Planning for Inventory Returns
Retailers are in the midst of the holiday peak. While the sales peak ends at Christmas for most, the inventory returns peak is yet to come. This annual phenomenon invariably creates waves, especially if you sell products with typically high return rates (e.g., footwear and apparel).
Consider that a return rate of 20 percent for a retailer with top-line demand of $50 million means $10 million in returned sales. Then take the reduction in gross margin dollars and add the cost of processing the returns. It’s clear that returns can strongly impact a retailer's bottom line.
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- Inventory Management
Joe is Vice President of Product Solutions at Software Paradigms International (SPI), an award-winning provider of technology solutions, including merchandise planning applications, mobile applications, eCommerce development and hosting and integration services, to retailers for more than 20 years.
Joe is a 34-year veteran of the retail industry with hands-on experience in marketing, merchandising, inventory management and business development at multichannel retail companies including Lands’ End, LifeSketch.com, Nordstrom.com and Duluth Trading Company. At SPI, Joe uses his experience to help customers and prospects understand how to improve sales and profits through applying industry best practices in merchandise planning and inventory management systems and processes.
