Question

Is planning the merchandise assortment in a store an art or a science? Why do you think this?

Answer 1

Assortment Planning refers to a process in which products are being selected and planned accordingly in the stores to maximise the sales and profits for the organisation for a specific period of time. I believe that assortment planning is both science and art to attract the people to maximise the sales revenue for the stores. Although it's considered to be more of a science than art becayse of the following reasons:

1. The arrangement of the products are placed as according to the utility and preference of the products. High satisfiers and preferenced products for any market are placed in front than the low satisfiers one for any particular period of time. Example: During rainy seasons, umbrellas would be paced on front comparatively than other items.

2. The scientific reasons and studies are performed and learned accordingly to understand the different behaviours of people seeing different patterns. Showing assortment according to colour combination and needs would make a different reaction as compared to different assortment. A whole cause and effect theory is being studied under this.

3. At last, the influence driving products which are either on sale or on discount are placed with banners and front to attract more customers to see it, reach it and buy it which is not art but pure scientific theory of causal reactions or the 99 ideology of marketing.