Clothing Size Ratios

[Benotoole]

Hi All,

I'm currently in the throes of putting together a clothing eCommerce business. Obviously I will need to order some stock! My sticking point is how much of each size should I get? Can anyone help me out with size ratios? i.e. 20% small, 47% medium etc....

 

[Paul Norman]

The answer will depend a little bit on the ability to reorder. If you can reorder, at short notice, just get a couple of each, and top up stock as you sell. You will make a smaller margin, but the clue to retail is cashflow and stock turn as much as it is margin.

It will also depend on style and brand. For some brands, we don't order any small at all, for others, we certainly would.

There are 'received wisdom' ratios out there - the wholesalers will give you this information - but at smaller stock purchasing volumes it is less important.

Initially, go for as big a range as you can - even if it means fewer of each style.

 

[MOIC]

It really depends on your target customer.

Most suppliers for clothing will suggest a ratio of 1 2 2 1 (S M L XL)

Sizes and the specifications will also change from supplier to supplier.

Order the "ratio" pack for your first order, then alter the sizes for following orders as you sell them.

There is no magic formula and the sizes you have left in stock from time to time, will never be the same.

 

[groovyjon]

We sell men's clothing and our most common waist size is 34", with the quantities tailing off either side. However, it seems there's an ever increasing shift towards larger sizes, so we'd sell more XL than Small - a sign of the population's expanding waistline I guess.

 

[Graham Curtis]

Are you stocking XS and XL?

 

[Graham Curtis]

Take these out of the equation and I would work towards (S 30% ; M 40% , L 30% )

With maybe designate 5-10% to XS and XL .

Remember returns wise too big less likely to get return than too small