In 2010, retailers are going to look at assortment first, saysrnJim Hertel, managing partner at Willard Bishop, Barrington, Ill. While out-of-stocks, promotions, pricing, package sizes and inventory are all affecting category management, the economy has brought the need to analyze category assortment to a head.rnNick Lake, vice president, group client director at The Nielsen Co., Schaumburg, Ill., also sees retailers' attention to assortment planning accelerating this year.rn"Assortment planning is absolutely critical in terms of category management," he says. "I think targeting and really understanding consumer trends are going to continue to accelerate, and I think you are going to continue to see suppliers bring innovative promotional activity."rnSpace productivity is going to be another driver this year, Hertel says.
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