Production increased by 12%, the crew’s morale skyrocketed because their feet stopped aching, and Marcus saved the company $4,000 in annual footwear expenses. He proved that buying in bulk isn't just about getting a lower price—it's about having the right resource ready the moment it’s needed.

Marcus decided to solve the problem by . He didn't just order a hundred pairs of the same size; he followed a specific strategy:

When the crates arrived, Marcus set up a "Gear Locker." Instead of workers losing a day of pay to go shopping, they traded in their damaged boots for a fresh pair on the spot.

Since it was October, he split the order: 70% insulated waterproof boots for the winter and 30% breathable composite-toe boots for the spring transition.

He polled all 40 workers to find the "bell curve" of their sizes. He discovered that while size 10 was the average, he needed a surplus of "wide" widths—a detail he would have missed if he’d just guessed.