Abstract: In one such aspect, the invention provides a method for optimizing merchandise profitability that includes the step of modeling gross margin as a function of product breadth and depth for each of at least one class of goods retailed by each of at least one retail site in a group of sites of the retail enterprise, and as a function of the expected discount price for each such class of goods at each such retail site. The method further includes maximizing the gross margin so modeled to the enterprise and, from that maximization, determining for at least one such retail site an optimal breadth, depth, and/or discount price, for at least one such class of goods retailed by it.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of, and systems for, optimizing the allocation of inventory to, and pricing of, goods sold by multiple retail sites, e.g., in a store, chain or other retail enterprise. Such a method includes generating a plurality of possible or “candidate” allocations of a given inventory among the multiple retail sites. That inventory can be, for example, a supply of the same or like goods at a distribution center that serves the retail sites. Each candidate allocation comprises an assignment of a respective share of that inventory to each of the sites. For each of the candidate allocations, an optimal price of the goods at each of the retail sites is estimated. The optimal price is one that will return an optimal gross margin to the respective site, given its assignment of the respective share of the inventory for the particular candidate allocation. For each of the candidate allocations, a sum is determined of the optimal gross margins across all the retail sites.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for determining optimum inventory allocations across retail stores and departments. According to one aspect of the invention, such methods include inputting an historical return on investment for each of plural merchandise departments and/or stores (collectively, “departments”) in a retail enterprise. This return on investment can be, for example, a gross margin return on investment (GMROI) that is a function of the inventory allocated to each respective department in each of one or more prior periods, e.g., selling seasons, as well as the financial return achieved by that department based on that inventory. The method further includes determining inter-departmental (or inter-store) risks in the historical returns on investment (e.g., GMROI's). This can be determined, for example, as a function of the covariance between the historical GMROI's of each pair of departments in the plurality of departments.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and systems support financial decisions by searching for securities or portfolios similar to one or more reference securities or portfolios; alerting a user when the number of references to a selected financial instrument on at least one selected Web site exceeds a predetermined amount; and/or enabling a user to graphically display financial entities and dynamic relationships between them.