Imagine the amount of energy it would take to inspire thousands of supply chain professionals from around the world; with that level of momentum, it’s a collective force ready to demonstrate change across the profession. It happened in Las Vegas, at the Venetian Resort during the 2025 Manifest Conference, supporting supply chain success.
Three full days of learning, brainstorming, collaborating, networking, and fun from February 10-12, enjoyed by the best and brightest of procurement, logistics, fulfillment, technology, warehousing, and retail professionals.
Manifest’s Who’s Who
Big brands, specialty retailers, supply chain strategic partners, and ancillary businesses pooled their talents forging new alliances and reestablishing old friendships. CP&G giants Kraft Heinz and PepsiCo, and omnichannel brands Amazon, Walt Disney Company, Third Love, L’Oreal, Fabletics, and American Eagle were onsite, as well as BASF, International Paper, Toyota, and Home Depot.
“All of the attendees were there to engage in open and honest conversations about supply chain. The dialogue was pretty top notch.” Scott Van Zeeland, WSI Sales Manager
Topics covered in presentations and in private gatherings mixed recent challenges with what’s new on the horizon concerning tariffs, innovation, automation, security risks, and whether sustainable practices could take a back seat to growth strategies.
But the stages weren’t the only place the pros were sharing ideas. Manifest’s exhibit floor was buzzing, with attendees and exhibitors sharing insights and ideas on podcasts and impromptu live interviews.
Matt Schroeder, WSI VP of Investment and Pricing, joined Samantha Jones for a “Meet Me for Coffee – LIVE from Las Vegas!” podcast, discussing economics, real estate, and their impact on logistics, plus recommended 3PL pricing strategies to navigate 2025.
Schroeder shared his perspective on assessing warehouse space costs, “It becomes a trade-off. The building might be a third of the price of a normal building, but when it goes beyond the tipping point, you’ll have to spend the money to improve the infrastructure on it.” Watch the full interview here.
Key Takeaways to Manifest Supply Chain Success
- Supply chain efficiency will rule the day
- Growth and automation investments are a delicate but necessary balance
- Inventory management is an art, and 3PLs—the artists
- Ecommerce demands are rising, and fulfillment partners will rise to the occasion
- Never miss an opportunity to self-promote, share information, and give props to a job well done
Manifest More
If you missed the event this year, we are sad to hear it – but there’s always next year. We appreciate the conversations at our booth, the shared stories at breakfast, and the expert speaker sessions.
But before getting too caught up in back to normal, carve out some time to explore what’s more in store to streamline logistics operations. From warehouse to loading, storage to fulfillment, and transportation, WSI can help with supply chain success. With over 13M square feet of warehouse space and multiple locations to serve customers, there’s no reason not to bend our ear and consult with us.
WSI Attendees: Ryan Brewer, Matt Rose, Scott Van Zeeland, David Basic, Matt Schroeder, Mary Berko, & Morgan Venditti
Melanie Stern
Melanie enjoys a longstanding career in communications crafting content for varied industries. Her experience includes writing blogs, news editorial, feature articles, social and broadcast segments. She also hosts Institute for Supply Management’s bi-weekly podcast “Supply Chain – Unfiltered”.