How JD Sports and Avery Dennison Used Connected Products to Revolutionize Retail
The retail industry is undergoing a major transformation, and connected products are shaping the future of consumer experiences and supply chain innovation. At NRF 2025, Delia Glover of Avery Dennison and Liz Larkin of JD Sports shared their unique insights into how they partnered to leverage Avery Dennison’s Optica™ Solutions, creating a more agile, sustainable, and consumer-focused retail operation.
Missed the session? Watch the full video below to see how connected products are changing the game for JD Sports and other forward-thinking brands.
Key Takeaways from the Big Idea Session
Connected Products in Retail
Connected products go beyond RFID on the shop floor. By embedding unique digital identities on items and creating timestamps through each manufacturing stage, JD Sports achieved a whole new level of supply chain visibility, from mills and dye houses to consumers.Solving Supply Chain Challenges
JD Sports’ diverse and global supply chain required a seamless solution for transparency. Avery Dennison’s Optica Solutions bridged gaps and tracked every detail—including legislation compliance like digital product passports and cotton origin certificates—ensuring smooth, regulated operations.Sustainability Gains
JD Sports used connected product data to optimize resource use while minimizing waste, even recycling fabric cuttings into new productions. This transformation also reduced water, energy use, and pollutants in manufacturing, strengthening the company’s sustainability strategy and reducing greenwashing risks.Enhancing Consumer Trust and Interaction
Connected products empowered JD Sports to share verifiable, detailed product information directly with consumers. Future-forward plans, such as incorporating 3D design and consumer interaction with upcoming styles, signal closer relationships between brand and buyer.Lessons from Implementation
JD Sports and Avery Dennison overcame diverse supplier challenges with collaboration and problem-solving. Their partnership combined deep expertise in retail production and technology, demonstrating the importance of trust and adaptability in driving innovation.Future Vision and Expansion
With plans for global growth into the U.S., JD Sports is scaling connected product solutions to ensure close-to-market operations, tailored regional compliance, and enhanced customer loyalty, particularly with younger, sustainability-conscious consumers.
Don’t miss out—watch the full session to see Avery Dennison and JD Sports in action
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