ALLOCATION IN ACTION
Where Planning meets Practice
ENROL NOWIt all starts here ...
Whether you're just out of school and starting your career in Retail, looking for a path from stores to support office, or are already in a role as an Allocator, Inventory Analyst, or Merchandise Assistant - this is for you!
Allocation is often where retail careers begin, and yet it can be one of the most overlooked roles in the business.People often see the movement of stock, but not the commercial thinking behind it. They see the task, but not the impact.
For a role with direct impact on inventory, sales and profitability, it's surprising how often Allocation is learned through trial and error rather than deliberate development.
This course is about changing that perspective. Once you understand what Allocation is really trying achieve, everything else starts to make a lot more sense. Then the potential of getting it right, and the cost of getting it wrong, becomes impossible to ignore!
It's time to switch ON to AllocatiON!
Step into your career in Allocation:
- 30+ chapters across 6 sections
- Over 300 pages of downloadable course notes
- Worked examples to illustrate concepts
- Excel workbooks for practical application
- A comprehensive ~30 page glossary of retail terminology and KPI's.
- All the retail calculations & formulas you need to know
- Quizzes to test your learning along the way
- Certificate of completion
What's included?
We're equipping you with all the skills and tools you need to start or accelerate your career:
Who is it for?
Allocation in Action is an entry level course, aimed at junior roles; but it's not basic. It covers context and principles, and all the technical stuff like retail maths and allocation methods, ensuring a comprehensive introduction to Allocation and inventory management.
Designed for those new to a career in Allocation or already in a role and wanting to grow their skills.
Ideal for anyone working in retail who is keen to learn more about the Allocation function - Merchandise Assistants, Buyers Assistants, Store teams, Analysts, Stock Co-ordinators, Inventory Controllers, Junior Planners, VM and eComm team members - in short >>> "Merchies" of all types and titles.
Also invaluable for team leaders, General Managers and Business Owners who want to understand how Allocation impacts stock utilisation and business profitability.
And you know what? Merchandise Planners will love this course too. Often Planners learned on the job, and years into their careers wonder what else they "should" know. This course is a great way to fill the gaps or polish up knowledge you've become so familiar with that you take it for granted.
Section 1: A Warm Welcome
Q: How do you begin when literally everything is unknown?
A: With a first step and someone to show you the way.
Good news! We’ve been there, done that, and developed many team members along the way. We know starting something new can be both exciting and daunting, so before diving into the detail, we take a moment to get familiar with the course, how it works, and how to make the most of your learning.
Then... we'll get into the fun part.
'EPIC, life-changing' resources
You'll get access to our downloadable glossary: Talk it Up
30 pages of industry language covering ALL the retail terminology and abbreviations you need to know.
Along with a whole chapter dedicated to Retail formulae, our students absolutely love these resources!
"The fact that you take away 2 great cheat sheets with concepts and formulas that you can refer to in your daily life as a Planner is fantastic, as there is no where else you can find a complete reference of formulas and concepts like these - I've tried!" - Senior Merchandise Planner (Foundations Student)
YES I NEED THESE!
Section 2: Allocation Unpacked
There's lots of ground to cover, but we like to set the scene first. Think of it as contextual orientation, ensuring you have a solid base before we layer up your learning.
We start with the W's - the what, why, when and where of allocation. We unpack the role, relationships, systems and flow behind getting the right stock to the right place at the right time.
There are 7 chapters in this section, including our famous "Talk it Up" glossary.
Allocation Unpacked ... explore what's inside
All About Allocation
What the role involves, the impact on sales, stock and profit, and why getting inventory decisions right can make or break a season.
The Big Picture
Allocation touches many functions - Planning, Buying, Marketing, VM, Stores, Warehouse… and they all rely on each other.
Allocator Responsibilities
We have a look at the day-to-day realities of the role and the responsibilities that sit behind the title.
Talk it Up
Retail and Planning teams love an acronym and a bit of industry jargon. We get you speaking the language of Retail fluently.
Tools of the Trade
Systems, reports, spreadsheets - we cover them all, and importantly, the logic behind the numbers.
All sort of Allocations
Types of allocations, when they’re used, and why timing plays such an important role in stock decisions.
Logistics & Warehousing
Behind every launch, replenishment run or promotion is a huge operational network moving product around the business.
Learning Check
Test your understanding as you go with multiple choice and short answer questions focused on key concepts.
Certificate of Completion
A downloadable certificate is issued on completion.
Section 3: The Allocation Framework
By this point you'll be ready for the HOW of Allocation - planning demand, grading stores, managing stock flow and using retail maths to drive smarter allocation decisions. This is where it all clicks into place.
There are 9 chapters in this section, including
- the formulae you'll use every day
- worked examples for illustration, and
- a bonus Excel workbook to practice your new skills.
The Allocation Framework ... find your way around
Allocation Process
One decision impacts another. We set the scene for how the moving parts connect across the overall process.
All in on Allocation
Bringing together the planning, timing and logic behind getting product into stores.
Planning Sales for Stores
Before stock gets sent anywhere, someone has to decide what each store should realistically be able to sell.
Store Grading & Grouping
Understand why and how retailers segment stores to better match stock to demand.
Store Size & Capacity
Capacity is a balancing act between space, sales, customer experience and stock efficiency.
Product Ranging & Sizing
Creating a balanced and commercial offer that hits sales and profit targets.
Purchase Order Strategy
The operational side of managing purchase orders and stock flow, helping you be prepared and proactive.
Retail Maths for Allocations
These are the formulas and KPIs that help Allocators make smarter stock decisions every day.
Bringing it Together
Store grades, product ranging, stock volume, risk, timing… allocation decisions rarely come down to just one thing.
Learn from Industry expert Susan Martin
Over the course of her 30 year career, Susan has gained extensive experience at the Executive level, developing, integrating and managing the Planning function. Most notably she has worked for global retail giants The Foschini Group in South Africa, and The Cotton On Group in Australia where she lead the Planning function.
Since founding SMART IN PLANNING in 2014, she has worked with over 150 businesses and brands, with a combined annual turnover in excess of $25 Billion!
Known as an expert in her field, her collaborative style and people skills are evidenced through a strong track record in attracting and retaining highly skilled Planning professionals, often through volatility; she always brings a stabilising influence and collaboration across functions.
With her unique perspective and way with words, Susan communicates Merchandise Planning principles and concepts in a manner that is engaging and hits the mark with junior through to executive audiences.
I WANT TO LEARN FROM SUSAN!
Section 4: Allocating
There's only so much you can learn by talking about Allocation.
Eventually, you have to start making decisions.
This is where theory meets reality, confidence starts to grow, and you'll discover that Allocation is a practical skill that anyone can learn with the right guidance.
There are 4 chapters in this section, stepping through allocation methods and thinking, supported by detailed worked examples.
Allocating ... see how it's done
Types of Allocation
Now we see what actually happens when stock starts moving.
Initial Allocation
Step 1 - get the stock into the stores.
Replenishment Methods
Step 2 - adjust, react and re-calibrate to get an optimal outcome.
Manual Replenishment
Systems are important and help with managing large volumes efficiently. You still need to know what's going on.
Section 5: Being an Allocator
Being a great Allocator isn't about knowing every answer. It's about developing the confidence to ask the right questions, think commercially and keep learning.
The best Allocators stay curious, adaptable and ready for whatever comes next. This section is about helping you build those habits and continue growing long after you've finished the course.
There are 8 chapters in this section.
Being an Allocator ... learn all about the role
The Allocation Workflow
Once we’ve looked at all the pieces it’s time to see how the workflow actually runs when timelines shift and trade happens.
Allocation in Real Time
Interpreting what sits behind the numbers, deciding what to do next, where to look and how to prioritise.
Analyse & Optimise
Dig deeper and connect the dots, because that's what will drive action and results.
Peak Performance
The expectations and commercial responsibilities attached to the role are measured through these KPIs.
Typical Tasks
A behind the scenes look at what Allocators are often responsible for, along with a sample job description.
A+ Framework
Keeping it real! This framework leads you through scenarios and solutions. It's gold.
Managing the Timeline
Allocators are always looking ahead - tracking timelines, managing priorities and keeping product moving.
Growing in Allocation
Great Allocators build commercial instinct, resilience and decision-making skills that can shape an entire career.
A reminder of what you're getting:
- 30+ chapters across 6 sections
- Over 300 pages of downloadable course notes
- Worked examples to illustrate concepts
- Excel workbooks for practical application
- A comprehensive ~30 page glossary of retail terminology and KPI's.
- All the retail calculations & formulas you need to know
- Quizzes to test your learning along the way
- Certificate of completion
- Learn online, anytime, anywhere
Section 6: The Wrap
We believe great Planning talent can be grown.
That's why SMART SCHOOL is about helping people build confidence, think commercially and create meaningful careers in Merchandise Planning and Inventory Management.
Complete Allocation in Action and you'll receive your Certificate of Completion as recognition of your achievement. We hope you'll also stay connected with our growing Planning community.
Because this isn't just the end of a course.
It's the beginning of what's possible.
Certificate of
Completion
On completion of the course you will receive a downloadable certificate of completion.
Add it to your CV and display it proudly on your Linked In profile to showcase your skills.
Don't forget to celebrate on socials and tag us - post your certificate on Linked In, and Susan will give you a public pat on the back!
ENROL NOW
Looking for multiple licenses or
corporate pricing?
We love working with businesses on tailored training solutions.
We have options for bulk course pricing with multiple licenses for your whole team, or we can work with you to curate a customised training solution.
To get in touch and discuss further, send us an enquiry at the link below.
BESPOKE TRAINING AND CORPORATE PRICING
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