Fanatics Boosted Revenue With New Supply Chain Software

The company integrated demand planning technology to reduce inventory risks and improve product availability.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Manufacturing

Isometric editorial illustration showing organized stacks of blank apparel on warehouse shelving, representing efficient supply chain inventory management. — Fanatics successfully integrated new demand planning technology into its supply chain, resulting in $5 million in additional sales during the first quarter of 2025. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Fanatics implemented new o9 Solutions technology in 2025 to optimize its supply chain and reduce out-of-stock inventory. The company reported $5 million in additional sales during the first quarter following the system implementation.

Why it matters

Apparel planning lead times of nine to 24 months create significant inventory risks when unexpected player trades occur. By using better demand forecasting, the company aims to minimize markdowns and ensure products are available when fans want them.

Fanatics operates a $13 billion business serving a 100 million-person fan base. The firm expects $65 million in cost reductions and a projected 8% increase in revenue through improved inventory management.

The players

Fanatics

This company is a $13 billion licensed sports merchandise retailer serving 100 million fans.

o9 Solutions

This technology firm provides integrated planning and analytics software for supply chain management.

Ben Pivar

He is an executive who represented the organization at the 2026 industry summit in Chicago.

The details

Fanatics segmented its inventory into long lead times (65%), made-to-order (10%), and flexible blank apparel (25%) stored nearshore. This strategy allows the company to reserve blank jerseys that are printed on demand in the U.S. and shipped within two weeks, avoiding the issue of holding 175,000 unusable jerseys after a player trade.

Fanatics initiated its supply chain reinvention project in 2025.
Ben Pivar discussed the system implementation at an o9 Solutions summit in September 2026.
The broader supply chain reinvention project is scheduled to run from 2025 to 2030.

Market Landscape

Fanatics is adapting to the industry-wide shift toward nearshore and on-demand apparel manufacturing to mitigate supply chain disruption. This move positions the company to better compete with rivals by reducing inventory waste and increasing agility.

Customers can expect more consistent availability of jerseys following player trades or big wins due to the improved on-demand printing capabilities. The shift aims to keep prices stable by reducing the need for deep clearance markdowns on obsolete team gear.

The takeaway

Effective demand planning is essential for large retailers to handle the volatility of sports-related inventory cycles. Companies that successfully implement flexible, nearshore production models can significantly reduce waste and capture more revenue from sudden shifts in consumer interest.