Skip to main content

Original text


Powered by Google TranslateTranslate
Powered by Google TranslateTranslate
Overbought or Overstocked: Know the Difference
by Ritchie Sayner
>
May 6, 2022
Rating
Inventory manager counting stock on market shelves
Download Guide

During regular reviews of merchandising data, you will undoubtedly run across categories that appear problematic for a variety of reasons. Two typical areas of concern are being overstocked or overbought.

When you notice that a classification is out of line with the inventory plan, a determination must be made if the category is overbought or overstocked.

“Overbought” and “overstocked” are two completely different problems, although they share potentially similar results.

Careful review and corrective action should be considered if needed.

Overstocked

If the on-order matches up reasonably well when compared to the planned receiving numbers, and the open-to-buy still appears negative several months out, you are not overbought, but over-stocked. An overstocked situation can be rectified by returns, stock-balancing for products in a different class, and promotional efforts designed to drive additional sales, such as spiffs, contests, trunk shows, and – of course – permanent markdowns. This is also the time to review how the category got over-stocked in the first place, which could include a negative sales trend, receiving more inventory than was ordered, not taking timely markdowns, or accepting deliveries at the wrong time.

Overbought

An overbought situation requires a complete review of what is coming in by brand, size, style, and color. Most stores I see that are overbought are also “over assorted,” resulting in too much of everything or a whole lot of nothing, depending on your viewpoint. I do believe that the receipt of new goods, timed well, is the lifeblood of any retailer. My preference is to move older stock out as quickly as possible to make way for the new, assuming that incoming purchases are reasonably in line with the inventory plan. I do think it is also important to "test" new vendors and styles. I would allocate perhaps up to 10% of my open-to-buy (OTB) for testing new vendors. A very general rule of thumb, depending on the classification you might be buying for, could be 50% of OTB reserved for ongoing lines you know you are going to carry, 20% for size fill-ins and reorder, 20% for off-price opportunities, and 10% for testing new lines.

Fixing the problem

If you encounter an overbought situation, work first on the biggest problem areas with the earliest ship dates. One common cause in stores that are constantly overbought is that often they try to carry too many brands. Though well-intended in terms of providing a wide variety, too often this merchandising approach leads to the line not having any meaning to the store, and vice versa. Also look for duplication in styles, colors, and price points, and modify or adjust shipments. Duplications are simply superfluous inventory that will end up in the markdown room. Next, look for lines that have consistently not performed well from a GMROI perspective (Gross Margin Return on Investment) and modify those orders. If the overbought situation is simply due to backup orders of strong sellers that have been placed to reserve stock, this is less severe – as long as you do have a system in place to review the orders before them being shipped.

Consider a boot or sandal class that appears overbought for an upcoming season. The most prudent way to approach the class is to minimize carry-over going into the off-season. We are in an unbelievably competitive market, in which all customers have access at their fingertips to the largest shopping center in the world at all times – the internet. Dusting off last year’s mistakes or over-buying for the next season is the least viable alternative (there are exceptions, but few good ones). Yes, margin is lost when merchandise is marked down, but GMROI, turnover, cash flow, and sales are jeopardized when old merchandise is carried over from season to season. Which would you rather have?

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
About the author
Ritchie Sayner
Mr. Ritchie Sayner is a SCORE mentor in the Kansas City, MO chapter offering his expertise in retailing to SCORE clients as well as in-business retailers.
Read full bio
CONNECT
712 H St NE PMB 98848
}
Washington, DC 20002
1-800-634-0245

Copyright © 2024 SCORE Association, SCORE.org

Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

Chat generously provided by:LiveChat

In partnership with
Jump back to top