Quarterly Markdown Performance and Inventory Management Review

Track and analyze markdown effectiveness, inventory turnover, and margin impact across discount store locations, focusing on quarterly trends and category-level performance to optimize pricing strategies and inventory health.

Report Objective

Monitor and evaluate markdown strategy effectiveness through analysis of sell-through rates, margin impact, and inventory aging, with particular focus on seasonal merchandise clearance and promotional performance across store locations and departments.

Markdown Performance Analysis

Bar and line charts showing markdown sell-through rates and margin impact

Questions to Consider:

680%690%700%710%720%730%sum(markdown_depth)0%500%1000%sum(sell_through_rate)Women's WearMen's WearHome GoodsElectronicsSeasonalHow do Sell-Through Rates Vary by Markdown Depth?Higher markdown depths generally yield better sell-through rates with diminishing returns

  • What markdown depth provides optimal sell-through?

  • How does category affect markdown effectiveness?

  • Are there diminishing returns at higher markdown levels?

  • Which categories maintain margins best under markdown?

  • How does markdown depth correlate with margin erosion?

  • Are there categories requiring markdown strategy adjustment?

Women's WearMen's WearHome GoodsElectronicsSeasonalcategory−400%−300%−200%−100%0%sum(margin_impact)sum(margin_impact)What is the Margin Impact Across Categories?Margin erosion varies significantly by category and markdown depth

Inventory Aging and Turnover

Histogram of inventory age distribution and trend analysis of turnover rates

Questions to Consider:

0102030binStart$0$2$4$6$8$10(Counts) age_weeksage_weeksHow is Our Inventory Aging Distributed?Significant portion of inventory falls within target age range

  • What percentage of inventory is aged beyond target?

  • How does the age distribution vary by category?

  • Are there seasonal patterns in inventory aging?

  • What is the trend in turnover rates?

  • Which categories show improving/declining turnover?

  • How do turnover rates compare to targets?

0102030age_weeks2.04.06.08.010.012.0turnover_rateturnover_rateHow Has Inventory Turnover Changed Over Time?Turnover rates show improvement in key categories

Category Performance

Comparative analysis of markdown effectiveness by department

Questions to Consider:

categorymarkdown_depthsell_through_ratemargin_impact
Women's Wear32%40%−16%
Men's Wear33%83%−32%
Home Goods19%23%−24%
Electronics64%73%−5%
Seasonal43%52%−13%
Women's Wear19%91%−28%
Men's Wear37%48%−14%
Home Goods72%50%−19%
Electronics71%71%−25%
Seasonal45%26%−22%

  • Which categories require markdown strategy adjustment?

  • How do performance metrics correlate across categories?

  • What are the best and worst performing categories?