Merchandise Planning
Fuel Your Merchandise Planning Efforts with Precise Demand Forecasting Across Purchasing, Assortment, Seasonal, and New Item strategies.
We Don’t Do All of Merchandise Planning.
Just the Hardest Part.
Churchill’s AI-powered Demand Forecasting solutions are purpose-built to support every forecast-dependent area of Merchandise Planning — including Purchasing, Assortment, Seasonal Forecasting, and New Item or Special Buy launches. Each solution is designed to improve forecast accuracy, reduce inventory risk, and align planning decisions with future customer demand and business objectives. Backed by three decades of forecasting expertise, Churchill removes the guesswork from Merchandise Planning.
Purchasing
Guide your purchasing strategy with precise demand forecasts
Assortment
Tailor product mix and size ranges by location to maximize sell-through
Seasonal Forecasting
Predict demand for short lifecycle and seasonal items
New Items/Special Buys
Plan for items with limited sales history with precision
Purchasing
Accurately setting the Total Buy Quantity is a key step in successful Merchandise Planning. Churchill’s Purchasing solution uses two proprietary applications — Profile Cluster Builder™ (PCB) and Short Life Cycle Demand Forecaster™ — to deliver demand-driven recommendations for the Total Buy Quantities. We help retailers buy with confidence, avoid overstocking, underbuying, and lost sales.
- Captures Lost Sales to Estimate Future Demand
- Forecasts at the SKU and Store Level
- Improved Vendor Negotiations
- Optimized for New and Short Lifecycle Products
- Minimized Stockouts and Overstocks
Assortment
Churchill’s Assortment solution, powered by the Profile Cluster Builder™ (PCB), enables retailers to define store clusters, size ranges, and localized assortments — ensuring the right products are planned for the right locations. It helps drive stronger sales performance, reduce inventory waste, and align assortments with future demand.
- Demand-Driven Product Mixes and Size Ranges
- Size Profiles at Every Level of the Item and Store Hierarchies
- Regular Updates Based on Shifting Demand
Seasonal Forecasting
Accurate Demand Forecasting of seasonal products is critical to capturing revenue and avoiding costly missteps. Churchill’s Seasonal Forecasting solution leverages the Short Life Cycle Demand Forecaster™ (SLC) to generate item and store-level full-season forecasts upfront, then refine them as sales data comes in. This gives planners the visibility they need to optimize performance both before the season starts and as it progresses.
- Full-Season Forecast by Item and Store
- In-Season Forecast Adjustments Based on Sales
- Higher Sell-Through and Margin Protection
- Maximized Full-Price Sales
New Items / Special Buys
Retailers often need to generate an initial forecast for New Items and Special Buys without reliable data — increasing the risk of overbuying or understocking. Churchill solves this challenge with two proprietary applications: Profile Cluster Builder™ (PCB) and Short Life Cycle Demand Forecaster™ (SLC). By analyzing product attributes, category dynamics, and performance of comparable products, our solution creates accurate demand profiles that drive confident, data-backed planning decisions from day one. Backed by three decades of forecasting expertise, Churchill removes the guesswork from Merchandise Planning.
- Accurate Forecasts With Limited Data
- Smarter Inventory Investments from Day One
- Optimized Launch Execution
- Stronger Replenishment and Markdown Control
Want a Deeper Look at How AI is Changing the Way Retailers Plan?
Our eBook breaks down how AI-driven forecasting strengthens your Merchandise Planning strategy — and shows how to bring AI into your process with clarity and control.
