Retailers and Shoppers Observe Low Inventory in the Holiday Season Aftermath
With the year’s busiest retail season winding down, stores are reporting thin inventories after coming out of Christmas with slightly better-than-expected sales. Some retailers have reported that keeping inventory levels low has resulted in ordering new merchandise to restock shelves, usually rare this soon after the holiday season. While this trend is good news for their bottom lines, it means slim pickings for shoppers hoping for after-Christmas clearance sales. NPD analyst Marshal Cohen observed, "Retailers are much more nimble this year. Their 'Plan B' is to have new receipts at the ready." Cohen noted that J. Crew and Coach, among…