Where should the last size M units go?
You are interviewing for a merchandise planning role at a fictional UK apparel retailer.
The question
There are 12 central units of size M and three selling days before the next delivery. Use the rate per full in-stock selling day as a provisional estimate for each store. Allocate stock to meet shelf demand.
| North | South | |
|---|---|---|
| Reported transactions | 12 | 18 |
| Full in-stock selling days | 3 | 6 |
| Current shelf units | 0 | 12 |
Both stores will trade on all three days before the next delivery.
Send all 12 units to South because it reported more transactions last week.
“Check the recommendation and make a stock allocation for the next three days.”
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A strong answer, step by step
Open each step in turn. This is one strong answer, not the only one.
Step 1: What should you compare?
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Use the higher weekly total
Tempting, but it misses something. The stores had different numbers of full in-stock selling days.
Check local shelf sales and days available
The strong move. That gives a comparable rate for each store and makes the sales definition clear.
Use a single chain-wide rate for both stores
Tempting, but it misses something. It would remove the local differences that matter for a transfer.
See how a strong candidate says it
“I would compare shelf sales per full in-stock selling day. Then I would check what the transaction count includes and compare the estimate with each store’s remaining stock.”
Why it works: A store can show low weekly sales when it ran out of stock. Transaction attribution also affects the count.
Step 2: What would you allocate now?
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Propose all 12 for North, subject to checking the inputs
The strong move. The estimate gives North a shortfall of 12 and South enough stock.
Split the units equally
Tempting, but it misses something. South already covers its estimate. Six for North would leave an expected gap there.
Send all 12 to South as the AI suggests
Tempting, but it misses something. The suggestion follows the raw totals and misses the effect of availability.
See how a strong candidate says it
“On the reported figures, North sells four per in-stock day and South three. That implies 12 and nine over the next three days. I would provisionally send all 12 to North and confirm the transaction definitions first.”
Why it works: North has no shelf stock. South already has 12 against its estimate of nine.
Step 3: What changes after the audit?
Four of North’s 12 transactions were online orders collected in store and filled from a separate central pool. Only eight used North shelf stock. The 12 available to allocate now are a new pool.
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Keep the 12-unit transfer to North
Tempting, but it misses something. The audit removed four transactions from North’s shelf demand count.
Transfer eight to North and reserve four
The strong move. The change covers the corrected estimate and retains stock for new information.
Send four to South now
Tempting, but it misses something. The audit changed North’s count. South still has stock above its current estimate.
See how a strong candidate says it
“Eight of North’s reported transactions used local shelf units. That gives eight shelf sales over three in-stock days. I would send eight units to North and hold four centrally while South covers its current estimate.”
Why it works: The allocation uses local shelf demand. Pickup orders filled from a separate pool do not consume North shelf stock.
Step 4: What should go to the event store?
A confirmed South styling event raises its three-day estimate to 15 units total. The team used sales from a comparable event. South still has 12 units on the shelf.
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Give all four reserve units to South
Tempting, but it misses something. Three cover the revised estimate. The fourth can stay available for variance.
Send three to South and retain one centrally
The strong move. Eight for North, three for South and one reserve use the 12-unit pool.
Send 15 new units to South
Tempting, but it misses something. Fifteen is the total estimate. South already has 12 and only four new units remain.
See how a strong candidate says it
“I would send eight to North and three to South. I would keep one unit in reserve. South’s new three-day estimate is 15 and it already has 12. I would check actual sales after the event.”
Why it works: The recommendation balances the finite pool and treats event demand as an estimate.
The answer, in short
- Decision
- Compare each store’s estimated shelf demand with its available stock.
- Because
- Local availability and transaction attribution change the rate the team should use.
- What would change it
- A new event or new sales evidence would change the allocation.
Common traps
- Use the same definition of a local sale at both stores.
- Count central reserve and transfers against the same stock pool.
Check your answer
- I used comparable in-stock selling days.
- I checked what the AI counted.
- I allocated against local stock.
- I updated the split when the event changed demand.
Last reviewed Nov 11, 2026