Gap Buisness
Analysis
& 6 month Plan
The Ask:
Demonstrated the ability to think like a retail buyer by analyzing a brand, forecasting sales, and building a strategic assortment and purchasing plan that responds to consumer behavior and market trends.
Analyze a retail brand and develop a strategic 6-month buying plan that increases sales through data-driven decisions, assortment planning, and purchase execution.
How I took “The Ask”
My Team
Elizabeth Cox
Nora Hennessy
Skills Gained
Retail & Market Analysis
Sales Forecasting & Planning
Assortment Planning
Purchase Order & Budget Management
Strategic Decision-Making
Market Research &
Brand Analysis
My foundation + thinking
I analyzed Gap’s business model, target consumer, and competitive positioning against brands like H&M. Through SWOT analysis and trend research, you identified key strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities influencing performance.
I also evaluated external factors (seasonality, consumer behavior, cultural trends) to understand what drives sales.
Strategy & Planning
My decision-making process
This is the core of the project, where I demonstrate how I think like a buyer through strategy, analysis, and decision-making.
I developed a 6-month sales plan targeting a 3% increase by analyzing historical retail trends, seasonal consumer behavior, and key selling periods such as back-to-school, holiday peaks, and post-season slowdowns. I used this data to forecast realistic monthly fluctuations and identify when demand would naturally rise or fall.
I then created an assortment plan by evaluating category performance, trend relevance, and customer demand to determine the ideal product mix. My thinking centered on balancing profitability, timing, inventory flow, and consumer interest—ensuring the right products were available at the right time to maximize sales and brand relevance.
Assortment & Buyings
How I applied it in a real scenario
This section shows I can execute the responsibilities of a buyer, not just build the strategy behind them.
I translated planning into action by selecting products based on projected demand, trend relevance, margin potential, and assortment balance. Using a fixed budget of $50K–$60K, I created a purchase order while monitoring unit costs, total spend, and financial accuracy to stay within budget.
I then allocated inventory across stores based on performance rankings, sales volume, and location potential, prioritizing higher-performing stores while maintaining appropriate coverage across all locations. My thinking throughout this phase focused on maximizing sell-through, controlling risk, and placing inventory where it had the strongest opportunity to perform.
Final Outcome
Developed a comprehensive retail buying strategy for Gap, integrating market analysis, sales forecasting, and assortment planning to drive a projected increase in sales. This project reflects more than strategic thinking, it represents the type of work I hope to build my career around: understanding consumer behavior, identifying opportunities, and making decisions that shape how a brand performs in the market. I’m drawn to buying because it blends creativity with analytics, requiring both instinct and discipline. Completing a full buying process from concept to purchase allowed me to apply the kind of decision-making I hope to grow into professionally.