Mastering the Denim Market – Sizing, Fit, and Strategic Buying
Denim isn’t just a staple—it’s a cornerstone of American fashion. With the denim market set to grow at 5.8% annually through 2030, this presents a strong sales opportunity for retailers.
However, denim can be challenging to stock for - sizing is complex, customer preferences shift, and nailing the right balance between core styles and trend-driven pieces is an ongoing challenge.
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. From understanding customer fit preferences to creating a balanced assortment, here’s how to build a more profitable and predictable denim business.
How to Get Size and Fit for Your Buyers - The Make-or-Break Factor in Denim Sales
Denim is size-intensive and fit-specific — which means one-size-fits-all buying strategies don’t work. Not all sizes sell at the same rate : if you’re not tracking sales by size and fit, you’re setting yourself up for markdowns and frustrated customers.
The secret is that fit matters most when it comes to denim. The two determining factors for a great-fitting pair of jeans are: the block (fit around the hips) and the leg shape. Once fit is locked in, wash, rise, pocket placement, and stitching become the details that set bestsellers apart.
Retailers who balance core fits with fashion-forward options create more predictable, stable sales. Millennials and Gen Z want to find styles that suit different body types. Diversifying your vendor base to offer different fits—and securing the ability to reorder quickly—helps keeping up with these shifting preferences.
Strategies for Stocking What Sells
Denim isn’t a guessing game—it’s a data-driven strategy. Retailers with a successful denim strategy build their assortment around bestselling fits, then layer in seasonal washes and fashion details without overcommitting.
A great denim mix includes:
50% Core styles – Proven bestsellers are the majority of your store’s denim inventory as they deliver consistent sales!
30% Fashion-driven – Trend-rights washes, new silhouettes.
20% High-risk styles – Think niche fits, bold colors and curated details with a lower buy-in, higher potential reward.
A key tool to plan a denim buy, is to follow the Markdown Triangle Approach: replenish what sells, test new styles carefully, and mark down slower movers at the right time to protect margins. Remember that new fits are higher-risk and more likely to require markdowns, while proven bestsellers create stability.
And if we talk pricing : denim costs scale with processing. Heavy distressing and custom washes drive up costs—while classic gray-cast denim often sells better and keeps margins higher. Understanding these factors and training sales staff on these profit-driven insights will help sell more and discount less.
The Takeaway
Denim retailers who understand sizing and fit are better positioned to create a successful buying strategy that maximises profits. It’s all about :
Building an assortment that blends bestsellers with fresh, on-trend styles.
Tracking size performance to optimize inventory (and avoid dead stock).
Using retail data to make smart buying and markdown decisions.
Want to take the guesswork out of denim buying? Get a free consultation today and see how Management One’s advanced tools for demand forecasting can help you maximize sales, eliminate stock outs, and drive profitability.