Almost every small brand ends a season with a style that sold out in three weeks and never came back, and another sitting in boxes. Those are not two separate mistakes. They are the same one, made in both directions, and the cause is that your lead time is longer than your selling window.
Inside you'll find:
The five numbers you plan from, per style, including the one brands forget and oversell because of
Two formulas that do most of the work: weeks of cover, and a reorder point that lands on a bigger number than people expect
Building a size curve from your own sales, why an even split leaves you with extra smalls, and how to buy the tail sizes
Wholesale packs versus open stock, and using your accounts' combined ordering as a better size curve than your own
Depth versus breadth, why every colour is another style to forecast, and a workable shape for a small range
Fabric minimums, buying fabric ahead so your risk stays flexible, and the two questions to ask every supplier
Total lead time math with a worked example, and putting the decision date in your calendar rather than the delivery date
Forecasting a reorder before you have sell through data, using your order book, how many accounts ordered, first reorders, and your own direct velocity
Deciding two quantities in advance so the decision date is a choice, not a panic
Safety stock sized to your actual risk, and why cover matters more than units
Order book versus holding stock, and why most small brands end up doing both
Handling late, short shipped, and faulty production, including a fair allocation rule
A weekly, monthly, and seasonal planning rhythm, plus a per style planning sheet
Who it's for: brands already in production who are guessing at reorders.
Delivery: instant digital download, 23 page PDF with fill-in planning sheets.
Please note: figures and size curves are illustrative examples. Lead times, minimums, and demand vary widely by category and supplier. This is general educational information, not financial advice.
