[ad_1]
// M&S is “re-adjusting stock flow” by delaying deliveries of orders
// The move comes as fashion retailers sit on piles of unsold stock due to supply chain issues and a lack of demand for winter clothing
M&S has asked suppliers to postpone deliveries to its warehouses and has delayed confirming orders for next year as fashion retailers across the spectrum sit on piles of unsold clothing.
The retailer has resorted to discounting coats, jackets at boots by 20% in a bid to clear excess stock as milder weather combined with shoppers cutting back has led to slow-moving winter clothing.
An M&S spokeswoman told The Sunday Times that, like other retailers, it was “re-adjusting stock flow” as supply chain disruption eased.
An easing of supply chain disruption has also led to a pile up of products in warehouses.
Lead times from east Asia have shortened which means retailers faced with clearing last year’s delayed stock are receiving new stock quicker than expected.
Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox each morning
Asos, for example, is sitting on £1.08 billion of unsold stock, up a third on the year before.
Next has returned “a very small” amount of stock to its third party brands although, it told The Sunday Times that its inventory was at planned levels.
Meanwhile, Tesco’s clothing suppliers are preparing for delays after the grocer wrote to them to remind them of its stock holding policies.
Fashion retailers will be hoping that Black Friday, combined with the recent cold spell, has helped clear some inventory.
Sales were up against last year this Black Friday. Barclaycard Payments said that the volume of transactions edged up 3.2% as of 5pm versus last year, while Nationwide said the number of purchases was up 10% across the day.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
[ad_2]
Source link