S&S Activewear Announces ApparelSoft IQ, a Machine Learning–Powered Intelligence Layer 17 Years in the Making

Leverages decades of proprietary data to anticipate demand, optimize inventory, and deliver more reliable product availability for customers

BOLINGBROOK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--S&S Activewear, a leading technology-enabled distributor of apparel and accessories in North America, today 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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.”

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.

About S&S Activewear: Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Bolingbrook, Illinois, S&S Activewear is a leading technology-enabled distributor of apparel and accessories in the United States and Canada. S&S offers more than 80 brands, including basic garments to fashion-forward styles, with over 6 million square feet of warehouse space across North America. S&S services a broad range of customers through its nationwide network, including retail brands, e-commerce companies, garment decorators, promotional product distributors, entertainment merchandisers, lifestyle brands and web-based platforms for apparel customization.