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A Decision-Support System that Helps Retailers Decide Order Quantities and Markdowns for Fashion Goods

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  • Murali K. Mantrala

    (ZS Associates, 1800 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, Illinois 60201)

  • Surya Rao

    (FI Sofex Ltd., 14 Eighth Main Road, Malleswaram, Bangalore, India 560003)

Abstract

We developed MARK, a stochastic dynamic-programming model-based decision-support system, specifically to help retail-store buyers of fashion goods decide on optimal merchandise order quantities and markdown prices. We implemented MARK as an interactive software program that runs on users' personal computers and can be integrated with the retailers' point-of-sale (POS) and other information systems. As we show in an actual-case illustration, MARK improved profitability and managers' understanding of the decision problems. MARK also provides valuable insights into the interplay between order-quantity and dynamic-pricing decisions. For example, higher markdown percentages do not necessarily mean lower profits.

Suggested Citation

  • Murali K. Mantrala & Surya Rao, 2001. "A Decision-Support System that Helps Retailers Decide Order Quantities and Markdowns for Fashion Goods," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 31(3_supplem), pages 146-165, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:31:y:2001:i:3_supplement:p:s146-s165
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.31.3s.146.9682
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    Cited by:

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    4. Zhen Zhang & Songtao Zhang & Mingshi Yue, 2021. "Joint pricing and replenishment policies for risk‐averse retailers under duopolistic competition," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(7), pages 1849-1864, October.
    5. Mantrala, Murali K. & Levy, Michael & Kahn, Barbara E. & Fox, Edward J. & Gaidarev, Peter & Dankworth, Bill & Shah, Denish, 2009. "Why is Assortment Planning so Difficult for Retailers? A Framework and Research Agenda," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 85(1), pages 71-83.
    6. Yossi Aviv & Amit Pazgal, 2008. "Optimal Pricing of Seasonal Products in the Presence of Forward-Looking Consumers," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 10(3), pages 339-359, December.
    7. Georgia Perakis & Melvyn Sim & Qinshen Tang & Peng Xiong, 2023. "Robust Pricing and Production with Information Partitioning and Adaptation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(3), pages 1398-1419, March.
    8. Caulkins, Jonathan P. & Hartl, Richard F. & Kort, Peter M. & Feichtinger, Gustav, 2007. "Explaining fashion cycles: Imitators chasing innovators in product space," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 31(5), pages 1535-1556, May.
    9. Vincent C. Li & Yat-wah Wan & Chi-Leung Chu & Yi-Cheng Lin, 2020. "A Dynamic Programming-Based Heuristic for Markdown Pricing and Inventory Allocation of a Seasonal Product in a Retail Chain," Asia-Pacific Journal of Operational Research (APJOR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 37(01), pages 1-30, January.
    10. Obeng, K. & Sakano, R., 2012. "Airline fare and seat management strategies with demand dependency," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 42-48.
    11. Edward I. Brody, 2001. "Marketing Engineering at BBDO," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 31(3_supplem), pages 74-81, June.
    12. Felipe Caro & Jérémie Gallien, 2012. "Clearance Pricing Optimization for a Fast-Fashion Retailer," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 60(6), pages 1404-1422, December.
    13. Wedad Elmaghraby & P{i}nar Keskinocak, 2003. "Dynamic Pricing in the Presence of Inventory Considerations: Research Overview, Current Practices, and Future Directions," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 49(10), pages 1287-1309, October.
    14. S Eom & E Kim, 2006. "A survey of decision support system applications (1995–2001)," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 57(11), pages 1264-1278, November.
    15. Rice, Dan Hamilton & Fay, Scott A. & Xie, Jinhong, 2014. "Probabilistic selling vs. markdown selling: Price discrimination and management of demand uncertainty in retailing," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 147-155.
    16. Nathan C. Craig & Ananth Raman, 2016. "Improving Store Liquidation," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 18(1), pages 89-103, February.
    17. Mostard, Julien & Teunter, Ruud & de Koster, René, 2011. "Forecasting demand for single-period products: A case study in the apparel industry," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 211(1), pages 139-147, May.
    18. Swaminathan, Kritika & Venkitasubramony, Rakesh, 2024. "Demand forecasting for fashion products: A systematic review," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 247-267.
    19. Dasu, Sriram & Tong, Chunyang, 2010. "Dynamic pricing when consumers are strategic: Analysis of posted and contingent pricing schemes," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 204(3), pages 662-671, August.
    20. Gabriel Bitran & René Caldentey, 2003. "An Overview of Pricing Models for Revenue Management," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 5(3), pages 203-229, August.
    21. Namin, Aidin & Ratchford, Brian T. & Soysal, Gonca P., 2017. "An empirical analysis of demand variations and markdown policies for fashion retailers," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 126-136.
    22. Bernardo Bertoldi & Chiara Giachino & Alberto Pastore, 2016. "Strategic pricing management in the omnichannel era," MERCATI & COMPETITIVIT?, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2016(4), pages 131-152.
    23. Jiayun Wang & Shanshan Wu & Qingwei Jin & Yijun Wang & Can Chen, 2024. "Identifying Popular Products at an Early Stage of Sales Season for Apparel Industry," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 54(3), pages 282-296, May.
    24. Geoffrey A. Chua & Yan Liu, 2019. "Sensitivity analysis on responsive pricing and production under imperfect demand updating," Naval Research Logistics (NRL), John Wiley & Sons, vol. 66(7), pages 529-546, October.

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