Marshall Retail Group Vendor Compliance Guide

In this article, learn about: 

• Marshall’s compliance expectations for vendors 

• An overview of Marshall’s Vendor Guide 

• Marshall’s chargebacks and how to dispute 

Marshall Retail Group is a specialty retailer that has existed for 65 years. With locations primarily in airports and casinos, Marshall Retail Group has more than 300 stores, half of which exist inside airports across the United States.  

For vendors working with any retailer, compliance is key, and Marshall Retail Group is no exception. Retailers provide vendors with documentation on what is required for vendors to maintain compliance during onboarding. For Marshall Retail Group, the Vendor Compliance Guidelines are broken up into the following categories: 

• Billing and invoicing 

• Ticketing  

• Labeling  

• Packaging  

• Shipping 

• Chargebacks 

This article will provide Marshall Retail Group (MRG) vendors with an overview of the Marshall Retail Group Vendor Compliance Guidelines, helpful information about its primary compliance categories, chargeback information and how to dispute. 

Compliance with Marshall Retail Group 

When it comes to compliance, MRG lays out compliance expectations in detail for each category: billing and invoicing, ticketing, labeling and packaging, and shipping. 

Billing and Invoicing 

For billing and invoicing, MRG holds vendors to the following compliance standards: 

• Freight charges must not be included on the invoice. Suppliers pay for freight.  

• All invoices must include a valid PO number. 

• Vendors can email invoices to: accountspayable@marshallretailgroup.com  

If the vendor chooses to mail the invoice, it must be sent to the following address:  

Marshall Retail Group 

ATTN: Retail Accounts Payable 

3755 W. Sunset Rd, Suite A 

Las Vegas, NV 89118 

In addition to invoicing requirements, the following standards are expected of vendors in regard to Purchase Orders (POs): 

• Individual Purchase Orders must be invoiced separately.  

• All prices and quantities listed on the PO must be correct. 

• The buyer must approve any changes to pricing and quantities prior to shipment. 

Failing to adhere to the invoice and PO compliance standards could result in chargebacks deducted from the payment.  

Ticketing  

MRG’s requirements for ticketing make up the majority of its Vendor Guidelines, between the specific ticketing section as well as within Appendix A.  

Ticketing, as defined by MRG, involves the process of applying scannable barcodes to products. All products must be ticketed prior to shipment, and if this is not done, vendors may incur invoice chargebacks.  

• Tickets are provided to the vendor by the buyer. 

• Tickets cost $11 per PO. 

• The cost of tickets will be automatically deducted from the invoice. 

• Vendors can expect tickets to arrive within 7 to 10 days. 

• Vendors should contact the Distribution Center Director if the tickets do not arrive within the expected timeline. 

• Tickets purchased from another source other than the buyer require buyer approval first.  

• Tickets must adhere to UPC barcode standards. 

• New tickets must not be placed over old and/or incorrect tickets.  

Appendix A of the Vendor Compliance Guidelines includes information about exact ticket placements for different commonly purchased products in the following categories: 

• Accessories 

• Apparel 

• Footwear 

• Fragrance 

• Gifts and collectibles 

• Handbags 

• Luggage 

• Souvenirs 

• Plushes 

• Towels 

Labeling 

Labels are different than tickets. There are labels that are applied directly to the product, and labels that are applied to packaging and cartons.  

Tickets are barcodes necessary for products traveling through the distribution system. Labels are attached directly to products or merchandise for informational purposes, such as a size tag for a shirt. Labels are supplied by the buyer and will be sent to the vendor along with any tickets.  

Should a vendor need to change a label on a piece of merchandise, the existing label must be removed first and only a buyer-approved and buyer-supplied label can be applied. Should re-labeling be required for a certain product, and the vendor fails to re-label the product, then chargebacks may be deducted from the invoice.  

For packaging labels, there are 3 different types: 

Master Pack Labels must include the following information: 

• PO number 

• Buyer style number, and corresponding barcode 

• Vendor style number 

• Product quantity, differentiated by color and size 

Inner Pack Labels must include the following information: 

• Buyer style number, and corresponding barcode 

• Product description 

• Product color 

• Product size 

• Product quantity 

Shipping Labels must include the following information: 

• Vendor name and address 

• Phone number 

• PO number 

• Total amount of cartons, and each carton number 

Packaging 

MRG expects vendors to adhere to National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) requirements. Additionally, MRG lays out specific requirements and expectations for pallets and palletizing, cartons, and packing slips. 

Pallet Requirements 

• Pallets must be 48” by 40”, which is the standard size for pallets. 

• Maximum fork clearance for pallets of 3 ½” minimum. 

• Cartons must not overhang the edge of the pallet. 

• Cartons must be stacked in an interlocking pattern on the pallet. 

• Pallets must be shrink/stretch wrapped. 

Carton Packing Requirements 

• Apparel and accessories must not include hangers when packaged in the carton. 

• Apparel, accessories, multiple-piece sets, and headwear must all be poly-bagged together in their respective categories. 

• For hardline products, the quantity of the inner packs must be specified on the PO. 

• For gifts and plushes, vendors must notify the buyer of the inner pack quantities prior to shipment. 

• Foam packing peanuts are prohibited. 

Packing Slip Requirements 

• Packing slips are required for all shipments. 

• Each PO must have a corresponding packing slip. 

• The packing slip must include clear information regarding colors and sizes per unit. 

• The packing slip must be attached to whichever carton is indicated as “carton 1.” 

• The packing slip must be clearly marked “Packing Slip Enclosed.” 

Shipping 

Prior to shipping the product to the buyer, the vendor must email or call with the following information:  

• Vendor name 

• PO number 

• Total number of units being shipped 

• Carrier 

• Date of shipment 

• Contact name and information 

This information must be emailed to mrgshipping@marshallretailgroup.com, or the vendor may call (702) 949-8747 with the necessary information. This information functions as an Advance Ship Notice. 

All shipments must be sent to MRG’s distribution center:  

MRG Distribution Center 

3755 W. Sunset Rd 

Suite A Receiving Dock 

Las Vegas, NV 89118 

For drop shipments, the buyer will communicate to the vendor the proper address for products to be sent.  

For palletized shipments being shipped via Less Than Truckload (LTL), all POs must be combined into one Bill of Lading (BOL). However, cartons themselves must not contain merchandise from more than one PO. 

The BOL must have prepaid shipping, and include the following information: 

• Name and address of the shipping point 

• Description of product 

• Purchase order number 

MRG adheres strictly to on-time and in-full expectations. All shipments must be shipped in full. In general, partial shipments will be rejected. However, suppliers can get special written consent from their buyer for partial shipments. 

Marshall Retail Group Vendor Guide Overview 

In addition to the specific compliance areas for shipping, labeling, ticketing, and billing, MRG provides additional helpful information in its Vendor Compliance Guidelines, including:  

• Tax information 

• Terms and conditions 

• An overview of the more detailed compliance sections 

• Helpful contact information  

• Acceptance and acknowledgement letter 

• Vendor information form 

Disputing Chargebacks with Marshall Retail Group 

Should vendors not adhere to the compliance requirements laid out in Marshall Retail Group’s Vendor Compliance Guidelines, MRG will deduct chargebacks from invoices for the following infractions: 

 Sometimes, despite vendors hitting all the marks, they might still see chargebacks come through on their payments. Occasionally, retailers, including MRG, can add chargebacks to invoices in error. In these instances, it is important for vendors to dispute in order to get their money back.  

While Marshall Retail Group does not provide details about how to dispute chargebacks in its Vendor Compliance Guidelines, it is important to have open communication with your buyer should you find incorrect chargebacks on paid invoices. Additionally, be sure to keep the following documents easily accessible and organized, as much of these may be required for proving the chargeback is incorrect: 

• Proof of Delivery (POD) 

• Copy of the invoice 

• Copy of the PO 

• Any communication as needed 

• Any photos that may further prove the point 

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