How StratusGreen Made The Difference
When Callum Brown, president of Wilson Brown Sock Company, was recommended to StratusGreen by one of his suppliers, he immediately noticed their methodology stood apart from other consultants.
“I felt a great comfort level with StratusGreen,” said Brown. “They were taking the time not just to sell software but to take care of the business and hold our hand throughout the transition.”
Brown praised his experience working with StratusGreen. “They are friendly people you don’t mind spending time with. They clearly want to help and get things right. It’s been great.”
Though Wilson Brown Sock Company is still in the early stages of using NetSuite, StratusGreen has already provided tailored solutions to maximize efficiency.
“They’ve taken a lot of time to clean up our data and rename stock records and styles,” said Brown. StratusGreen also implemented Paper Street Production Planner, which the company anticipates will greatly benefit the business.
“One of our major challenges was not having visibility into operations. The sales and customer service team often over-committed to product because they didn’t want to turn away business. With NetSuite’s improvements, we’ll simplify business, make our customers much more satisfied, and make life easier for the team,” Brown shared.
He also expects significant improvements in manufacturing capacity planning.
“One challenge was running out of raw materials and having machines standing,” said Brown. “Now, with the MRP, we won’t run out of yarns because we’ll be alerted. Having this visibility and knowing what machines we’re running, we’ll be able to schedule so much more efficiently and stagger out machine change-overs.”
Looking ahead, the growing company eagerly anticipates new implementations, including an integration with Shopify and a Warehouse Management System.
“I certainly recommend NetSuite and StratusGreen to any growing business looking to gain efficiencies,” said Brown.
Company History
The Wilson Brown Sock Company has built a respected reputation as a leading sock brand over its 45-year history, driven by a commitment to innovation and quality.
Founded in 1979 by Russell Wilson as Pro Feet, the company initially supplied mass merchandise retailers and the U.S. Military. Originally named Pro Feet, the brand gained recognition for quality and durability, Wilson expanded into the team athletic market, making it a top choice for family-owned sporting goods stores nationwide.
By the time Callum Brown joined the company, Pro Feet had weathered several financial challenges and industry consolidations while maintaining its reputation.
A New Era Of Business
In 2012, Callum Brown and Russell Wilson’s son acquired the company, sparking a new era for the business. The company was rebranded as Wilson Brown Sock Company, signaling a fresh direction in branding and strategy.
“At the time, the biggest part of the business was in the team athletic space, and we weren’t manufacturing our own products,” Brown explained. “With the rise in imports, it was easy for anyone to get into the sock business. Things were struggling, and we decided we needed to do something a little different.”
Two significant changes defined this transformation: bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. and diversifying the product line.
This diversification led to the creation of four distinct brands under the Wilson Brown umbrella: Pro Feet, WB Workwear, WB Originals, and Brown Dog Hosiery.
New Strategy Means New Systems
In January 2020, Wilson Brown began manufacturing its own products, purchasing machines to support the new strategy.
However, the company’s 25-year-old ERP system quickly proved inadequate for managing raw materials and new manufacturing demands.
“It became pretty evident that trying to run everything through our existing ERP while managing raw materials within spreadsheets was not working,” said Brown. “We knew we needed to look for some sort of solution.”
Thus began Brown’s hunt for an ERP system that could handle the new manufacturing demands of the business.
Why Wilson Brown Chose NetSuite
When selecting an ERP, Brown’s primary concern was the implementation process.
“We had heard so many horror stories about difficulties with software implementation,” said Brown. As he evaluated ERP options, he noticed a recurring issue: consultants often lacked a deep understanding of his business.
“I didn’t have great confidence in the people I was talking to with other options,” Brown admitted. “I got the sense that while they understood the software, they didn’t necessarily understand us as a business. Sure, they may be able to set up the ERP, but would it be the right fit and work in the way we needed it to?”
These concerns ultimately led him to partner with StratusGreen.
Level Up Your Manufacturing Processes With StratusGreen
When switching ERPS, StratusGreen recognizes a human approach can make or break your experience. That’s why we pride ourselves on providing tailored solutions delivered by our team of industry experts.
When you partner with StratusGreen, you’ll receive our highest level of respect, knowledge, and understanding, and we’ll always position your business first.
For a customized demo showing how NetSuite can boost your manufacturing business, reach out to a member of the StratusGreen team. We have members across all time zones in North America who will happily hop on a call to discuss your goals!
