About Julianna Alfieri
Julianna Alfieri is the Senior Global Sourcing Specialist for Amscan, which serves over 40,000 retail outlets across the globe and owns Party City Holdings Inc. Born and raised in Long Island, Julianna has always had a passion for all things fashion. This passion led her to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and Management, with a minor in Sustainable Apparel & Textile Innovation, from the University of Delaware. Julianna furthered her expertise with a Graduate Degree from Parsons School of Design in Fashion Sustainability. Her diverse background includes experience in fashion styling, retail, marketing, and indexing, all of which have shaped her approach to global sourcing. With these educational and professional experiences, Julianna has built a solid foundation and acquired the necessary tools to excel in the industry.
Sheng: What does a Senior Global Sourcing Specialist do? What does your typical day look like? Also, what makes you love your job, or what is the most exciting part of it?
Julianna: As a Senior Global Sourcing Specialist, my role revolves around fostering cross-functional collaboration and maintaining strong relationships with vendors and suppliers. I oversee specific categories of the company’s business, ensuring effective communication and negotiation to maximize the quality of goods while meeting financial objectives. This involves working closely with my sourcing team, global offices, and utilizing various systems to streamline sourcing processes.
On a typical day, I work closely with my sourcing team and global partners to analyze costs, manage vendor relationships, and collaborate on major projects within my designated categories. Additionally, I assist in updating data in relevant systems and ensuring smooth transitions for new suppliers while also contributing to major projects aimed at enhancing redundancy categories and diversifying our supplier base.
The dynamic nature of the role keeps me engaged and continuously learning, allowing me to apply my education to real-world scenarios and witness the tangible outcomes of our efforts, such as seeing products I’ve contributed to in stores. What I find most exciting is the opportunity for constant growth and the collaborative aspect of working with our global partners!
Sheng: Can you walk us through the sourcing process—for example, the main procedures, who will be involved, and the general timeline?
Julianna: The overall sourcing process is an extremely collaborative effort involving multiple teams and stakeholders. It begins with identifying the need for specific products, which could stem from various reasons such as new product development, transitioning from existing suppliers, or finding vendors offering better cost or quality.
Once the product to be sourced is determined, we engage with suppliers from our matrix. Communication is managed internally for domestic vendors, while for international vendors, our global partners are involved. We evaluate potential suppliers based on their capability to produce the desired product and then proceed to cost negotiations.
Sample gathering is a crucial step where we collect samples from all potential vendors to assess quality and cost-effectiveness. This decision often involves input from both sourcing and product development teams. Using Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems, we then generate artwork for the product, collaborating closely with the art team.
Once artwork is finalized, it is shared with the chosen vendor to facilitate production specifications. Lead times for sample creation and production are negotiated with the vendor. Once we receive a pre-production sample, either our global partners or product development teams evaluate its quality and suitability.
Upon pre-production sample approval, the sourcing team updates our systems to indicate the selected vendor for the product. Throughout this process, sourcing manages communication between cross-functional teams and partners.
The timeline for this process typically spans 3 to 6 months, varying on factors such as the country of sourcing, vendor payment terms, lead times, and sample production quality.
Sheng: We know retailers today need to “balance” many sourcing factors today, from costs and speed to market to compliance risks. In practice, how do these factors actually affect companies’ sourcing decisions? For example, are there any specific factors that hold particular importance or are given significant weight in the decision-making process?
Julianna: Sourcing decisions within companies are deeply influenced by a number of factors. Among these factors, cost stands out as a primary consideration, directly impacting the financial health and competitiveness of the company. Balancing cost-effectiveness with other factors is essential to ensure optimal value for the organization.
Quality is another factor that holds significant weight in sourcing decisions. Maintaining specific standards of quality is essential to uphold the brand reputation, customer satisfaction, and overall product integrity. Innovation also drives sourcing decisions, as companies look for suppliers with advanced products, technologies, or processes to stay competitive and meet changing consumer needs.
Other critical factors include supplier reliability and supplier diversity. Dependable suppliers ensure consistent delivery schedules, minimize disruptions, and foster trust, while diversification enhances resilience and flexibility. Building strong relationships with suppliers encourages working together, coming up with new ideas, and achieving long-term success!
Finally, sustainability is now a crucial factor in sourcing decisions, driven by increasing consumer and regulatory demands for environmentally and socially responsible practices. Companies favor suppliers committed to sustainability, such as reducing waste and upholding fair labor standards. Embracing sustainability not only reflects a company’s corporate values, but also ensures long-term business success and resilience in a market that values conscious practices.
Sheng: From your observation, what are the critical sourcing trends and key issues to watch in 2024?
Julianna: In today’s climate, it is evident that there are several critical sourcing trends and key issues to keep a close eye on in 2024. Among these, prioritizing resilience, sustainability, and diversification stands out as essential for companies aiming to navigate the evolving sourcing landscape successfully!
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a renewed emphasis on strengthening supply chain resilience. Companies are actively diversifying their suppliers and improving risk management to ensure operational continuity. Based on my personal experience in this industry, I’ve recognized the essential role adaptability plays in keeping operations running smoothly without interruption.
Additionally, there is growing attention on sustainability and ethical sourcing. Companies are under pressure to be transparent and accountable due to increased consumer awareness about environmental and social issues. In our organization, we maintain standards through the use of supplier audits to ensure sustainability compliance. Initiatives such as sustainable packaging and collaborations with suppliers certified by reputable organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) reflect our efforts to advance sustainability goals.
One of the key challenges I’ve encountered in my sourcing career is the reliance on a limited supplier base. This became evident during our paper bag project when antidumping duties significantly impacted our sourcing strategy. The imposition of antidumping duties on paper bags from certain regions prompted us to explore alternative suppliers globally. This highlighted the importance of diversifying our supplier matrix to reduce dependence on specific regions and mitigate risks associated with geopolitical tensions or trade regulations.
Lastly, uncertain economic climates have significantly influenced what warrants close attention. Our company’s experience with Chapter 11 bankruptcy served as a pivotal moment, illuminating the crucial paths forward. As repeatedly emphasized, maintaining a diverse and resilient supplier base is essential for mitigating risks linked to potential disruptions in the supply chain. Additionally, closely monitoring costs and implementing cost-saving measures becomes imperative for navigating through uncertain economic times. Lastly, fostering robust supplier relationships and enhancing communication and collaboration with suppliers emerge as essential strategies for navigating challenges and ensuring continuity in the sourcing process, especially amidst economic uncertainty.
Sheng: Many retailers have adopted PLM (product life cycle management) and other digital tools to manage sourcing and the supply chain. From your observations, what changes have these tools brought to sourcing?
Julianna: Digital tools are vital for global sourcing as they streamline processes, enhance communication, and provide real-time insights, enabling companies to make informed decisions. Some important tools I work with closely include PLM (Product Lifecycle Management), BPCS (Business Planning and Control System), and Datamyne, as they help to optimize efficiency and mitigate risks in the complex global marketplace.
PLM helps to centralize information and documents, which ensures that all stakeholders have access to real-time data, updates, and feedback, leading to improved alignment. This helps for history purposes and checking previous decision making done by other team members. PLM also assists with processes such as supplier onboarding, product specifications management, and artwork/sample tracking.
BPCS provides a wide range of tools for managing inventory, procurement, and production planning. It helps ensure that inventory levels are optimized, procurement processes are efficient, and production activities are scheduled according to demand forecasts and inventory data. This visibility into inventory levels also allows sourcing partners to access crucial information, such as the amount of inventory on hand, helping us prioritize sourcing efforts based on urgency.
Lastly, Datamyne provides valuable insights into global trade data, including import and export information, tariffs, and compliance requirements. Datamyne also allows users to search for potential suppliers, thus mitigating risks associated with geopolitical factors and trade regulations. In response to the antidumping tariffs affecting our paper bags (previously mentioned), I utilized Datamyne to identify alternative vendors exempt from these tariffs. I thoroughly researched and explored these potential vendors to determine if they could serve as viable alternatives for sourcing paper bags, thereby circumventing the tariffs.
Sheng: Any reflections on your experiences at UD and FASH? What advice would you offer current students preparing for a career in sourcing after graduation?
Julianna: Reflecting on my experiences through the UD fashion program, I am grateful for the comprehensive education and real-world projects that have shaped my understanding of the fashion industry and the global sourcing world. UD provided me with valuable insights into various aspects of the industry and encouraged me to explore my interests deeply. Through specialized courses for my focus on sustainable apparel and textile innovation, I gained practical knowledge that is directly applicable to the sourcing realm. The exposure to relevant case studies and global issues was instrumental in honing my skills and preparing me for my career in global sourcing, and UD has paved the way for the inevitable challenges and opportunities ahead.
For current students preparing for a career in sourcing after graduation, my first piece of advice would be to prioritize networking and building relationships with peers and faculty members. Business is personal, and these connections can open doors to opportunities in the industry! Additionally, dedicating oneself to school projects and seeking any type of industry experience can provide clarity on career paths and offer invaluable insights into different work environments, and help in understanding one’s preferences within the industry.
Developing strong presentation skills and the confidence to speak up in team settings are essential for standing out as a leader and effectively communicating with vendors, global partners, and cross-functional teams.
Finally, staying informed about current events, especially in the sourcing landscape, is crucial for making informed decisions and staying ahead in the industry.
Feel free to reach out anytime if you’d like to connect, chat, or discuss industry insights – I am always here and eager to engage!
–The END–
FASH455 Global Apparel & Textile Trade and Sourcing 
Julianna’s insights into sustainable fashion sourcing are very enlightening! I found her discussion on the factors influencing sourcing decisions particularly interesting. While factors like cost-effectiveness and supplier reliability are crucial, it’s refreshing to see sustainability emerging as a key consideration in today’s sourcing practices. The emphasis on transparency, ethical sourcing, and environmental stewardship reflects a positive shift towards more conscientious practices in the industry. Her insights into the role of digital tools in sourcing highlight the importance of technology in enhancing efficiency and informed decision-making. Overall, Julianna’s expertise offered valuable lessons in embracing sustainability and nurturing strong relationships within the industry.
It was really interesting reading about Julianna’s successful career! She has vast experience in the fashion industry which seems to have definitely shaped her career. Her position sounds incredibly interesting and I enjoyed learning about what the sourcing process looks like for this brand. She explained that their potential suppliers are based on their capability to produce the desired product and cost negotiations. She also states quality as a factor that holds significant weight as well as supplier reliability and diversity. As we have learned, retailers have different priorities when searching for sourcing locations and vendors so I found it interesting to hear what they prioritize and look for. I also enjoyed reading about all of the digital tools they utilize to help streamline many of their processes. I think the future of fashion is definitely heading towards digital tools like these to access real time data, manage supply chains, and look for suppliers.
It was very interesting to read more about Julianna’s job and what she does day-to-day as a Senior Global Sourcing Specialist for Amscan. It sounds like she has found a job that she is truly passionate about and that she is able to learn more from every single day. One thing that I found to be interesting were the factors that contribute to sourcing decisions. These factors include cost and balancing cost-effectiveness, quality, supplier reliability and diversity, and sustainability. This interview especially gave me a deeper understanding of why brands must diversify their supply chains. Julianna explains that a diversified supply chain allows for brands to have more resilience and flexibility, two aspects that are especially vital today as there is so much going on around the world that may affect and hinder the functionality of a supply chain.
It was interesting to learn more about Julianna’s role as a senior global sourcing specialist at Amscan. I was particularly interested in the digital tools that she discussed. I think as companies grow to adopt more of these digital tools, global sourcing practices along with the transparency of brands is likely to continue to shift much more rapidly. One of the tools that Julianna mentioned was Datamyne, a tool that helps brands analyze global trade data on import and export information as well as current tariff and compliance requirements. This tool seems like it would greatly influence the efficiency of her role but also makes me wonder about how strenuous her role might have previously been before tools like Datamyne were implemented.
The interview with Julianna Alfieri, senior global sourcing specialist at Amscan, was very interesting. A huge part of her job entails: maintaining relationships with vendors and suppliers. She looks at costs and updates data frequently. I thought an interesting thought she had was how her position allows her to see the products she has worked on go into real stores. Recently, I had an interview with the product development manager at The Paper Store, and she told me that her favorite part of her job was seeing the products she has worked on in the office, at her friends and families houses. It must be really cool seeing something you have worked so hard on, as a tangible product outside of work. As I have learned in this class, the sourcing process involves everyone, and communication is key. I had never heard of “sample gathering” before so it was great to learn about the quality and cost assessment of product samples. She also talked about how sustainability and ethical sourcing are growing concerns for fashion companies and transparency with the FSC helps advance their goals.
I was really interested in Julianne’s thoughts on the digital tools used to help the sourcing process. Last summer in my internship I used PLM a lot and I found it to be extremely helpful for my own day to day functions. I observed that the rest of the team I was on held it to high regard as well, it had the capability of connecting the sourcing team to all of our agents and vendors overseas in ways that an email just wasn’t able to. I joined the team again part time this past February and they have now switched from PLM to BeProduct which I have found to be even more innovative. BeProduct is much more modernized and efficient for both sides of sourcing. It goes to show that there is a huge amount of benefit in investing in digital tools int terms of sourcing.
I was previously unaware of the number of digital tools available to manage sourcing. Product Lifecycle Mangement allows industry professionals to centralize information, making it easier for everyone to access not just documents that are immediately relevant to them, but also live updates, feedback, and data. This allows for swifter communication and more accurate history (that can be easily reviewed and checked). This system isn’t just for final inputs though, it also allows tracking of samples and artwork. To me, the artwork tracking was most surprising to hear about due to how different it is from the aforementioned tasks and duties PLM performs. One of the other programs Julianna discussed was Datamyne, a system which helps ensure compliances are being met, along with tariffs and other regulations. I imagine that this specific tool was a huge time and money saver when first implemented as it seems to simplify the process of ensuring that all relevant regulations are met.
The interview with Julia Alfieri was very insightful. Her diverse background included styling, retail, marketing, and indexing, helped her land her job as a Senior Global Souring Specialist for Amscam Inc. The company is one of the largest suppliers for party goods and accessories. Amscam offers a large selection of products and partners with retailers worldwide. In her role she enables her education and real-world scenarios, to maintain strong relationships with vendors and suppliers. She specifies that commination and knowing how to negotiate are the key talents to be successful in the field. She works closely with her team to make sure financial objectives are mean and utilizes systems to streamline souring process. Her team evaluates potential suppliers bases and gathers samples from vendors. The decisions to gather samples, allows the team to process the quality of goods that might be produced. The (PLM) system that is uses helps generate the final artwork for products and allows the team to overview the process. In her job, it is necessary to balance cost-effectiveness, quality, supplier diversity, relibility , to make sure the production process moves smoothly. Her company is planning on diversifying their vendors due to the current state of the supply chain.
Questions
What other roles does technology play in the sourcing process at Amscam?
What is something you would like to change about Amscam’s sustainability practices?
I really enjoyed reading about Julianna’s role as Senior Global Souring Specialist for Amscan. Her insights into the role show the complexities behind the fashion industry’s supply chain today. The emphasis on collaboration, resilience, and sustainability reflects the changing priorities within the sourcing landscape. These priorities have been evolving for a few years now, especially in response to challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing consumer demands for ethical and environmentally responsible practices. One aspect of the interview that stuck with me is the discussion surrounding the critical factors influencing sourcing decisions. It’s interesting to see how companies must balance cost, quality, innovation, supplier reliability, diversity, and sustainability to make strategic sourcing choices. Julianna was also very transparent with the steps involved in bringing a product to market. From identifying product needs to evaluating potential suppliers, negotiating costs, and ensuring quality standards, every step requires planning and collaboration. The reflections on sourcing trends and key issues in 2024 discussed in the interview offer valuable insight into the future of the industry. The focus on resilience, sustainability, and diversification aligns with broader trends reshaping global supply chains that we have discussed in class. As the industry continues to evolve, adapting to these trends will be crucial for companies to remain competitive and resilient in an everchanging marketplace. Overall, Julianna’s interview provides a lot of knowledge into the large world of global sourcing. Her experiences offer valuable insights to students, whether they are preparing for a career in sourcing or not!
Hearing all about Julianna’s career and experience was really fascinating. Hearing all she had to say about the intricacy of the fashion industry supply chain was very interesting. She really emphasized networking and maintaining relationships through every step of the way in her career. This idea is always talked about but reading all about Julianna’s personal experience really enforced how this works, especially in the fashion industry. Global sourcing has not been a topic of major interest for me over the years but between Fash455 and these articles, especially Julianna’s discussion it really is a growing interest. There is so much that goes on, such complexity, that from examining the quality of goods and negotiation Julianna provided a great amount of information on.
Throughout reading these blog posts, I am always drawn to the interviews to read about real-life experiences in the fashion industry, especially with UD alumni. A lot of what Julianna spoke about relates directly to what we have learned in class. Diversifying Amscan’s supplier base was a constant conversation in class about fashion brands considering sourcing to more countries rather than being majorly dependent on a few. Having geopolitical tensions and trade regulations that could create risks in the supply chain, it is important to use a supplier base that is diverse and resilient to ensure lack of disruptions when possible. The factors reinstated what was taught as well. Having cost be the primary consideration in sourcing decisions is obvious, with companies making profit the priority. Quality, as well as supplier reliability by fostering trust and having minimal disruptions and diversification for resilience and flexibility all need to be taken into account. Sustainability is also important to consider, as she stated, to be environmentally and socially responsible. Julianna’s direct usage of terms and ideas learned in class shows how we will be applying our learnings into the real world.
Something that stuck out to me during this interview were the priorities when selecting who to source from. Julianna mentioned cost first and foremost as an important factor when choosing who to source from. She also mentioned later about the importance of keeping costs low. Later on she mentions other factories including quality and sustainability. These factors feel like opposition to keeping costs low. Ensuring sustainable practices and quality production of garments are things that I would assume bring costs up. This makes me wonder how they balance their priorities when deciding where to source from. At what point is sustainability and quality cut in order to keep costs low? Or when is it important to have a quality product made sustainably even at the extra cost?
Julianna Alfieri graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising with a minor in sustainable apparel and textile innovation. Now she has moved up to become a Senior Global Sourcing Specialist at Amscan. During this interview, we learn about her role as a sourcing specialist. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration and decision-making. She also notes that she and the company are in a never-ending pursuit of the highest quality, most sustainable products. It was interesting that she discussed Covid-19 as one of the critical sourcing issues to watch in 2024. I would have thought there would be more significant and relevant issues in 2024 but she knows much more than I do when it comes to sourcing!
I found Julianna’s discussion very interesting and enlightening. I like the fact that she went to UD and is able to relate her knowledge back to active assignments we partake in in class. I found it comforting to see how her assignments from various classes relate to real-world employment opportunities. I especially enjoyed her insight on the digital tools she utilizes because it was always something I never had a good grasp on. While the three she mentioned are somewhat similar in goal, I was curious on if one was more superior than the other and how much she actually applied them to her work.