How Fabletics Turned Full-Store Inventory into an 18-Minute Process

Why item-level visibility, accurate inventory, and 18-minute audits are becoming essential for retailers competing across online and in-store channels.

Fabletics — the activewear brand co-founded by Kate Hudson and built around more than 2.3 million VIP members — has expanded rapidly through a hybrid online–offline model. Today, every major retailer faces the same challenge: customers expect product accuracy, availability, and fast fulfillment across every channel.

Whether a shopper is standing in a store, picking up an online order, or placing a same-day delivery request, the foundation of that experience is the same:

If your inventory isn’t accurate — nothing else works.

Inventory visibility now directly impacts:

• Online order accuracy

• Ship-from-store performance

• BOPIS reliability

• Same-day and next-day delivery

• Allocation, planning, and forecasting

• Customer satisfaction and loyalty

This is why Fabletics’ new La Jolla store model is noteworthy. A full-store inventory scan that once required multiple associates working full shifts can now be completed by one person in 18 minutes or less, with higher accuracy than before.

By combining the unified retail SaaS app platform with a modern RFID infrastructure, Fabletics has created real-time, item-level visibility that aligns its physical stores with the precision of a digital channel.

The Global Problem: Why Retail Inventory Accuracy Still Falls Short

Across the industry, most retailers operate with inventory accuracy between 60% and 80% — insufficient for today’s omnichannel fulfillment expectations. Common issues include:

• Manual counts that vary by associate

• Items misplaced or left in back rooms

• Delayed system updates

• Lack of item-level tracking

• Slow replenishment cycles

• “Phantom inventory” showing in-stock but unavailable

The result is canceled online orders, broken BOPIS promises, disappointed walk-in shoppers, and inefficiencies throughout the supply chain.

Accurate, real-time inventory is now the backbone of the modern retail network.

What Fabletics Built: Real-Time Item-Level Visibility

At the heart of Fabletics’ model is continuous, precise item tracking made possible by:

• Overhead RFID readers scanning the store in real time

• Smart handheld devices guiding associates directly to items

• Unified retail SaaS app platform integration linking item movement to store systems

• Accurate mapping of back-room and on-floor inventory

• Automated replenishment workflows triggered by real-time data

With every item digitally mapped, the entire store behaves like a synchronized system rather than a collection of disconnected tasks.

The 18-Minute Full-Store Inventory Scan

The most dramatic operational improvement is the speed and accuracy of the full-store inventory process:

• One associate performs a complete scan of the store

• The process takes under 18 minutes

• Accuracy increases because the system removes guesswork

• Inventory results sync instantly with allocation and planning tools

This ensures the store and online channels always reflect the true availability of product.

What This Looks Like Day-to-Day

In La Jolla, Store General Manager Nehla Nebril now completes the entire store’s inventory count — every SKU, every zone — in 18 minutes or less, often casually on a Monday morning before opening.

Beyond the speed improvement, Fabletics is reporting:

• 95%+ floor compliance across the fleet

• Real-time RFID tracking without a full systems overhaul

• Fitting rooms that behave like e-commerce, automatically identifying items and suggesting variants

• Exact item location mapping, ensuring products are always findable

These results are not limited to one store. They represent a new operational baseline across Fabletics’ network.

Intelligent Fitting Rooms: Data-Driven, Not Isolated

Fabletics elevates the fitting room experience through the same RFID ecosystem:

• Items are detected automatically as customers enter

• Screens show product details, sizes, and colors

• Customers request new sizes without leaving the room

• Associates receive instant notifications

• The system captures preference data typically exclusive to e-commerce

This eliminates a long-standing gap between online and in-store behavior.

Why This Matters: The Operational Impact

Fleet-wide results include:

• 95%+ floor compliance

• Higher conversion due to consistent product availability

• Faster restocking with guided workflows

• Reduced “we can’t find it” moments

• Improved online order accuracy for stores doing ship-from-store/BOPIS

• Better utilization of labor

• A more predictable customer experience

The store effectively becomes self-aware with accurate, real-time data.

Why It’s Critical for Expansion — and for the Future of Retail

As Fabletics plans to open 100+ new stores, this model supports:

• A repeatable digital infrastructure

• Alignment between online and offline inventory

• Faster staff onboarding

• Scalable store operations

• Reliable data for supply chain and merchandising teams

Each store becomes a dependable node in the company’s broader fulfillment network.

What Other Retailers Can Learn

Three core insights emerge:

1. Inventory accuracy is the foundation of modern customer experience.

2. Item-level visibility is now a strategic advantage, not optional infrastructure.

3. Automated, system-driven processes outperform manual routines in every channel.

Retailers exploring modernization, RFID adoption, or omnichannel fulfillment should treat inventory accuracy as the most important operational priority.

If Your Team Is Exploring These Technologies

Our team helps retailers evaluate automation platforms, RFID systems, and real-time visibility tools to support omnichannel growth. If you're exploring similar upgrades or planning to scale store operations, feel free to reach out — happy to discuss practical approaches that work.