The Forecasting and Planning service provides the retailer with forecasted sales…and plans all merchandise data, including inventory levels and markdowns for a period of ten months into the future. The reports present a flexible budgeting system, which is updated monthly to provide seasonal open-to-buy recommendations consistent with current business trends. It is based on a bottom-up forecast developed for each individual classification of merchandise in the store.

We believe in strategic planning for every classification and each is reviewed and adjusted as needed, not just processed through a computer.

We recognize that all stores are unique and build a customized "merchandising blueprint" by classification for every store within the company. The system continually monitors and revises each month's performance to create a new merchandise forecast, planned receiving and open-to-buy plan.

We review each client's finished plan in-person every month. This provides an "unbiased", objective consultant's view from outside the retailer's organization to help discuss appropriate management decisions. This monthly consulting meeting also establishes an action plan based on the forecast, marketing, selling, merchandising and purchasing to enhance growth and future profitability.

We are dedicated to helping the specialty independent retailer compete effectively in the market. The process monitors and projects cash flow so that you have more money in the bank at the end of every season.

We are responsive to our client's needs and work hard to help each and every client reach a level of success warranted by their hard work and sacrifice. We provide the guidance you need in order to have the right inventory, at the right time… as well as develop the right plan to merchandise, market advertise and sell through that inventory!


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We start by developing a monthly sales forecast. Our forecasts are aggressive to help you realize the potential locked in many of your classifications. Then we move on to an inventory forecast, though the process is not synonymous with inventory planning. There is a difference between forecasting and planning. We do both!

Every class is reviewed twice every month before being reviewed with our clients.

The Initial Markup is analyzed by classification, to be sure your store is competitive.

We review with you and monitor Markdowns, to be sure your store is aggressive enough.

Calculate, review and discuss the Maintained Markup (Gross Profit), to be sure we are profitable in every classification, over and above what it takes to run the business.

Our process takes into consideration the selling season of each classification and the key variables specific to an individual store's demographics, location and merchandise mix.

By Classification, we Plan using stock-to-sales ratios which over a 13 month period will yield a desirable turnover of inventory.

This yields a GMROI (Gross Margin Return on Inventory Investment) that shows how your invested is performing.

By building a break even and cash flow analysis, we want to be certain that we are planning a profitable business. This is also a great tool to better manage expenses.



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