6 Steps Retailers Should Take Today To Reduce Out-of-Stocks

Retailers know that stockouts impact financial performance and customer satisfaction, yet relatively few have measured and implemented solutions to improve their merchandise availability. But that’s changing – quickly and dramatically.

Everyone knows the old adage about success in retail being all about “location, location, location.” Well, it’s still true – except that “location” now also refers to understanding the location of merchandise and stock position at the precise moment when a shopper wants to make a purchase – in store, online or both.

After all, nothing creates more of a drag on buying behavior in a specific retail outlet than when the desired item is out of stock (or worse, it can’t be located by the store at that time). Research suggests that shoppers will change stores after 2.4 instances of finding their desired merchandise out of stock. So understanding exactly the store's inventory position and where the merchandise is located at the time of purchase decision – on the shelf, in back-room inventory, somewhere else in the store other than its designated area, or at another store location – is paramount to ensuring that the shopper walks away having made a purchase and is happy about their experience.

Download the full white paper below to learn more.