Inventory planning isn't just about reordering what's selling—it’s about strategically deciding how much to buy, when to buy it, and how long it should stay on the floor. In this deep-dive conversation with Paul Erickson, Executive Director at Management One, we explore what inventory planning actually is. From defining open-to-buy budgets to the psychology of customer engagement, Paul shares his insights from 40+ years as a retail educator along with real-world examples that show how inventory planning can turn struggling stores into growth engines.

For our latest webinar, we asked participants to share how they’re feeling about 2025. Find out their top concerns, recession-tested strategies, and what they expect for the year ahead.

Tariffs necessitate careful financial and accounting adjustments for retailers, impacting balance sheets and cash flow.

Read our webinar recap to discover the 4 steps and 3 P’s to help independent retailers navigate uncertainty with confidence — from data-driven planning to team activation and smart inventory decisions.

As usual, performance varied meaningfully by retail vertical and by class of merchandise.  See below for results by vertical for our key groups, with sales growth led by the toy and hobby category.  One callout is that luxury fashion markdowns grew meaningfully, suggesting they were needed to support continued sales growth.  Is the luxury consumer feeling pinched after a long stretch of strong spending?

Following our recent webinar "Tariffs Are Here – Now What?", we asked participants how tariffs are impacting their business — and what strategies they are putting in place to protect their margins. Discover what retailers shared, the top strategies they're prioritizing, and key insights from our speakers Marc Weiss and Dane Cohen.

In a world dominated by big box giants and online marketplaces, independent retailers have powerful advantages that national chains often can’t match. Here are three effective ways local retailers can compete with big box stores in 2025.

Denim isn’t just another product—it’s the heart and soul of many retailers’ businesses. But let’s be real, managing inventory and maintaining profitability remains a challenge.

Fiona Horgan, experienced Retail Business Strategist, shares how retailers can overcome these challenges by focusing on strategic replenishment and effective merchandising. 

Find out her top 3 strategies to keep your denim business profitable and consistent year-round.

Retailers should consider diversifying their offerings beyond buying and selling products. Providing services or renting out space during off-hours can generate additional income and increase foot traffic, leading to increased product sales.

In a recent webinar, retail strategist Dane Cohen and retail industry expert and Management One co-founder Marc Weiss, discuss real-world tactics for navigating tariff-driven cost increases.

Find out three strategies for independent retailers to turn economic pressure into opportunity — using data, focus, and adaptability.

Based on what we know today, the first step is mobilization and preparation. This allows you to take action now to prepare for future uncertainty. Creating a contingency plan with trigger points for execution is one way to approach this concept. The benefit of preparation is that, as events unfold, you are freed to respond thoughtfully rather than react to them.

Here are my recommendations on important actions to take as part of an effective response.

With the denim market set to grow at 5.8% annually through 2030, denim isn’t just a staple—it’s a cornerstone of American fashion and a strong sales opportunity for retailers.

But denim can be challenging to stock for. So how do you turn denim from a headache into a high-margin, high-turn powerhouse?

Fiona Horgan, experienced Retail Business Strategist, shares insights on how to navigate the challenges of denim buying to build a more profitable and predictable retail business.

Rising inflation and tariffs are driving up retail prices, forcing consumers to make tough choices. According to the NRF, American consumers’ spending power will be reduced by $46 to $78 billion every year the tariffs are in place. The big question is : are consumers still buying, or are they pushing back? Find out how consumers are responding to price increases and three strategies to retain them.

Tariffs on imported goods are hitting American retailers hard, driving up costs and squeezing already thin margins. Retailers now face a tough balancing act—absorbing increased costs or raising prices and risking customer loyalty. 
But can your customers absorb another price increase? Find out the direct and indirect costs of tariffs and five strategies retailers are using to absorb the shock in 2025.

At the ICBA Conference 2025 in Chicago, the focus was to give a fresh perspective on how campus stores can drive profitability by adopting strategies from independent retail.

Find out the best tips industry experts revealed at ICBA to maximise merchandise profitability in 2025.

As part of the 2025 MAGIC Conference in Las Vegas, Dane Cohen, Director of Retail Strategy at Management One, discussed major trends impacting retailers in 2025.

Find out about the five fundamental strategies to drive revenue and maintain a healthy inventory flow according to retail experts.