Test and reorder

Also: test-and-repeat, in-season replenishment

Test and reorder is a buying method in which a range is first placed in small quantities, often in selected stores, and further units are ordered only for the options that sell. It depends on short production lead times and budget kept back for the season. It lowers markdown risk on unsold stock; it gives up some volume and purchase price on lines that would have sold anyway.

The method moves part of the buying decision from the pre-season meeting to the first weeks of sales data, so buyers, suppliers and logistics have to act on weekly reads. Zara, with much of its production sourced close to its home markets, is the reference case.

Open-to-buy · Full-price sell-through · Markdown