Boost the Flow

If you're carrying slower inventory or shifting to leaner SKUs, your warehouse setup needs to follow.

🧠 Here’s what I recommend brands look at:
✅ Re-slot fast movers to reduce picking time.
✅ Downsize or consolidate space if inventory levels are dropping.
✅ Move excess or dead stock off-site to clear space and reduce costs.

You might not need a bigger warehouse—you might need a smarter one.

Bonus: These adjustments can also reduce your labor hours and error rates, two things that quietly snowball when left unchecked.

So What Does Playing Offense Look Like Right Now?

It’s not just cutting expenses.
It’s not just “doing more with less.”

It’s about strategic rewiring:

• Upgrading fulfillment models that worked when you were half the size
  

• Being ruthless with SKUs and generous with insights
  

• Launching products that align with today’s demand
  

• Streamlining your space, your partners, and your process
  

This isn’t a retreat. It’s a recalibration.

What Curve Are You Flipping Right Now?

Is it your ops setup? Your warehouse layout? Your product roadmap?

Hit reply and tell me what shifts you’re making—or what’s keeping you stuck. I’d love to hear how you’re adapting.

Here’s to stronger back-ends and bolder moves,
Lara

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