Published in: Pricing

Mastering Markdown Strategies: Markdown Execution & Optimization

In the realm of pricing strategies, markdown execution and optimization stand as crucial pillars for businesses striving to stay competitive and profitable. From understanding the core objectives to implementing best practices, we equip you with the knowledge to master markdowns effectively.

• Objectives of markdown strategies (1/3)
• Markdown Campaigns Planning (2/2)
• Markdown Execution & Optimization (3/3)

Pause daily price optimization

To prepare for your markdown campaigns, it’s crucial to temporarily suspend your daily price optimization efforts. Once you’ve identified the products and sales channels targeted for markdowns, you’ll need to exclude them from your regular price optimization strategy.
Leveraging a pricing optimization solution like ours, you can effortlessly pause the price optimization process for the designated markdown products throughout the campaign period. This strategic pause ensures that your pricing strategy aligns with your markdown objectives, facilitating the successful implementation of discounted pricing and maximizing the effectiveness of your markdown campaigns.

Optimization levers during markdown execution

We have identified optimization levers for your promotional campaigns:

Timing and Duration of Markdowns:

The timing and duration of markdowns play a significant role in their effectiveness. Businesses must consider factors such as seasonality, promotional calendar, and inventory management cycles when planning markdown timing. Similarly, determining the duration of markdowns, whether as one-time clearance events or ongoing promotions, requires careful consideration of customer behavior and market dynamics.

Communication and Promotion Strategies:

Clear and consistent communication with customers about markdowns is essential for maximizing their impact. Leveraging promotional tactics such as email marketing, social media promotion, and in-store signage amplifies the visibility and engagement of markdowns. Effective communication ensures that customers are aware of the value proposition and encourages them to take advantage of the discounts.

Monitoring performance and adjusting markdowns:

Continuous monitoring and evaluation of markdown performance are critical for success. Key performance indicators such as sell-through rates, gross margin impact, and customer response provide insights into markdown effectiveness. Businesses should be prepared to adjust markdown strategies based on real-time data insights and market feedback to optimize results.

On PricingHUB’s application, you’ll find all relevant KPI’s to monitor your markdown activity and performance. We give you the opportunity to customize your graphs and tables depending on the granularity you want by adding filters. This way you can analyse the results of your campaign and take adjustment decisions based on reliable data.