endusetason

Enduseason is a term used in supply chain management, retail merchandising, and product lifecycle planning to describe the final seasonal window in which products are intended for end consumers before a model refresh, discontinuation, or transition to a new season. The concept helps organizations time allocations, markdowns, and end-of-life handling.

Origins and usage: The phrase appears in industry practice in various forms, including end-use season and end-of-use season. There is no universally accepted definition or standardized spelling, and interpretations vary by sector.

Definition and scope: End use season typically applies to seasonal goods such as fashion apparel, toys, and consumer electronics, as well as catalogs with defined release cycles. It marks the point at which demand slows and a product becomes a candidate for clearance, liquidation, or repurposing rather than replenishment. The timing is influenced by retail calendars, fashion cycles, and product roadmaps.

Applications and metrics: Planning for end-use season involves inventory allocation, markdown strategies, promotions, and channel decisions. It is commonly assessed using sell-through rate, weeks of supply, gross margin return on investment (GMROI), and forecast accuracy.

Limitations: The term is not standardized and meanings can differ across industries and retailers. Clear internal definitions and alignment with merchandising calendars are essential to avoid confusion.

See also: End-of-life, inventory turnover, seasonality.