This varies, though, according to the time of the year. This drops to 50 percent in December, when it is easier to buy a sweatshirt or baseball cap as a gift. The buyers see the Finish Line business as highly fashion oriented. Seventy-five percent of the product that comes into the distribution center is new. Often the product is very similar to one ordered last year.
Customers expect the latest style and color.
The buyers can look at how a similar product sold last year when all of it was available. Looking at how it sold in total may be misleading, since they are normally going to sell what they bought. The product is normally not replenished. Rather, the item is purchased, pushed out to the retail stores and sold. There are exceptions to this, particularly with staple items, such as socks.