The State of Retail Inventory
Doing What Retailers Love to Do Best
What makes retailers so special is the love you have for your customers.
You have financial targets to meet, but success is measured by more than numbers on a balance sheet: It’s knowing you are delighting your consumers every day by providing them with the products they love. Which is why retailers have spent the 2020s rolling up their sleeves in an attempt to maximize sales and improve the customer experience despite ongoing inventory issues.
In 2022, retailers saw inventories rise $44.8 billion. On the overstock market, merchandise availability was up 40% in comparison to June of 2019. Yet, 56% of UK shoppers report feeling that stock-outs are worse than they were during the panic buying at the start of the pandemic.
With eight out of 10 retail executives believing consumers will prioritize stock availability over brand loyalty, it’s time retailers unlock every inventory optimization tactic available.
Winning the future of commerce will belong to whoever gets clean data. Once supply chain disruptions become normalized, AI and machine learning will become even more critical. Implementing these tools can’t wait: Retailers who leverage these systems now will
gain a competitive advantage in the present, and build up the data repository needed to leverage these systems in the future.”
Greg Buzek, President and Founder, IHL Group
What Retailers Need to Overcome Inventory Challenges and Unlock Optimal Customer Experiences
01 The Numbers Behind the Headlines: 52 Statistics
02 20 Expert Insights on Today’s Inventory Disruption
03 9 Actionable Ways to Maximize Margins and Customer Satisfaction
