Fashion · Supply chain
Seasonal stock planning for small fashion brands
By APAK Business Management · [Date] · 4 min read
Fashion stock is time-sensitive. Each season you are betting on what will sell, in which sizes and colours. Small brands can make that bet much safer with the data they already have.
Learn from last season's sell-through
For each style, compare units bought with units sold at full price. Styles that sold out quickly were under-ordered; styles you discounted heavily were over-ordered. That is your starting point.
Plan by size curve, not just by style
Look at which sizes sold first. Many brands order the same quantity in every size and are left with the smallest and largest. Adjust your size ratios to match what customers actually bought.
Test before you commit
Use pre-orders, small first runs or social polls to gauge interest in new styles, then order deeper on the winners once you see real demand.
Agree lead times and reorder points with suppliers
Know how long each supplier takes to restock. For core pieces, set a reorder point so you reorder before you run out, not after.
Plan marketing alongside stock
Time launches, drops and end-of-season sales with deliveries and stock levels. Promoting something that is about to sell out wastes ad spend.
The takeaway
A simple spreadsheet with sell-through, size curve and lead time per style will improve your next buy more than any trend report.
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