How Finance Teams Can Navigate Supply Chain Disruption With Insights From Ashley Brandau

Retail and manufacturing leaders are still grappling with the aftershocks of global supply chain disruption—from tariffs and transportation volatility to evolving consumer demand. At Blue Onion, we’ve been digging into the issues that are slowing sales cycles and putting pressure on margins for our e-commerce and retail customers.

We’re teaming up with supply chain and sourcing expert Ashley Brandau to unpack how finance teams can play a more strategic role in managing these disruptions and aligning sourcing and inventory strategies.

Ashley’s experience spans Gap Inc: Banana Republic & Athleta, and several consulting roles across the retail landscape. Throughout decades in the industry, Ashley has seen first hand the production lines at factories across Korea, China, Vietnam, Portugal and Sri Lanka. She shared with us the supply chain and tariff challenges that brands are facing in 2025 and how finance teams can play an integral role by taking a more proactive approach.

Here’s a preview of what we’ll be covering in our upcoming webinar.

Sign up below and we’ll email you the details for the event. 

Tariff Impact on Sales Cycles and Pricing Strategy

Many retail and manufacturing brands are feeling the squeeze from uncertain tariff environments and extended lead times. The result? Slower sales cycles and growing pricing pressure.

While some brands can pass increased costs on to consumers, others are re-evaluating true landed costs and negotiating more creatively with suppliers. Ashley shared how successful brands are thinking differently—rethinking pricing strategy, sourcing regions, and forecasting processes.

Real Tactics to Mitigate Tariff Exposure

Ashley shared actionable strategies that finance and sourcing teams are using to adapt:

• Partnering with suppliers to negotiate costs of raw materials, cut and make costs and packaging costs
• Collaborating closely with factories to ship production as needed
• Reassessing transportation modes and lead times for additional cost
• Exploring alternative factory countries of origin with tariff advantages—like Vietnam and Cambodia

These shifts not only help protect margins but support smarter inventory planning and cost control.

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Why Finance Teams Must Get Proactive

This isn’t just a sourcing issue—it’s a finance strategy conversation.

<<Download Blue Onion’s Proactive Accounting Checklist>> 

We’ll explore how supplier invoices being listed separately from FOB (Free On Board) costs can help avoid paying unnecessary import tariffs on fees that aren’t directly related to the goods themselves, and why aligning procurement timelines with inventory turnover models is key. Finance leaders who take initiative here can drive significant operational and margin improvements.

The Human Impact of Sourcing Decisions

Ashley also brings a human lens to global sourcing. Factory workers—often supporting entire families—are directly affected by changes in sourcing strategy. These decisions have real-world consequences, reminding us that finance, sourcing, and supply chain decisions are about more than just cost.

Join the Webinar: Real Strategies for 2025

I'll be hosting a live virtual event with Ashley next month. We’ll dig into all of this—from supply chain disruption to finance strategy and tariff management—and open the floor for Q&A.

Whether you're a controller, CFO, sourcing manager, or brand operations lead, you’ll leave with practical insights and a better understanding of how finance can lead through uncertainty.

Don't forget to save your spot for the event at the form below.

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