HOW TO PLAN AND CONTROL A MODEL STOCK 53
merchant wants to find himself overstocked on account of a
delayed season so that he has to mark down his goods.
The ideal way is to make plans so carefully that we can
buy to the best advantage, yet keep so sensitive to trends in
demand and so closely in touch with resources that we can
take advantage of a profitable sales opportunity as soon as
it discloses itself.
As we know, the main aids a buyer has to draw on in
planning are general facts that he is interested in as they
pertain to his activities, such as:
1. Statistics showing what was sold of each class of mer-
chandise in previous seasons—this is the history that enters
into the making of the plan.
2. Statistics of what is currently selling—the facts by
classes and amounts of merchandise gathered day by day.
3. Records showing the kinds of merchandise that cus-
tomers are calling for and that cannot be supplied from stock.
4. Information as to what competitors are selling that we
do not have in stock.
5. Early data regarding merchandise offered or to be
offered by manufacturers and wholesalers.
6. What is selling in other cities and abroad.
7. Information as to general style trends.
8. Imagination and creativeness in style goods and
improved methods and resources for staples.
9. Information as to the probable purchasing power of
the community as compared with commodity prices.
The relative importance of these facts may vary with
different lines of business, so that they cannot be listed in
any definite order of importance. They are all essential,
integral parts of proper planning. The Model Stock Plan
makes all these requirements easier.
We must keep constantly in mind that even if a stock is
made up entirely of desirable items, this stock can remain a
Model Stock as the days and weeks go on—a stock that will
bring the greatest total profit—only if all conditions are
maintained so that it will turn a sufficient number of times.
This means that articles less recently bought must be cleared
