Retail analysis and planning
A well-executed retail planning initiative should not only generate profitable top line sales growth but also provide reduced buys and long range visibility to opportunities and pitfalls seasons ahead. Specific tools used to deliver these results include:
Style Selling
Six Month Flows/Open-to-Buys
Door Plans/”Bottom’s-Up” Plans/Fixture Analysis
Item Planners (By Door /By Size)
Calendar systems
Falling off calendar is a sure way to erode internal margin and increase team conflict. Creating a master calendar with clear delineation of dates, deliverables and team member accountability is one of the easiest ways to avoid this setback. Calendars can be created for a single season or an entire year, or for a single division or a total brand.
REtail Start-up / launch
Start-ups are a world unto their own. While “easy” in theory, it takes a lot to get a business up and running. We’ve worked with both wholesale and retail (brick and mortar and virtual) companies on their launches - numbers, budgets, staffing, systems, and overall general advise on how the industry works and things that need to be considered.
Vendor margin negotiation
Our system of margin analysis and negotiation has saved Marginista’ s clients millions of dollars. Through an in-depth review of account data and margin requests, we are able to identify the overcharges and renegotiate on your behalf from a position of strength. As one of our clients termed it, this is “Forensic Accounting” at its best.
SYSTEM SELECTION and implementation - INCLUDING WEB
We’ve helped multiple companies audit and select software for eCommerce/Web Site, POS, Inventory/Warehouse
Training
Retail Math is the foundation upon which all companies can make or increase their profit. Unfortunately, many of the traditional merchants have stopped their training programs. Intelligent people in the industry have no where to turn to learn the basics, brush up on retail math concepts, or understand how they can all work together to really impact the bottom line. We offer training to all levels of the industry - from those that are just starting out to those that have been in the business a while and confidentially need to learn or relearn the concepts.
dashboard/REPORTING
Given today’s systems, basic reporting should be easy to obtain - but it isn’t! We create reports and dashboards for you and your company to fully understand the business at a glance, allowing you to make intelligent decisions on how to profitably move forward.
merchandise planning
Owning the right mix of goods for maximum inventory turns without brand eroding mark-downs is the primary goal of merchandise planning. Part science, part art, this discipline is critical to driving profitability. Specific tools used include:
Hierarchy Creation
Design/Buy Planning Recommends
Product Flow Cycle
Unit Plans - how much to buy
Web Merchandising Analysis
Interim and Crisis Management
Have a problem and don’t know who to call? As one Owner said, “I have you in my phone as “The Fixer”. Multiple times, Owners, CEO’s and Presidents have called us when they have no where else to turn to.
For example, we’ve helped:
Web and brick-and-mortar launch with high staff turn over open in 2.5 months.
Company that either let go or had resignations from the President, CFO and VP of Sales all in the same week.
Web and brick-and-mortar launch with a change in direction of the selling strategy a week after opening. We researched and worked through new processes, systems and launched a new website.
IPM: Integrated planning method
Planning is no longer simply about allocation. Today’s progressive organizations are demonstrating that a well-executed planning strategy, with visibility to the business end-to-end is one of the single-most effective ways to positively impact margin and profit.
Such programs offer real results for the bottom line both in terms of top line sales growth and product optimization. They can also greatly reduce a company’s liability from a costly over supply standpoint. Integrating both practices allows organizations to course-correct as business changes at retail and thus maximizes potential and minimizes losses before you own the product.