Completed 2023

SuperStore Consult

Using Tableau to Avoid bankruptcy

Superstore on the Brink - My Data-Driven Rescue Mission!

Picture this: a bustling store, shelves overflowing with products, but the cash registers are singing a sad, empty tune. That was the predicament facing Superstore in my latest project for the TripleTen Business Intelligence Analytics Program. I stepped into the role of a data-savvy consultant, armed with the power of Tableau to diagnose their financial woes and prescribe a data-driven cure.

From Spreadsheet Chaos to Visual Clarity

My adventure began with a massive Excel spreadsheet—a data goldmine, but in its raw form, it was a bit like a tangled ball of yarn. My first order of business was to untangle that yarn, joining different datasets and organizing the information into a usable format. Think of it as preparing the ingredients for a delicious data dish!

Tableau Time - Turning Numbers into Narratives

With the data prepped and ready, I unleashed the magic of Tableau, a fantastic data visualization tool. This is where the real fun began! I transformed rows and columns of numbers into engaging charts, graphs, and interactive dashboards that told a compelling story. Here's what I uncovered:

  • Profit Hotspots and Cold Zones: I zoomed in on different product categories and regions to pinpoint where Superstore was making money and where they were losing it. It turned out that Office Supplies and Technology were the heroes in the West Region, while Furniture was dragging down profits in the Central Region. Some product subcategories, like Copiers, Phones, and Accessories, were consistent winners, while others, like Tables, Bookcases, and Supplies, were consistently underperforming. It was like discovering hidden treasure and uncovering hidden traps!
  • Advertising Alchemy: I analyzed sales trends over time to identify the sweet spots for advertising. Turns out, timing is everything! I recommended focusing advertising efforts in Indiana during October (spooky good deals!), Vermont during November (pre-holiday shopping frenzy!), and Washington during March (spring cleaning bonanza!).
  • The Return of the Returns: This was the biggest "uh-oh" moment of the analysis. Product returns were a major drain on profits, with some products seeing return rates as high as 100%! Yikes! I also identified some customers who seemed to be professional returners. Time to investigate!

My Data-Driven Prescription for Profitability

Based on my data-driven detective work, I presented Superstore with a set of recommendations to get them back in the black:

  • Fuel the Fire: Keep investing in the profitable product categories and regions. Don't fix what ain't broken!
  • Address the Duds: For the loss-generating areas, it's time for some serious soul-searching. Are the products priced wrong? Is there a quality issue? Should they be discontinued altogether? It's time to make some tough decisions.
  • Smart Advertising, Not Just More Advertising: Targeted campaigns are key! By focusing on the right time and the right place, Superstore can get more bang for their advertising buck.
  • Tame the Returns: High return rates are a red flag. Investigating the root causes and implementing strategies to reduce returns is essential. Maybe it's time for clearer product descriptions, better quality control, or a review of the return policy.

This project was a fantastic opportunity to see how data visualization can transform a struggling business. By turning raw data into clear and engaging visuals, I gave Superstore the insights they needed to chart a course toward a profitable future.

Want to see the visual evidence? You can explore the interactive dashboards I created on Tableau Public by clicking the image below:

Want to Learn More?

If you’re curious about Tableau or data analysis, I’ve got some resources for you:

I hope this gives you a fun and insightful peek into my data adventure!