We know market can be stressful. That's why we created the below checklist with the help our SKYPAD user community, so that you can go into market feeling confident.
4 Weeks Ahead
☐ Book appointments with owned accounts
☐ If you need showroom models, work to secure them
☐ Set up a training with the SKYPAD Analyst Squad (asquad@skyitgroup.com) for new team members or if any current team member needs a refresher
☐ For Brands on our Enterprise Application: make sure all assets are uploaded for the most current seasons (i.e. Item Master, On Order, Shipments, ATS, Supplemental files, Images, etc.) so that your team can run comparative reports on all retailers in one place and be prepared to speak to past collection and current collection performance with both internal merchandising team and external buyers.
3 Weeks Ahead
☐ Ensure all team members have access to SKYPAD apps prior to the market prep period (1 – 3 weeks out)
☐ To add an additional user to Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Saks Off 5th, or Cos Bar ($25 per month/user), please fill out Purchase Username form
☐ Ask yourself:
☐ Do you have enough information to inform your product assortment suggestion to merchant teams based on trend and distribution strategy?
☐ At each retailer, are you aware of your business growth WTD/MTD/STD/YTD/LTD compared to LY/LLY? Have you asked your buyer how that compares to their total department and/or "global" trends?
☐ Do you know how you can leverage bestsellers to build a non-markdown-liable replenishment program or exclusive capsule?
☐ Do you have images of best and worst sellers for quick reference while building assortments during your appointment? If not for you, then for your buyer or upper management (who may join last minute).
☐ For NMG: Click here to connect with akeech@skyitgroup.com to learn how to access these comparative metrics through NMG Premium reporting.
2 Weeks Ahead
☐ Pull your recaps and review format and content with your team:
- Topline by retailer
- Channel by retailer
- Door by retailer
☐ Top door-style assortment - Delivery
☐ Current and LY for selling season you’re about to show - Top 10 styles and bottom 10 styles
- Special initiatives – exclusive capsule reporting, ad style reporting, window look reporting
☐ Pull 2 week ending dates after style was live for approximate return
☐ Explore adding Daily reporting to your NMG reporting. Click here to connect with akeech@skyitgroup.com if you’d like to quickly fuel trend, are growing a replenishment business, and/or if your business is seasonal/time sensitive. Or if you will be reviewing co-op budget for next year and need to understand last year event activity success.
☐ Ensure password is active. If not, reset it using this link.
1 Week Ahead
☐ Once recap format is approved, re-pull with most recent week-ending date
☐ Connect with Marketing, Merchandising and Design to identify ad styles, window looks, and key styles that will be featured in marketing throughout the year to be able to note those for retailers
☐ Work with Merchants to understand if any key styles are missing from the assortment they’ve presented. Look through each retailer assortment from the previous year to ensure you’re not missing opportunities. If there is a key style for one retailer, consider making it exclusive to that retailer in good partnership. If minimums for that style, ask your DTC counterparts to partner with you.
☐ For any last minute questions or trainings, please reach out to asquad@skyitgroup.com or akeech@skyitgroup.com
Kick Off Market Week
☐ Ensure password is active. If not, reset it using this link.
☐ Bring your laptop or tablet to each appointment with the SKYPAD app refreshed and ready
- SKYPAD can act as a quick aid to answer spontaneous questions or as a visual aid for specific styles
- Use the app live to troubleshoot any assortment/door proposals based on performance
Contact Directory
Training:
Analyst Squad (asquad@skyitgroup.com)
Single Retailer:
Ali Keech (akeech@skyitgroup.com)
Katie Hanisch (khanisch@skyitgroup.com)
Enterprise:
Chaya Rubinstein (crubinstein@skyitgroup.com)
Tina Hoang (thoang@skyitgroup.com)
Adeline Wolfgang (awolfgang@skyitgroup.com)