While 81% of brands rate their operations as good or excellent, 80% struggle with inventory visibility, according to RepSpark’s 2026 State of Wholesale for Lifestyle Apparel Brands report.
Analyzing over $5 billion in platform transaction volume and insights from leaders across the lifestyle sector, the report uncovers a significant gap between perceived operational health and the manual reality of the digital back office.
Key takeaways:
· This inefficiency gap is often masked by a digital facade where 52% of brands still rely on manual spreadsheets for demand forecasting.
· Only 19% of brands are fully integrated with their ERP systems, leading many to brute-force their success through manual labor.
· 60% of enterprise firms are prioritizing investments in logistics over market expansion to navigate economic uncertainty.
· Rather than structural overhauls, 43% of brands are deepening existing supplier partnerships to secure flexibility.
· While 90% of executives view AI as critical, 66% of brands report that 10% or less of their workflows are automated.
· 75% of buyers would switch suppliers for a superior digital ordering portal that offers consumer-grade speed and tracking.
· Data highlights a massive 177.4% year over year increase in international orders, proving that digital platforms are the primary engine for global scaling.
· Reorders grew by 32.8%, signaling a move toward smaller, data-backed inventory commitments.
