Online stock levels down 20% in 2019

Balancing seasonal stock levels is becoming a growing issue for fashion retailers, according to new research.

An annual report compiled by order management tech firm OneStock analysed 40 prominent UK omnichannel fashion retailers’ websites in June 2019, finding that over half (55 per cent) had up to 20 per cent fewer products available to online shoppers than at the same time period in 2018.

The number of SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) missing from brands’ websites had risen, on average, by 7.7 per cent compared to the previous year, the report found.

The research also revealed that 18 of the 40 retailers reviewed had more end-of-season stock available in their online shops than during the same period last year, with average levels rising by eight per cent.

“Omnichannel fashion retailers are increasingly struggling to juggle stock evenly across channels throughout each season,” said Romulus Grigoras, chief executive of OneStock.

“Brands need to ensure all products are visible to shoppers all of the time to prevent end-of-season stockouts and the need for unnecessary markdowns of surplus items.”

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