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November 8, 2021
Crisp integrates all of PopSockets’ retail data into Snowflake, enabling a timely, granular view of performance to make sales at every store pop.
PopSockets is proof that great ideas can pop out of anywhere. The popular phone accessory brand was created by philosophy professor David Barnett, who was frustrated that after walking from class to class with his phone in his pocket, his headphones ended up in a tangled mess. Determined to make “phone life” more manageable, David designed a gadget to attach to the back of his phone to keep headphones organized.
PopSockets took off in 2015 with rocketing sales growth and rapidly expanding retail distribution. Today, you can find PopSockets products in thousands of Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Staples, Walgreens, and CVS stores. The brand also has a thriving e-commerce business. Building on the success of its patented phone grip, PopSockets has become a go-to brand for phone accessories, offering cases, mounts, and the latest MagSafe-compatible grips, wallets, and chargers. Additionally, PopSockets has begun expanding into new product lines, such as phone straps and wristlets.
The search for a modern data solution
Tasked with keeping track of the business at scale is Kyle Chu, PopSockets’ Business Intelligence and Financial Analyst Manager. Before Crisp, the process was far from simple. For most retailers, Kyle had to manually download and compile weekly reports that were emailed from retailers or brokers, aggregating them into massive Excel spreadsheets. “Manually merging all of the retail data sets together every week was not a sustainable process,” Kyle reflects. On top of that, the data Kyle was getting wasn’t timely or granular enough to be actionable.
Kyle wanted to streamline and automate the data aggregation process, all while getting access to the latest store-level data — and that’s when he heard about Crisp. “With Crisp, we saw that we could not only save hours in managing data, but we could be faster and more nimble using real-time data,” Kyle explains. We could get granular data down to the store level to make decisions,” Kyle explains.
Building a centralized data cloud
With Crisp delivering a real-time feed of store and SKU-level data, Snowflake has become the powerhouse platform for unifying all of PopSockets’ data sources. Beyond retail data, PopSockets combines e-commerce sales, marketing data, ERP and finance data, and more in Snowflake, enabling a holistic view of the business. This robust cloud data solution empowers deep analysis to identify trends, powers seamless reporting across teams, and ultimately drives the business forward in a dynamic category that shifts rapidly with consumer tech tastes.
Smart and stylish data decisions
Key outcomes from PopSockets’ data investment include:
Bullseye business — “Our relationship with Target is strong because with Crisp, we are able to speak their language with real-time data,” Kyle reflects. After dedicating efforts to optimizing their Target inventory levels — which had previously led to out-of-stocks — and even creating a bespoke model that compares PopSockets’ performance against the broader electronics category, Kyle and his team have strengthened ties with the retail giant. Today, PopSockets can practically write their own POs, pulling up dashboards with store-level product assortment and replenishment recommendations when meeting with Target inventory analysts.
Trendsetting intelligence — With thousands of SKUs active at any given moment, PopSockets thrives as a canvas for self-expression – making them a fashion brand as much as a tech accessory. With clean, concise data through Crisp, Popsockets can understand shopper trends and track the performance of every style.
For example, when a sea turtle design unexpectedly “exploded” in popularity, PopSockets was able to ride the wave, keeping shelves stocked and applying those insights to future design decisions.
Surprising markets, unstoppable sales — Speaking of sea turtles! Did you know that PopSockets’ top-performing Target store is in Hawaii, and one of their best-selling stores is located in Fargo, North Dakota?
Armed with this sales intelligence and more, PopSockets can fine-tune inventory planning and ensure that hot markets get the attention they deserve. “Insights like these aren’t just fun facts,” says Kyle. “They drive how we allocate stock and manage our product flow across the country.”
Through the glass — In certain stores, PopSockets’ products are locked behind glass to prevent theft, but this merchandising approach can also hinder sales. With store-level data in Crisp, Kyle’s team can create custom store groupings to understand the impact of glass cases on sales performance – and, where the sales impacts outweigh potential theft concerns, make a case to adjust displays accordingly.
Magnifying the image – Along with retail sales and inventory data, Popsockets leverages Crisp to ingest and integrate Amazon Vendor Central data into Snowflake, providing a clearer picture of product trends. With Amazon’s volume, these insights enable the team to maintain a pulse on popular styles, designs, and categories.
The move to MagSafe — PopSockets’ product line is evolving, and nowhere is that clearer than their expansion into premium-priced MagSafe-compatible accessories. In the past year — over the course of two major resets — MagSafe products have claimed a growing share of PopSockets’ assortments, with combined sales already surpassing their classic adhesive grips. This magnetic shift, measurable with Crisp, marks an exciting new chapter for the brand, with the data underscoring product innovation success and signaling continued category leadership.
What’s next: Global expansion and AI
As Kyle’s role expands into Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), he’s excited to leverage Crisp and Snowflake to optimize unit economics and profitability across PopSockets’ extensive product portfolio. This transition will allow for a deeper focus on profitability per SKU and per channel, ensuring that the business remains lean and data-driven as it scales.
On a global front, PopSockets is continuing its rapid expansion into key markets, with new opportunities emerging in regions like Asia and Europe. As the brand makes its mark internationally, understanding local market preferences and tailoring product offerings will be crucial for success.
Looking ahead, technology-forward PopSockets is poised to deepen its analytics capabilities with AI. Developments with large language models (LLMs) aim to both inform consumer preferences in product development and enable teams across the enterprise to drive new conversations with meaningful company data.
Read to get a grip on your retail data? Learn more by booking a demo of Crisp.
