Influences
MerchandisingProcess
People Systems
SUPPLY CHAIN
P O S
MERCHANDISING
MANAGEMENT REPORTING
FINANCE
DISTRIBUTION
LOCATIONS
SUPPLIERS
MARKETING
STOCK ALLOCATION
INVENTORY MANAGEMENTPERFORMANCE
ANALYSIS
SALES & FORECASTING
OPEN TO BUY
MARGIN
MerchandisePlanning
Key Drivers
RightTime
Right Processes
RightPeople
Right Quantity
RightProduct
Right Location
Right Location Physical Location Size Occupancy Costs Demographics Classification Grade Sales per m²
Right Time
Speed to Market Seasonality Seasonal Trends
Right Processes Sales and Forecasting Inventory Management Stock Allocation Supply Chain Margin Management Performance Analysis Open to Buy Industry Benchmarks KPI’s
Right People Level of Experience Level of Expertise Succession Planning Incentive Programs Training and Development Programs
Right Quantity
Size Matrix Colour Assortment Fabric Assortment No. of Styles Quantity per Style Sleeve Lengths Pant Lengths Category Mix
Right Product
Target Market Suppliers International Trends Value Equation
Price Fashion Quality
Common Problems Experienced
Late to Market High Stock Holdings Wrong Product on Racks Timing of Markdowns Inadequate Stock Allocation Methodology Range Planning not identifying Key Trends Inadequate Margin Management Lack of detailed Management Reporting No Lifecycle Management Strategy No Pre-Season Strategic Plan
START
Merchandise Planning Cycle
Review Past Season Company Performance vs. Plan Category/Dept/Store Sell Thru by Product Type Missed Opportunities
Step 1
Initial Budget Proposal for New Season by Store at Company level taking into account Current Trends New Stores Refurbishments Relocations and Closures Indicative Market Financial Trends (CPI, Industry Growth) Gross Margin Target
Step 2
Commence Merchandising Planning Process at Department Level for Sales Stock (WOS and S/T ) Markdowns Spend (Open to Buy) Gross Margin Average Retail Pricing
Step 3
Grade Stores by Turn Over Take Department Product (Sales/Stock) Plans down to Category level by month by week by Graded Store by Climate Grid by Store Demographic
Step 4
Review Planned Sales % Contribution by department, or by category, or by Store vs. Previous Like Season
Step 5
Quantify Product Mix Number of Styles Quantity per Style Sleeve Lengths Pant Lengths Top to Bottom Ratio’s Colour Plan Fabric Plan GP Plan Price Point Plan Size Matrix
Step 6
Sign-Off Product and Financial Plans
Step 7
Supply Chain Optimisation Supplier Selection (Fashion/ Quality/Price) Logistics Planning (Speed to Market)
Step 8
Stock Allocation Process by Style by Store (incl new/Refurb) by performance vs. plan Delivery to Store
Step 9
Step 10
Sales/Stock Performance Review by Store by week by month
FAQ Relating to Merchandise Planning Cycle
Step 1 Do you review previous season? At what level of your assortment do you analyze? What is the format you use in this process, i.e. SWOT analysis? Do you have a standard document? What do you do with the information? How quickly do you react to the analysis? Who drives this process? Do you have follow up meetings? To whom is the analysis presented? How long after the season is the analysis done? Are there checks and balances in place to ensure results are taken into
next like season buy.
Step 2 Who does initial sales forecast? What factors are considered in preparing this forecast? Who provides input into the process? Are Operations involved in the process? Who is accountable for the budget? How is the budget presented?
Step 3 Do you plan by week/month/season? How do you determine benchmarks for:
WOS Stock Turn Markdowns OTB Gross Margin Ave. Retail Price
FAQ Relating to Merchandise Planning Cycle
FAQ Relating to Merchandise Planning Cycle
Step 4 How are stores graded/ranked? What factors are considered when grading stores? Who provides input into this process?
Step 5 How much emphasis is placed on % sales contribution? At what level is this broken down to?
Step 6 Who determines the assortment plan? How do they go about developing their plan? Who drives the plan? Who owns the plan?
FAQ Relating to Merchandise Planning Cycle
Step 7 Who signs off plans? Who is accountable and takes ownership of plans?
Step 8 What are criteria for selecting suppliers? Who sets criteria? Are suppliers given regular feedback on performance? What happens if there are quality issues? What happens if there are late deliveries? What happens if a supplier cannot meet cost price?
FAQ Relating to Merchandise Planning Cycle
Step 9 What criteria are applied to determine quantification to each store? How often are criteria reviewed? How do you determine what a new store should receive as opening
stock? Who controls the allocation process?
Step 10 Is there a process to review performance? What happens to information generated in these reviews?