The Assortment Planning template is a retail assortment planning solution that helps you manage product assortment planning across categories, seasons, and channels. Use it as a centralized product catalog management system and manufacturer database to support supplier relationship management and retail product management. Track pricing, costs, and product margin analysis, organize your product portfolio planning with clear categories and color variants, and use built‑in category management tools to keep assortments optimized for every store or sales channel.

Assortment Planning

The Assortment Planning template is a retail assortment planning solution that helps you manage product assortment planning across categories, seasons, and channels. Use it as a centralized product catalog management system and manufacturer database to support supplier relationship management and retail product management. Track pricing, costs, and product margin analysis, organize your product portfolio planning with clear categories and color variants, and use built‑in category management tools to keep assortments optimized for every store or sales channel.

Overview

Assortment Planning

The Assortment Planning template is a product management solution designed specifically for optimizing product mix and supplier relationships across different sales channels. The template consists of two primary databases:

• Products Database: A comprehensive system for managing product lifecycle and performance metrics. It includes product names, categories, images, approval status, seasonal timing, and detailed cost analysis. The template allows you to track essential business metrics such as unit price, average cost, and profit margins.

• Manufacturer Database: A dedicated system for managing supplier relationships and communications, including company information, contact details, locations, and product associations. This database creates intelligent links between products and their manufacturers, enabling efficient supply chain management.

How to install and use assortment planning template

1. Template Installation

   • Navigate to the template center and select "Assortment Planning"
   • Click "Use This Template" to create your assortment planning folder
   • The template will automatically set up with both Products and Manufacturer databases

2. Basic Usage Steps

   • Begin by populating the Manufacturer database with supplier information
   • Add products to the Products database and link them to their respective manufacturers
   • Set approval status and seasonal timing for products
   • Utilize the built-in views to manage approved products
   • Switch between interface languages as needed (supports English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese)

3. Product Information Management

   • Record basic product details (name, category, images)
   • Set seasonal timing (start and end months)
   • Manage color variations and product categories
   • Track pricing, costs, and profit margins
   • Monitor approval status
   • Link products to manufacturers

Who is this assortment planning template for?

This template is specifically designed for:

• Retail Managers: Perfect for managing diverse product portfolios across different categories (Clothing, Homeware, Decor)
• Category Managers: Professionals who need to optimize product mix and seasonal planning
• Procurement Teams: Staff tracking product costs, margins, and supplier relationships
• Merchandising Teams: Teams requiring comprehensive oversight of product assortments and seasonal transitions
• Supply Chain Managers: Professionals managing manufacturer relationships and product sourcing

Benefits of using our assortment planning template

1. Professional Data Structure

   • Pre-configured product lifecycle management
   • Integrated manufacturer relationship tracking
   • Comprehensive margin analysis tools
   • Flexible multilingual support

2. Efficient Information Management

   • Centralized product and manufacturer data
   • Automated margin calculations
   • Smart filtering for approved products
   • Seasonal planning capabilities

3. Comprehensive Features

   • Support for product images
   • Precise financial tracking with currency formatting
   • Color variant management
   • Category classification system
   • Manufacturer linkage system

4. Optimized User Experience

   • Clean, intuitive interface
   • Multi-language support
   • Streamlined approval workflow
   • Professional data visualization
   • Easy-to-use filtering systems
   • Efficient product categorization

FAQ

1. How are profit margins calculated?

The template includes built-in formula fields that automatically calculate the Profit Margin based on the data you enter for Unit Price and Average Cost. You do not need to perform manual calculations; simply input the cost and sales price, and the system updates the margin instantly.

2. Can I customize the product categories?

Yes. While the template comes with pre-set categories (such as Clothing, Homeware, and Decor), you can fully customize the Category single-select field. You can add new categories, rename existing ones, or delete options to perfectly match your specific product inventory.

3. How do I link a product to a manufacturer?

In the Products Database, there is a relational column linked to the Manufacturer Database. When adding a product, simply click this field to select an existing manufacturer from your list. This creates a two-way link, allowing you to see all products supplied by a specific manufacturer when viewing the Manufacturer Database.

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