APPAREL SORTING PROCESS
Sample Pulling
Pull samples of every apparel style you have ownership in (more than 4 in stock) in the largest size available.
Separate samples into categories (dresses, denim, tops, sets, etc,)
Keep key items or “sisters” grouped together as you pull samples. Keep sets paired together as well. Use a waterfall strip to keep them connected to one another.
Within each category separate samples into similar styles and attributes (graphic Ts, basic tops, feminine tops, patterned tops, etc.).
Pull samples of all accessories.
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Apparel Sorting
Utilizing the Seasonal Direction and Personality Information, separate each sample into the personality it should be in merchandised in.
Make your decision first on silhouette and fabrication, then look at pattern and other discerning attributes, consider color last.
Sort accessory samples into personalities and keep with apparel samples
First sort by Personality, then sort by defining in this order:
1.) Destination
2.) Fabrication
3.) Silhouette
4.) Pattern / Details
5.) Color
1.) Pull Sample Racks by category
2.) sort categories into personalities bottoms
sorting personalities into sub shops
Within each personality, begin by selecting 3 to 4 “Inspiration pieces” that are going to help you pull together each sub shop’s personality. An inspiration piece, also called a narrator, can be a graphic with a specific destination or theme, or a top or dress with 4 or more colors that will help pull together an impactful sub shop.
Begin by sorting each category and determining what “inspiration piece” that item would likely be merchandised with. Sort your categories in this order; dresses, sets, tops, then bottoms.
Within each category, sort your prints and novelty items first. Once you have those sorted into each sub shop, determine how you will use your key item styles that come in multiple colors to break up any sub shops that have a lot of prints. The same best practice applies to bottoms and ensuring there is a balanced amount of bottoms in each sub shop to pair back to outfitting.
3.) Sorting personalities into sub shops
( Focus on Key volume drivers and color stories )
sorting sub shops into groupings
Within in each sub shop, look at how the samples will be outfitted or paired together for the most impact. Utilize the Seasonal Direction and Personality Chart to ensure you are prioritizing properly. Keep building sub-shops until all the samples have been utilized. If there are items that do not fit into the smaller story parameters, determine if they should be in that shop. If they need to stay in the shop, consider that they should probably be merchandised nondominantly.
When sorting categories into groupings, consider sleeve length, silhouettes, and key item programs while sorting. This will help build intentional surfaces, garment racks, and wallscapes. Sort your accessories using the same filter, how will she outfit it, how will it complement the personality.
4.) Sorting sub shops into groupings
( Focus on outfitting & silhouette/Sleeve Length )
determine real-estate based on grouping
Determine where in the structure each sub-shop will be merchandised based on priority of item placement and amount of real estate available. Use the seasonal directive to determine key focuses to consider.
Look through the samples and determine what will be first best for surfaces, then garment racks, and finally walls. Consider how items will fold and ownership of items when selecting surface items.
Group the samples together based on the fixture structure and begin placing them
intellectually while still on the rack. Once placement has been determined for the majority of the samples, begin setting samples on fixtures. Do not start filling in until 75% of samples have been placed, adjustments may need to be made once the full collection has been considered.
