Open-to-Buy Planning
for Independent Retailers
If you're running a retail store without an open-to-buy plan, you're buying on gut instinct — and that's what leads to overstock, markdowns, and cash flow problems. We build customized OTB plans that tell you exactly how much to buy, when, and where.
What Is Open-to-Buy Planning?
Open-to-buy (OTB) is a purchasing budget system used by retailers to control how much inventory they bring in over a given period. It's calculated based on your planned sales, beginning inventory, ending inventory goals, and markdowns.
An OTB plan ensures you're never buying more than your store can sell — and never missing sales because you're out of stock at the wrong time.
Why Independent Retailers Struggle Without OTB
Overbought Inventory
Excess stock ties up cash and forces deep markdowns at season's end, eating directly into your margins.
Stockouts in Top Categories
Running out of your best sellers means lost sales and frustrated customers walking out the door for good.
Multi-Location Imbalance
Without location-level OTB, inventory imbalance across stores becomes nearly impossible to fix mid-season.
Vendor-Driven Purchasing
Reactive buying based on vendor pressure — not your actual data — leads to the wrong mix every single time.
Chronic Cash Flow Problems
Too much money sitting on shelves instead of working for you — the #1 cause of retail cash crunches.
How Our Open-to-Buy Planning Service Works
We don't hand you a generic spreadsheet template. We build your OTB plan from the ground up using your actual store data — by class, by location, and by month.
Analyze Your Current Inventory & Sales Data
We start by pulling your sales history, current stock levels, and turnover rates. This gives us a real picture of what's working and what's dragging your business down.
Build Your Custom OTB Plan
We create a detailed open-to-buy plan broken down by merchandise class and store location. You'll know exactly how much open-to-buy dollars you have available — every month, every season.
Align Your Plan to Your Sales Goals
Your OTB is tied directly to your sales forecast. We use industry-leading forecasting with up to 96% accuracy so your buying plan is grounded in realistic, achievable targets.
Ongoing Support & Monthly Adjustments
Retail doesn't stand still, and neither does your plan. We review and update your OTB monthly so it stays accurate as sales trends shift throughout the season.
Who Is This For?
Our open-to-buy planning service is built for:
- Independent boutiques and specialty retailers
- Multi-location retail chains (1 to 50+ stores)
- Retailers using spreadsheets, POS, or no system at all
- Store owners preparing for seasonal buying
- Buyers who feel overwhelmed, overstocked, or unsure how much to order
What You'll Gain
Real, measurable outcomes our clients experience:
- Smarter purchasing backed by real data, not instinct
- Reduced overstock and markdowns every season
- Improved cash flow aligned to actual sales capacity
- Proper stock levels — no holes in the floor or racks full of dogs
- Confidence at market — know exactly what you can spend
Frequently Asked Questions
A merchandise plan is the broader strategy — it covers sales goals, margin targets, and inventory levels by category. Open-to-buy is the execution tool — it calculates the specific dollar amount available to purchase within that plan at any given time. We build both.
No. We work with whatever system you're currently using — whether that's Lightspeed, Shopify POS, Rain, or even a spreadsheet. We also help clients select better POS systems when needed.
Most clients get their first OTB plan within 2–3 weeks of onboarding. We start with a free inventory analysis so there's no risk in getting started.
Our services are priced affordably for independent retailers. Contact us for a quote based on your number of locations and merchandise categories.
Multi-location planning is one of our specialties. We build OTB plans broken down by each location and merchandise class, giving you full visibility across every store in your chain.
Ready to Stop Guessing and Start Buying Smarter?
Hundreds of independent retailers trust Retail Smart Guys for open-to-buy planning that actually works. Let's take a look at your numbers together — no cost, no obligation.
Schedule a Call with Dan
Monday – Friday • 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM (PST)
What Our Clients Say
Real results from retail leaders who trust Retail Smart Guys