An underappreciated component to inventory planning excellence is careful alignment of the planning calendar to the timing of marketing activities. Easy to say, tough to do, and here's why.
Good Plans
From the outside, there's a perception that planning is about applying comprehensive analysis that results in a perfect plan. If only that were possible! As any experienced inventory planner will tell you, perfect isn't achievable. While thorough analysis will yield the "best possible" plan, that's just the beginning. Superior plans don't exist in a vacuum; when a plan can be supported by other controls and responsive systems and processes, including a well-considered planning calendar, that's excellence.
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.