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Every successful retail business reaches a point where spreadsheets stop being a solution and start becoming a limitation. As product ranges grow, channels expand and planning becomes increasingly complex, retailers need greater visibility, stronger forecasting and more confidence in the decisions that shape future performance.

That's why we're delighted to announce our new partnership with Cotton Traders.

Following initial conversations at the Retail Technology Show and a competitive tender process involving several established retail planning providers, Cotton Traders selected PlanIT Retail to help transform the way they plan and manage their merchandise operation. The project will see Cotton Traders implement Linecard, WSSI and our new Assortment Plan solution, making them the first retailer to deploy all three solutions together as part of a fully connected planning ecosystem.

Future-Proofing with a New Approach

Like many retailers, Cotton Traders had reached the point where traditional spreadsheet-based planning could no longer provide the visibility and agility needed to support future growth.

Managing assortment decisions, forecasting demand and aligning inventory with evolving customer expectations requires more than static reports and disconnected data sources. Retailers need a clear view of what is likely to happen next, not simply what happened last week.

PlanIT Retail will provide Cotton Traders with a connected planning environment through the implementation of Linecard, WSSI and Assortment Plan. Together, these solutions will give teams greater visibility across forecasting, inventory position, assortment decisions and future demand. Rather than relying on multiple spreadsheets and disconnected processes, planners will be able to work from a single version of the truth, enabling faster and more informed decisions.

The business also operates a catalogue channel alongside stores and ecommerce, bringing additional planning considerations that require a flexible and collaborative approach.

“We chose PlanIT Retail because they not only provided the right technology but also brought deep retail expertise and the confidence that they would be a trusted long-term partner. We are particularly excited about the increased visibility their solutions will provide across our operations. Having access to more accurate, timely information will help us make better decisions, improve efficiency, and reduce manual processes.”
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Tim Lacey, Commercial Strategy & Planning Lead, Cotton Traders

More Than Just an Implementation

This project with Cotton Traders is more than just an implementation project. As the first retailer to implement all three solutions together, Cotton Traders will also play an important role in helping shape the future development of Assortment Plan. Their feedback and live operational experience will help guide future enhancements, ensuring the solution continues to deliver real-world value for modern retailers.

What has impressed us most so far is the momentum behind the project. With the implementation already underway and strong engagement from both business users and IT teams, there is a shared commitment to delivering value quickly while building along-term partnership.

We are excited to work alongside Cotton Traders as they embark on this journey and look forward to supporting the team as they unlock new levels of visibility, control and planning confidence.

"We are thrilled that Cotton Traders have chosen PlanIT Retail for their planning and forecasting needs. It’s a real vote of confidence to have been selected ahead of some well-known providers in our field. As well as delivering real value to Cotton Traders through faster, better decision-making and greater trust in their data, this project is a fantastic opportunity to validate the work we’ve put into our new Assortment Plan. The team’s experience will be invaluable in shaping the evolution of the tool.”
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John Plows, CEO, PlanIT Retail

If you’d like to understand how your business could benefit from a comprehensive and future-proofed retail planning solution, get in touch with the team.

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_{Image credit: Cotton Traders}