Markdown timing when sell-through splits by door
Estate-wide markdowns feel tidy in a calendar invite and messy on the floor. When one door has already cleared a colour and another still holds depth, a single date either leaves money on the table or marks down stock that was still selling.
Start with door clusters
Group doors that behave alike—tourist corridors, residential catchments, outlet formats—rather than treating every location as unique. Merchandising dashboards that support two or three clusters are easier to maintain than twenty one-off rules.
Transfer before markdown when logistics allow
If weeks of cover are extreme in opposite directions, a transfer can beat an early markdown. Factor transfer cost and lead time honestly; slow transfers make the debate academic.
Document the decision
Write down why a colour was marked down on a staggered schedule. Next season’s team will thank you when the same pattern returns.