Merchandising & planning insights
Practical analysis on how apparel brands plan, buy, and trade a season — written by operators, vendor-neutral, and tied to the tools and benchmarks you can use today.
How to control markdowns before the season starts →
Most markdown spend is decided at the buy, not at the markdown. Control it upstream — in the size curve, the option count, and the open-to-buy — and the season needs fewer markdowns to clear.
In-season chase: reading sell-through before it’s too late →
The chase decision is won or lost in the first weeks of a style’s life. How to read sell-through and weeks-of-cover early enough to reorder before the window — and the lead time — closes.
Building an assortment that sells: options, newness, and the curve →
A good assortment is decided before any style exists — in how options are spread across categories, how much is new versus carried over, and how the buy follows the size curve. The line plan is where that shape is set.
How to build a T&A calendar →
A step-by-step critical-path calendar that surfaces slips early.
What is a WSSI? →
The weekly sales, stock & intake plan, explained.
See all how-to guides.