Assortment Optimization Analyzer
Analyze product mix performance and generate data-driven assortment recommendations
What You Can Do
You can upload sales velocity, margin, inventory, and competitive data to receive structured assortment analysis grounded in category management principles. The skill identifies low-performing SKUs for elimination, unmet customer demand (white space), and right-sizing opportunities—then delivers actionable recommendations with financial impact projections to justify decisions to leadership.
Features
rank SKUs by profitability, identify slow-moving items, and spot margin leakage across the category
detect white space opportunities where customer demand isn't being met and competitive blind spots
receive specific recommendations for how many variants, how many brands, and how many products to carry
compare your assortment against competitors to identify share-loss risks and differentiation opportunities
get clear elimination and consolidation candidates with estimated inventory write-off and cost savings
analyze which SKUs serve which customer segments and identify unserved or under-served groups
receive financial impact projections (revenue, margin, turns) to justify assortment changes to stakeholders
Example Output
Example 1: Low-Velocity SKU Elimination
- SKU A-2847 (Organic Almond Butter, 16oz): 0.8 units/week, 18% margin, 89 days supply → Recommend DELETE. Impact: +$12,400 annual margin through elimination of slow-turning inventory and reduced labor.
Example 2: White Space Opportunity
- Category carries 12 SKUs in ready-to-drink coffee; none in plant-based protein smoothies. Competitors carry 3–4 SKUs. Recommend ADD 2 SKUs in this emerging subcategory. Projected impact: +$45,000 annual revenue, capture 8% of segment demand.
Example 3: Depth Optimization
- Salsa category currently carries 14 SKUs (7 brands × 2 sizes). Top 6 SKUs generate 78% of category sales. Recommend consolidate to 10 SKUs (5 brands × 2 sizes). Impact: -8% revenue, +$18,500 labor savings, +3 turns/year.
What's Included
- SKILL.md: instruction file with category management frameworks
- Sales Velocity Assessment Template: structure for uploading and categorizing SKU performance data
- Competitive Assortment Benchmarking Checklist: questions to gather competitor data
- Assortment Optimization Scorecard: worksheet to score SKUs across velocity, margin, and strategic fit
- Executive Summary Business Case Template: format for presenting recommendations with financial impact
Who It's For
- Category Managers — evaluating annual assortment resets and seasonal SKU mix changes
- Merchandising Directors — optimizing portfolio across multiple categories and regions
- Retail Buyers — managing vendor assortment and justifying product deletions or additions
- eCommerce Merchants — right-sizing online catalogs and identifying high-performing product mixes
- CPG Product Line Managers — analyzing SKU profitability and planning rationalization initiatives
Best For
- Annual or seasonal assortment resets and category reviews
- Low-velocity SKU elimination and inventory obsolescence prevention
- Competitive response analysis after market share loss
- White space identification and new subcategory entry planning
- Category depth and breadth optimization within space and labor constraints
- Justifying assortment changes with financial impact projections
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