Preparing an assortment audit before placement
An assortment health audit works best when the draft buy is nearly ready—but not signed. Too early, and the sheet is still fantasy. Too late, and supplier capacity is already locked.
Files worth gathering
- Trailing season sell-through by style, colour, and size
- Proposed buy quantities by door or door cluster
- Notes on forced repeats (landlord requirements, brand directives)
- Known delivery risks that will delay intake for certain fabrics
Questions the audit should answer
Which colour families are over-weighted against last season’s clear-out? Where is size depth thin relative to sell-through? Which doors need a different curve? If your auditor cannot answer those in plain language, the memo will not survive the buy meeting.
After the working session
Capture decisions in the buy sheet the same day. Assortment insights fade quickly once fittings and price negotiations restart.