By Definition: The velocity (rate of sale) of an article, typically for clearance at the end of a season, or to sell off obsolete merchandise at the end of its life.The timing and level of markdowns in a selling season is critical to maximising return on sales. This is often measured as revenue realization: the proportion of the potential original selling price achieved. For example, a revenue realization of 50% means that only half the potential full-price sales value was achieved by the end of the season. It is also important in minimizing terminal inventory, i.e. the amount of merchandise left when the season is finished.
A recent trend has been to use Demand Optimization software to establish the most desirable timing and level of markdown. Optimization techniques can be used to determine where the best combination of revenue realization and terminal inventory is going to come from, for example, comparing a tactic of low-level markdowns from early in the season against one of later, deeper reductions.
Markdown strategy is referred to as “Markdown Optimization”.
Retail Insights Markdown Optimizer is a software tool used by Retail Buying Managers and Merchandisers to analyze and decide on which items to go for markdown, what markdown % gives best performance, foresee the impact of markdown and run markdown. Markdown Optimizer allows them to follow a series of steps to analyze, decide and process a markdown.
- Cyclical continuous process to achieve inventory, profit and revenue objectives
- Build markdown plan for a store or group of stores or chain
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- Create, forecast, compare and evaluate multiple markdown pricing scenarios
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- Automate and streamline the markdown pricing process
” Analyse performance of merchandise hierarchy levels for each/aggregate stores”
“Identify specific styles to do markdown and discount % that gives best results”
“Evaluate the Markdown Cost, What–if and Projected Sales and Totals”
“Decide the Markdown and go for execution”
