Assortment and channels

Each style variant represents a style, color and size combination. The record also carries its SKU, season, promotion standing, list price and optional size scale. Order Desk selects that variant on each order line. A style code on the order header helps identify the primary style, but the line variants establish the actual size and color demand. Allocation Lead should inspect the lines before running the allocation action.

Wholesale accounts and shoppers hold the account code, contact, shipping address, selling channel and fit, sizing or return notes. An order links separately to the account or shopper and the bill-to account. Retail organizations define the operating organization and currency. Keeping those relationships explicit helps a mixed direct and wholesale order book remain readable.

• Assortment. Maintain the active SKU, style, color, size, season and promotion standing.
• Buyer context. Check account, bill-to, contact, ship-to and fit or return notes.
• Channel handoff. Record channel status and external reference against the originating order.

Agree who may create or retire variants and how SKU names distinguish adjacent sizes or colors. Set the organization for each variant and account. Decide how promotion standing and a promotion code on the order are reviewed; the records carry both, so the commercial team should own the check. Determine how external channel references are returned and who records their status. Keep channel acknowledgments separate from shipment events and payment evidence.

Where the same retailer has several buying accounts, keep the account code and bill-to relationship clear. A shopper’s fit notes may guide support, while a wholesale account’s shipping instructions guide fulfillment. Neither should silently alter the order line’s selected variant or price after review.

A specialty chain orders a footwear style in two colors for an upcoming season. Admin confirms both variants are active and have the intended size scale and promotion standing. Order Desk chooses the correct account and bill-to record, enters each variant as a separate line and checks the ship-to address. If the order is handed to an external retail channel, they record the channel and returned external reference on the handoff. Later, the fulfillment team checks shipment events on the source order, while support can use the account notes to answer a sizing question. The handoff reference remains available when the channel team asks about that same order.

• Retail handoff approvals — Submitted channel handoffs awaiting review.
• Open Apparel Orders — Orders in preparation that depend on correct buyer and variant records.

Continue with capture and review and allocation and release.