SIX MONTH BUYING PLAN SIMULATION
SIX MONTH BUYING PLAN SIMULATION
sales forecasting
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data analysis
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omnichannel retail strategy
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consumer behavior research
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kpi development
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product lifecycle planning
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customer journey mapping
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visual merchandise planning
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sales forecasting • data analysis • omnichannel retail strategy • consumer behavior research • kpi development • product lifecycle planning • customer journey mapping • visual merchandise planning •
THE ASK:
This sales plan project required students to simulate the responsibilities of a retail buyer by forecasting and justifying a realistic sales increase for a fashion retailer—in this case, Chico’s—across a six-month Fall 2025 season. Students were asked to justify a projected year-over-year sales increase using both numerical targets and strategy-based insights. The assignment challenged you to use tools like sales history, promotional calendars, economic trends, and brand changes (like acquisitions) to support your forecast.
In addition to setting monthly sales goals, the project emphasized the importance of contemporary retail strategies, including omnichannel integration, loyalty program development, and sustainability practices. You had to factor in changing consumer behaviors, recent technological investments, and the evolving retail environment post-Sycamore acquisition. The final deliverable not only needed to showcase a detailed numeric forecast but also had to present a full-scale merchandising and marketing rationale to support Chico’s continued relevance and growth in a competitive market.
BUYING PROCESS
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Set a target sales increase of 2.9% based on historical sales data, industry benchmarks, and the financial boost from Sycamore Partners’ acquisition.
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Broke down the projected $62,060 increase across six months using strategic timing of events like back-to-work promotions, exclusive capsule drops, and Black Friday rollouts.
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Used research from sources like McKinsey, NRF, and Forbes to inform decisions about consumer trends, economic conditions, and seasonal timing.
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Developed product assortment strategies around customer preferences, emphasizing investment pieces, transitional layers, and full-price conversion.
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Created campaigns for digital and in-store experiences, with special emphasis on immersive tech, loyalty programs, and member-only perks.
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Integrated Chico’s efforts toward recyclable packaging and sustainable fabrics to align with values-driven consumer behavior.
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Finalized success metrics like sales per square foot, loyalty growth, and average transaction value to assess the plan’s performance over time.
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Applied APA-style citations and finalized formatting with strong transitions and a forward-looking conclusion.