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Understanding Seasonal Structures in Apparel Wholesale
The fashion industry typically operates on distinct seasonal calendars, each with its own set of delivery windows:
- Spring/Summer (SS): Deliveries from January to April
- Fall/Winter (FW): Deliveries from July to October
- Pre-Fall/Resort: Deliveries from May to June
- Holiday: Deliveries from October to December
Each season may encompass multiple delivery dates to cater to varying retailer needs and regional climates. For instance, a Spring/Summer season might have separate deliveries for early spring and high summer collections.
AIMS360 supports multiple seasons across the entire order lifecycle. Most brands use 4 to 5 seasons per year, but AIMS360 is flexible enough to support up to 35 seasons across styles, orders, and invoices. This allows brands to track detailed seasonal performance, plan production and deliveries precisely, and maintain clean financial reporting tied to seasonal timelines.
Essential Reports for Seasonal Order Management
To effectively manage seasonal orders, consider implementing the following reports:
- Seasonal Sales Performance Report – Analyzes sales data by season to identify top-performing products and trends.
- Inventory Turnover Report – Measures how quickly inventory is sold and replaced within a season.
- Open-to-Buy (OTB) Report – Helps in planning future purchases by comparing planned inventory against actual sales.
- Sell-Through Rate Report – Calculates the percentage of inventory sold within a specific period, indicating product performance.
- Markdown Analysis Report – Evaluates the impact of discounts and promotions on sales and margins.
Best Practices for Seasonal Order Management
- Accurate Demand Forecasting
- Use historical sales data, market trends, and external factors like weather patterns to predict demand accurately.
- Flexible Inventory Management
- Adopt scalable storage solutions and responsive supply chain strategies to accommodate seasonal fluctuations.
- Integrated Technology Systems
- Leverage order management software that integrates with ERP, CRM, and accounting systems for real-time data synchronization.
- Collaborative Planning
- Work closely with suppliers and retailers to align production schedules and delivery timelines.
- Continuous Monitoring
- Regularly review key performance indicators (KPIs) and adjust strategies based on current market behavior.
Transitioning Core Styles into Year-Round Offerings
Certain styles, known as “core” or “never-out-of-stock” (NOS) items, maintain consistent demand across seasons—such as classic denim, neutral tees, and staple black trousers. To optimize these products:
- Consistent Production: Maintain steady production schedules year-round.
- Inventory Buffering: Keep safety stock levels to absorb demand spikes.
- Marketing Focus: Promote core styles for their versatility and reliability.
- Data Analysis: Use performance data to identify seasonal hits that deserve year-round treatment.
Conclusion
Apparel wholesale order management by season involves a combination of strategic planning, data analysis, and flexible operations. By understanding seasonal structures, utilizing essential reports, implementing best practices, and optimizing core styles, businesses can navigate the complexities of the fashion industry and drive sustained success.
To support this, AIMS360 is an omnichannel apparel order management platform, purpose-built for fashion businesses. It integrates with leading direct-to-consumer and wholesale platforms to unify order flow across all sales channels. AIMS360 also offers a powerful wholesale order entry system that empowers both customers and sales reps to place orders across seasons, deliveries, and terms. The platform supports flexible payments, including credit card, ACH, factoring, deposits, prepayments, and partial payments. Customers are provided a secure interface to enter their credit card information, streamlining every aspect of the wholesale order process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is seasonal order management in the apparel industry?
Seasonal order management refers to planning, tracking, and fulfilling wholesale apparel orders based on fashion seasons like Spring/Summer, Fall/Winter, Resort, and Holiday. Each season may include multiple delivery windows, and managing them effectively ensures on-time production, inventory flow, and retailer satisfaction.
How do I manage multiple delivery dates within a single season?
Use an ERP or order management platform like AIMS360 to assign multiple delivery dates within each season. You can create separate ship windows, track order fulfillment by delivery, and generate reports by delivery group to stay organized.
What reports are most useful for managing wholesale apparel orders?
Top reports include:
- Seasonal Sales Reports
- Open-to-Buy Reports
- Sell-Through and Markdown Analysis
- Inventory Turnover by Season
- These help forecast demand, avoid overproduction, and understand which styles should be carried forward.
What are core styles and how should I manage them
Core styles are your best-selling, year-round products—like essential t-shirts or black leggings—that perform across all seasons. You should manage them separately from seasonal fashion collections using continuous replenishment strategies and maintain steady inventory levels through forecasting and buffer stock.
Does AIMS360 apparel software support seasonal order workflows?
Yes. AIMS360 fashion software is built to support seasonal order workflows. You can manage styles by season and delivery, generate seasonal performance reports, and give customers and reps access to seasonal linesheets through the wholesale order entry system.
Can I collect payments through AIMS360 apparel ERP for wholesale orders?
Absolutely. AIMS360 apparel software supports multiple payment methods including credit card, ACH, and factoring. It also allows deposits, prepayments, and partial payments—all tracked automatically within the system. Customers are provided with a secure interface to enter their credit card details, ensuring a seamless and protected payment experience for both preorders and at-once orders across all seasons.
