Abstract: The disclosed technology improves the process of generating recommended prices for retail products. First, the present technology makes it possible to model shopper demand when sales data includes time periods with zero unit sales without hypothesizing whether the time periods are out-of-stock events or zero sales. This can be accomplished by applying a truncated Poisson distribution and the Newton-Raphson method to the non-zero unit sales to generate a coefficient vector that maximizes the likelihood of the observations in the sales data. Second, the present technology can be used to generate recommended prices for a group of products that optimize revenue and profit while limiting the number of products that require price changes to a predefined threshold value. This can be accomplished by iteratively replacing a current best value solution with a next best value solution across a collection of product networks until an acceptable number of unchanged prices is achieved.

Abstract: The disclosed technology improves the process of generating recommended prices for retail products. First, the present technology makes it possible to model shopper demand when sales data includes time periods with zero unit sales without hypothesizing whether the time periods are out-of-stock events or zero sales. This can be accomplished by applying a truncated Poisson distribution and the Newton-Raphson method to the non-zero unit sales to generate a coefficient vector that maximizes the likelihood of the observations in the sales data. Second, the present technology can be used to generate recommended prices for a group of products that optimize revenue and profit while limiting the number of products that require price changes to a predefined threshold value. This can be accomplished by iteratively replacing a current best value solution with a next best value solution across a collection of product networks until an acceptable number of unchanged prices is achieved.

Abstract: A method (400) and system (100) for providing a promotion plan (128) for merchandising products (600) receives base data (142) for the products (600) that includes allowable offers (204) and price rules (206) that affect the offers (204). A margin budget (146) is established for the promotion plan (128) that defines an amount of margin an enterprise is willing to forgo for a promotion event implementing the promotion plan (128). A scenario (406) is generated in response to the base data (142). The scenario (406) is optimized to obtain decisions (154) for the promotion plan (128) that are constrained by the margin budget (146). The promotion plan (128), indicating the obtained decisions (154), is presented for implementation by the enterprise during the promotion event. The obtained decisions (154) include a list of the products (600), each of which is associated with one offer (204) and one price rule (206).

Abstract: Markdown optimization may be performed using a computer system. Markdown objectives may include margin maximization or inventor minimization. Markdown schedule optimization uses an efficient, iterative, targeted combinatorial search. First, permissible discount steps are identified, then for each permissible discount step, a subspace of permissible step dates is identified. Elements from the date step subspace and price reduction subspace are combined and evaluated against the markdown objectives. If an improved markdown schedule is located, a new subspace of permissible step dates is defined to search the subregion of the solution space where the improved markdown optimization schedule was identified. Scheduling of inventory allocation from a distribution center is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method (400) and system (100) for providing a promotion plan (128) for merchandising products (600) receives base data (142) for the products (600) that includes allowable offers (204) and price rules (206) that affect the offers (204). A margin budget (146) is established for the promotion plan (128) that defines an amount of margin an enterprise is willing to forgo for a promotion event implementing the promotion plan (128). A scenario (406) is generated in response to the base data (142). The scenario (406) is optimized to obtain decisions (154) for the promotion plan (128) that are constrained by the margin budget (146). The promotion plan (128), indicating the obtained decisions (154), is presented for implementation by the enterprise during the promotion event. The obtained decisions (154) include a list of the products (600), each of which is associated with one offer (204) and one price rule (206).

Abstract: An articulated phonograph tonearm includes a multipivot parallelogram linkage means for supporting the phonograph cartridge. The linkage means is mounted at one end of a rigid beam. The beam is constrained to move in a plane parallel to the surface of the record and the parallelogram linkage structure forces the cartridge to remain in the same plane as it moves over warps. A stylus is attached to the cartridge and is adapted to ride in the grooves of the record. The stylus rotates about a virtual center which is preferably located on the surface of the record. Several alternative linkage structures are also disclosed. The apparatus is especially effective in minimizing the undesirable effects associated with record warp.