Abstract: Disclosed are methods of and apparatus for analyzing projected future inventory against inventory budgets to determine open-to-buy inventory values. Inventory budgets are set, then demand is projected and some or all of notional deliveries, sales and inventory are simulated at the item level, capturing the interaction of inventory and sales. Analytic reports are generated that compare open to buy values and inventory budgets. The reports may indicate lost sales and may segregate saleable inventory from component inventory.

Abstract: Methods, systems and a machine readable memory are disclosed for adjusting projected demand items on an item-location basis. One environment in which the disclosed technology is useful is retail sales by companies with many items and numerous sales locations. Disruptive events and impact estimates can be calendared and applied to adjust both sales history quantities, which are used to project future demand, and to adjust future projected demand, directly. Impact estimates can be positive or negative, multiplicative or additive. Multiple disruptive events can be handled.

Abstract: Methods of and apparatus for simulating and projecting future sales, inventory and gross margin are described. Some methods provide bottom-up item-by-item, per location simulation of unit inventory and unit sales. Notional deliveries and other features of simulations and projections are reflected in the detailed description, accompanying figures and claims.