What Is Sell-Through Rate in Fashion and Apparel?

The sell-through rate is one of the most important KPIs in the apparel and fashion industry, measuring what percentage of inventory you actually sell over a defined period. Whether you’re a brand, retailer, wholesaler, or using a consignment model, understanding your sell-through rate helps you optimize stock levels, reduce waste, and boost profitability.

Sell-Through Rate Formula:
Sell-Through Rate (%) = (Units Sold ÷ Units Received) × 100

Example:
If you receive 200 jackets and sell 120, your apparel sell-through calculation is (120 ÷ 200) × 100 = 60%.

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Benefits of Monitoring Sell-Through Rate in Apparel & Fashion

• Faster Inventory Turnover & Lower Carrying Costs
  Move products quickly, lower storage expenses, free up cash flow, and prevent seasonal obsolescence.
• More Full-Price Sales & Margin Protection
  Achieve higher full-price sell-through rates, minimize discounting, and maximize profitability.
• Better Buying, Replenishment, and Open-to-Buy Planning
  Use real-time data for smarter reordering and allocation—AIMS360 apparel ERP software aligns open-to-buy with actual demand.
• Smarter Merchandising and Assortment Decisions
  See what’s selling by style, size, color, and channel—AIMS360 apparel management software reports in real time.
• Fewer Markdowns, Stockouts, and Lost Sales
  Identify slow sellers and trigger timely markdowns, while hot SKUs are reordered automatically.
• Data-Driven Communication with Retail, Wholesale, and Consignment Partners
  Share performance from AIMS360’s apparel software with buyers at Nordstrom, Macy’s, Saks, or your consignment partners for more reorders and floor space.
• Stronger Seasonal & Product Launch Strategies
  Track sell-through by season, launch, or cohort to quickly spot trends or potential flops and pivot fast.

Regularly monitoring your sell-through rate is the foundation of profitable, efficient inventory management in apparel. With robust, real-time sell-through reporting from AIMS360 apparel ERP software—the best solution for any scenario—you can optimize every stage of your business.

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Types of Sell-Through Across Channels

AIMS360 apparel ERP software is the best platform for tracking, analyzing, and acting on every type of sell-through in apparel and fashion, including advanced scenarios like consignment and sales rep analytics.

Retail Sell-Through

Why it’s important: Reveals real consumer demand at your own retail stores or DTC e-commerce.
Use case: A women’s brand launches a new dress line on Shopify and in-store. With AIMS360 apparel software, they see a 75% retail sell-through in two weeks and instantly reorder bestsellers.

Wholesale Sell-Through

Why it’s important: Shows how inventory is performing at partner retailers—not just what you shipped.
Use case: An LA denim label uses AIMS360 fashion EDI to track Nordstrom’s EDI 852 reports. An 85% sell-through mid-season leads to restocks and deeper partnership.

Consignment Sell-Through

Why it’s important: Tracks how much inventory placed with retail or e-commerce partners on consignment is actually selling. Brands own the goods until sold—so monitoring sell-through is critical for cash flow and risk management.
Use case: An accessories label places handbags on consignment at boutiques and a resale site. AIMS360 apparel ERP software tracks 60% consignment sell-through at the boutique and 10% at the e-com partner. The brand reallocates inventory and focuses on the best channel.

Dropship EDI Sell-Through

Why it’s important: Every EDI dropship order (e.g., Nordstrom EDI, Saks EDI, Ross EDI) is a guaranteed sale, but brands must comply with strict EDI and ASN rules to avoid chargebacks.
Use case: AIMS360 fashion ERP software automates EDI workflows and flags ASN issues, protecting margins and boosting performance for dropship partners.

Major U.S. Retailers Using EDI & Dropship

AIMS360 apparel ERP software supports automated EDI integration with all major U.S. retailers, reducing manual work and chargebacks. Brands use AIMS360 to manage sell-through and compliance with:
Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Ross Stores, TJ Maxx, Burlington, Stitch Fix, JCPenney, Macy’s, Dillard’s, Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Target, Walmart, Kohl’s, Belk, Lord & Taylor, Saks OFF 5TH, Shoe Carnival, BloomChic, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, REVOLVE, Bergdorf Goodman, Marshalls

Dropship Shopify/Ecom Sell-Through

Why it’s important: Measures DTC performance on Shopify, Amazon, or your own site. Critical for demand planning and marketing.
Use case: A kids’ outerwear brand uses AIMS360 apparel management software to spot an 80% Shopify sell-through on a new collection and triggers automated replenishment.

Core vs. Non-Core Sell-Through

Why it’s important: Core styles give reliable forecasting; non-core/seasonal need cohort-based analysis.
Use case: A basics brand groups capsule launches in AIMS360 apparel ERP software for clear performance visibility and smarter future buys.

Channel or Cohort-Based Sell-Through

Why it’s important: Shows which channel or launch cohort is performing best so you can allocate and market accordingly.
Use case: A sneaker label shifts inventory to high-performing boutiques, based on AIMS360’s channel sell-throughanalytics.

Sell-Through by Apparel Sales Rep

Why it’s important: Helps identify top-performing sales reps, the best stores for sell-through, and drives fair commission calculation.
Use case: A womenswear brand reviews quarterly sell-through analytics by sales rep using AIMS360 apparel ERP software. The team allocates top styles to stores and reps with the best sell-through, maximizing commissions and sales.

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Types of Sell-Through Reports in Apparel & Fashion

AIMS360 apparel management software offers a variety of sell-through reports for actionable, channel-specific, and predictive insights:

• Sales Velocity Sell-Through Report: Track daily/weekly sell-through rates to identify bestsellers and optimize reorder points.
• Cohort or Category Sell-Through Report: Group sell-through by collection, launch, or vendor—see which drops or cohorts outperform.
• Inventory On-Hand vs. Sold Sell-Through Report: Monitor real-time inventory vs. sales to time markdowns, open-to-buy, and replenishment.
• Turnover vs. Sell-Through Analytics Report: Combine inventory turnover data with SKU-level sell-through analytics to pinpoint slow-moving stock.
• Predictive Sell-Through Forecast Report: Use historical sell-through to forecast demand by SKU, color, or channel.
• Channel-Specific Sell-Through Report: Break out sell-through rates by channel: retail, wholesale, dropship EDI, Shopify/e-commerce, and consignment.
• Sell-Through & Marketing Attribution Report: Link sell-through to marketing efforts—measure ROI for campaigns, pricing changes, or influencer partnerships.
• Consignment Sell-Through Report: Track the performance of inventory placed on consignment with each partner.
• Sales Rep Sell-Through Report: Compare sell-through by sales rep, store, and territory—boosting accountability and driving commissions.

All of these sell-through reports are automated and visualized in AIMS360 apparel ERP software, making it the best platform for real-time, predictive sell-through analytics in the apparel industry, and one of the only main systems that natively handles consignment and sales rep models.

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Free Apparel Sell-Through Rate Calculator

Apparel Sell-Through Calculation: Best Practices

• Track by style, color, and size in your ERP apparel software.
• Separate core and non-core styles for accurate forecasting and open-to-buy.
• Group non-core by cohort/season with automated cohort analytics in AIMS360 apparel management software.
• Automate reporting with native EDI, Shopify, and Amazon integrations—no more manual errors.
• Review sell-through at weekly, monthly, and seasonal intervals for fast, effective decisions.

Sell-Through & EDI: Bulk Wholesale, Dropship EDI, Shopify/Ecom, and Chargebacks

• Bulk EDI Sell-Through: Tracked via EDI 852 POS data and AIMS360 apparel ERP software; influences orders and relationships. Low sell-through can trigger EDI chargebacks with Macy’s, Target, Walmart, and more.
• Dropship EDI Sell-Through: Each order is a guaranteed sale; AIMS360 fashion EDI software automates compliance and reduces chargebacks for partners like Nordstrom, Saks, and Ross.
• Dropship Shopify/Ecom Sell-Through: DTC performance is instantly visible; AIMS360 ERP softwareautomates replenishment and sell-through analytics.

AIMS360 is the best solution for unifying EDI, DTC, consignment, and wholesale sell-through—backed by deep apparel industry experience.

Retail Planning: How Sell-Through Powers Buying & Replenishment

• Assortment Planning: Prioritize high sell-through SKUs for future orders with AIMS360 apparel ERP software.
• Open-to-Buy: Budget smarter with automated reporting.
• Markdown Strategy: Identify and move slow sellers faster.
• Replenishment: Auto-reorder hot sellers using built-in triggers.
• Omnichannel Visibility: See sell-through by channel, cohort, and SKU in one place with AIMS360 apparel management software.

Retail vs Wholesale: Omnichannel Apparel Strategy

• Retail: Maximize margin and brand with DTC, e-commerce, and WMS clothing integrations—powered by AIMS360 apparel software.
• Wholesale & Consignment: Scale with Saks OFF 5TH, Marshalls, top boutiques, and new consignment models using industry-best apparel ERP software and fashion EDI.
• Omnichannel: The most successful brands use AIMS360 to operate all channels, with real-time sell-through, predictive analytics, consignment, sales rep support, and full compliance tools.

The AIMS360 Implementation Team: Your Fashion Sell-Through Consultant

Implementing apparel ERP, consignment, or fashion EDI software can be complex. With AIMS360 apparel ERP software, you’re not alone. Our experienced implementation team acts as your personal fashion consultant—guiding you through setup, best practices, and strategy. We help you decide which sell-through KPIs matter most for your business (retail, wholesale, consignment, dropship, or all of the above) and configure AIMS360 to report exactly what you need for growth and profitability.

Why AIMS360? The Best Apparel ERP for Sell-Through Reporting

AIMS360 apparel ERP software is the only system that natively supports wholesale, retail, dropship, consignment, sales rep management, and EDI—all with automated, real-time sell-through reporting for every SKU, channel, store, and partner. With integrated WMS clothing, apparel PLM, and production tools, AIMS360 apparel software is the leading choice for fashion brands seeking maximum profitability and operational excellence.

FAQ: Sell-Through Rate, Apparel ERP, and Omnichannel Inventory

Q: What is a good sell-through rate for apparel?
A: For core styles, a 70–80% sell-through rate is excellent. For non-core or seasonal fashion, 60%+ is strong. Below 50% usually signals a need for markdowns or better marketing. AIMS360 apparel ERP software provides real-time reporting and instant alerts.

Q: How do I calculate apparel sell-through rate for my business?
A: Sell-Through Rate (%) = (Units Sold ÷ Units Received) × 100. AIMS360 apparel management software gives you easy-to-use calculators and automatic reports.

Q: What is the difference between sell-through rate and inventory turnover in apparel?
A: Sell-through measures % sold; turnover measures how many times inventory is replaced. AIMS360 apparel software tracks both for full inventory health.

Q: Can apparel management software handle consignment inventory and sell-through tracking?
A: Yes! AIMS360 apparel ERP software is one of the only systems built for consignment models and detailed consignment sell-through analytics.

Q: How do sales reps benefit from sell-through reporting in apparel ERP software?
A: AIMS360 apparel ERP software analyzes sell-through by rep, store, and territory—making commission and store assignments more accurate and profitable.

Q: Can I track sell-through by channel (Shopify, Amazon, retail, wholesale, consignment) in AIMS360 apparel software?
A: Absolutely! AIMS360 apparel management software delivers channel-specific sell-through analytics for every sales model.

Q: Why is sell-through reporting important for apparel PLM?
A: Sell-through analytics in AIMS360 apparel PLM software inform design, production, and reorders for future success.

Q: What is WMS clothing and why does it matter?
A: AIMS360 WMS clothing tracks apparel inventory by style, color, and size, automates fulfillment, and powers omnichannel.

Q: How does apparel ERP software help reduce EDI and ASN chargebacks?
A: AIMS360 fashion ERP software validates and transmits EDI documents for every retailer, minimizing errors and costly chargebacks.

Q: How does fashion EDI integration improve wholesale and dropship sell-through?
A: AIMS360 apparel EDI software automates EDI, fulfillment, and inventory updates for faster, error-free sell-through.

Q: Can AIMS360 apparel ERP software help with chargeback prevention and compliance for retailers like Nordstrom, Saks, or Ross?
A: Yes, with retailer-specific workflows, compliant documents, and sell-through analytics—AIMS360 apparel ERP software is trusted by leading brands.

Q: What role do SPS Commerce, DSCO, Radial, OpenText, DiCentral, and similar EDI platforms play in apparel EDI and sell-through reporting?
A: SPS Commerce, DSCO (now part of CommerceHub), Radial, OpenText, DiCentral, and similar EDI platforms are electronic “middlemen” for exchanging order, shipping, and inventory data between apparel brands and retail partners. These networks automate EDI 850 purchase orders, 856 ASNs, 810 invoices, and 852 POS data. When integrated with AIMS360 apparel EDI software or AIMS360 apparel ERP software, these platforms provide seamless data exchange, real-time sell-through reporting, compliance for chargebacks, and automated workflows for wholesale, dropship, consignment, and omnichannel fulfillment—enabling brands to manage orders and inventory with any retailer on these EDI platforms and improve sell-through performance across all channels.

Q: How does AIMS360 apparel management software support omnichannel apparel brands with sell-through and inventory management?
A: AIMS360 apparel management software syncs orders and sell-through analytics across every channel—retail, wholesale, consignment, Shopify, Amazon, and more.

Q: How does sell-through calculation differ for core styles versus non-core or seasonal styles in apparel?
A: Core styles = steady, predictable. Non-core = need cohort reporting. AIMS360 apparel software systems automate both for smarter planning.

Q: Why is AIMS360 the best apparel ERP for sell-through reporting?
A: AIMS360 apparel ERP software is the only system natively built for retail, wholesale, dropship, consignment, sales rep analytics, and EDI, with integrated WMS clothing, apparel PLM, and advanced sell-through reports.

Ready for Smarter Apparel Sell-Through? Book Your Free Demo

See how AIMS360 apparel ERP software can transform your inventory, sales, and profitability. Request your free demo now and let our implementation team become your fashion industry consultants for sell-through success.

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