Location/Region: Dartmouth, CAN
Industry: Outerwear retail
Apps implemented: Sales, Purchase, Inventory, Accounting, Manufacturing
Software
Replaced: Spreadsheets, QuickBooks, Shopify, TradeGecko
Size of the company: 1-5
Hosting type: Odoo Online
Running a sustainable fashion brand involves more than just innovative design; it requires streamlined operations, efficient inventory management, and e-commerce integration. fairechild found the perfect solution in Odoo, transforming its processes and significantly reducing administrative workload.
Founded in 2017 by Tabitha Osler, fairechild is dedicated to producing sustainable outerwear for adults and children. The company’s unique certified products are made from recycled plastic bottles and are fully recyclable. Unlike many competitors, fairechild ensures that its garments can be disassembled and repurposed without the harmful chemicals that typically hinder further recycling.
Beyond its sustainability commitment, fairechild differentiates itself by merging heritage workwear aesthetics with high-performance eco-materials. Its versatile designs allow customers to transition seamlessly from outdoor adventures to professional settings, promoting a capsule wardrobe philosophy that minimizes fashion waste.
"We create pieces that function across different aspects of life, reducing the need for multiple garments while ensuring sustainability at every step."
Roadblocks before Odoo
Before implementing Odoo, fairechild faced some operational inefficiencies. The company initially relied on spreadsheets, QuickBooks, Shopify, and TradeGecko to manage different aspects of the business. However, these disconnected systems created complications.
TradeGecko, in particular, proved problematic. The manufacturing and CRM modules were not well-developed, leading to inefficiencies and data inconsistencies. Osler found herself spending excessive time fixing errors and reconciling discrepancies between systems instead of focusing on growing the business.
"I spent so much of my time just making our information work, using elaborate spreadsheets to compensate for disjointed systems.”
A new era of efficiency
fairechild discovered Odoo while working on a digital adoption plan with Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). Through a grant-funded project, the company hired a student to research ERP solutions. After evaluating NetSuite, Odoo, and a few local options, Odoo stood out as the most scalable and cost-effective choice.
Compared to NetSuite’s $25,000 annual cost, Odoo’s flexible pricing structure (starting at just $5,000) offered a robust suite of features without breaking the bank. The ability to select specific modules allowed fairechild to manage expenses while still accessing powerful tools for its operations.
One of the biggest game-changers for fairechild was Odoo’s Shopify integration module. Previously, connecting Shopify with QuickBooks led to disruptions, especially with tax rates, discounts, and refunds. With Odoo, all transactions now sync effortlessly between Shopify and the accounting module, eliminating errors and manual reconciliation.
Another transformative feature was Odoo’s website module, which enabled fairechild to manage separate B2B and B2C storefronts. Before Odoo, the company had to manually overhaul its website every three months to accommodate seasonal shifts between pre-orders and immediate stock sales. Now, with dedicated websites for each sales model, the process is streamlined and far more efficient.
With Odoo’s manufacturing, inventory, accounting, and purchase apps, fairechild consolidated its workflows. Unlike TradeGecko, which offered limited functionality, Odoo provides a fully integrated system where product data flows seamlessly across all modules. This eliminates duplicate data entry and reduces manual work.
The reporting module has significantly improved fairechild’s operations. Previously, generating reports required exporting data from Shopify and QuickBooks, then manually analyzing sales trends. Now, Osler can access real-time sales data, broken down by country, customer type, and date, with just a few clicks. This efficiency has been critical for grant applications and strategic planning.
Perhaps the most significant impact of Odoo has been the reduction in labor costs and time spent on administrative tasks. fairechild previously operated with a team of three to four employees. Today, Osler manages the entire business alone, working just 30 hours per week, compared to her previous round-the-clock workload. “I used to work all day and all night. Now, with Odoo, I do what used to take three people, and I only work 30 hours a week,” she explains.
"Mining for sales data used to take me days. Now, I have reports set up, and it takes seconds. It’s just great.”
Scaling up with Odoo
Looking ahead, fairechild is expanding into China and Japan, tapping into new international markets. Additionally, the company is shifting focus toward direct-to-consumer sales, reducing reliance on wholesale distribution.
On the Odoo front, while the current system meets fairechild’s needs, Osler sees potential for further optimization. The barcode scanning module is on the radar for future implementation, especially if the company brings shipping operations back in-house.
fairechild’s journey showcases how Odoo can revolutionize operations for small and medium-sized businesses. Odoo delivers the efficiency, scalability, and cost savings that growing businesses need. If your company is struggling with disconnected systems and time-consuming manual processes, it’s time to join thousands of businesses leveraging its powerful suite of apps to work smarter, not harder!
