May 14, 2026 – S&S Activewear announced ApparelSoft IQ, a proprietary intelligence layer designed to anticipate customer demand, optimize inventory decisions, and improve how the business operates at scale – ensuring customers can count on having what they need, when they need it. brbr
While announced today, ApparelSoft IQ has already been in production for more than six months, driving out-of-stock levels to the lowest in company history, especially across S&S exclusive proprietary and retail brands. brbr
ApparelSoft IQ is initially focused on demand forecasting and inventory optimization – one of the most critical and complex challenges in the business – while designed to expand intelligence and automation across the entire ApparelSoft platform over time. brbr
Today, ApparelSoft IQ helps S&S Activewear make better inventory decisions, optimizing purchasing and placement across its network to deliver higher in-stock rates, fewer split shipments, and industry-leading inventory depth and breadth. brbr
“Inventory planning has been near and dear to my heart since my first day at S&S. It was the first project I worked on with our Chief Transformation Officer, Brian Beale, back in 2009,” said Frank Myers, Chief Executive Officer of S&S Activewear. “We believed then, and know now, that having deep and reliable inventory is the most fundamental thing we can do for our customers. ApparelSoft IQ is a milestone in that journey – and a testament to what happens when long-term commitment meets the tools of today.” brbr
ApparelSoft IQ, developed by S&S Activewear’s data science team, is powered by one of the most comprehensive datasets in the branded merchandise industry, combining more than 35 years of S&S Activewear historical data with information from alphabroder, acquired in 2024. The dataset spans styles, colors, sizes, geographies, and customer segments at a scale unmatched by competitors. brbr
By applying machine learning directly to this data, ApparelSoft IQ generates highly accurate purchasing recommendations and inventory positioning decisions – helping reduce out-of-stocks and continuously improve how inventory is planned and deployed across the network. brbr
ApparelSoft IQ is built natively into S&S Activewear’s proprietary ApparelSoft ERP platform, which powers its e-commerce experience, customer tools, and distribution network operating at 99.9% order accuracy. As a result, its insights translate directly into action across the supply chain – from vendor purchase orders to inventory transfers between distribution centers – ensuring faster response times, more efficient allocation, and more consistent product availability. brbr
Over time, ApparelSoft IQ will extend beyond forecasting to power intelligence and automation across internal operations and customer-facing capabilities, including enhanced product recommendations and insights to help customers grow. brbr
“This starts with a highly sophisticated forecasting system built specifically for the blank apparel industry,” said Josh Clark, Chief Operating Officer at S&S Activewear. “We’re not just reacting to demand; we’re anticipating it and positioning inventory ahead of it. That allows our customers to operate with more confidence and less disruption.” brbr
ApparelSoft IQ builds on a growing suite of technology investments from S&S Activewear designed to help customers operate more efficiently and scale their businesses. These include solutions like ZeroTouch, which enables automated, production-ready workflows that reduce manual steps and accelerate turnaround times, and the FAST Platform, which connects customers to a network of vetted partners through an end-to-end, automated fulfillment solution – allowing them to scale operations and deliver faster without added complexity. brbr