International Consultants and Trainers
 to Retailers, Manufacturers and
Technology Vendors Who Sell to Retailers

Increase sales, drive down costs and create success
This is why retailers, manufacturers and IT vendors around the world consult and train with Martec International

Merchandise and Assortment Planning


Improving merchandise and range or assortment planning for non-food retailers.

The requirement may result from:

  • The need to reduce assortment widths, increase margins, reduce inventory investment or achieve a more balanced distribution to stores
  • Current processes being inadequate
  • The merchandising and buying team not making effective use of an existing system
  • The purchase of a new planning system

Martec will work with your team to:

  • Develop the optimum merchandise and assortment planning process for your company
  • Ensure effective in-season monitoring and performance management
  • Guide and assist with the implementation of the new planning and monitoring processes
  • Recommend an IT strategy for planning that dovetails with the corporate IT strategy
  • Assist in the implementation of planning systems

Approach

There are 5 main areas in which we may provide assistance:

  1. Developing the merchandise planning process and ensuring it meets the needs of in-season monitoring. This will be done through a series of interviews and workshops using skilled facilitators. Prior to running the workshops, our consultants will examine the existing planning process in detail. 
  2. Our team will plan the process in detail and achieve consensus and support for the new planning process. The deliverables are a written report and a presentation to describe the new planning process detail.
  3. A further workshop to explore implementation issues will typically be conducted.
  4. A recommendation on the systems strategy will be prepared. Developing this will involve interviewing the CIO and other relevant personnel. It will include the identification of all sensible options and research into each option in terms of cost, risk and current status. A review of the pros and cons of each option will be carried out and a report will be prepared recommending the most suitable option.
  5. Assistance with implementation tasks will be provided. This could involve project management of the implementation, working with users to resolve difficulties, testing the planning components and training the users in the planning skills necessary to get the most out of the new system.

Why Martec?

  • We have a unique combination of in depth merchandise and range or assortment planning skills coupled with an extensive knowledge of retail planning systems.
  • Our work in systems strategy with both retailers and technology suppliers makes us uniquely placed to anticipate future trends in processes and systems.
  • We have an extensive portfolio of merchandise planning and merchandise management training programs. We can quickly and economically customize these programs to improve skills in your company and to re-enforce the change management process.

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