BRIEFING: The inventory management challenge

Today’s market for fashion and replenishment garments (i.e. basics) mandates that apparel makers and retailers deliver items more quickly, are flexible enough to adapt and respond to change and respond to demand accurately, efficiently and effectively. But in 2002, the NRF reported that the industry loses $200 billion a year to markdowns in the United States alone – a clear sign that apparel companies don’t have the right formula yet. This briefing looks at the problems facing companies in the industry, and the possible solutions - technical and otherwise - that can help them resolve these problems