FloPlanner · Guides

S&OP for small brands, in five steps

S&OP is a routine that makes sure what you plan to sell, what you can supply and what you can afford line up before you commit to buying stock.

1. Review demand

Check each product's forecast, add promotions and launches, and agree the demand plan.

2. Check supply

Hold stock on hand and incoming orders against that demand, and find the weeks that look short.

3. Review purchases and payments

Look at the quantities to order, the reserve you want to keep, and the deposits and balances each order commits you to.

4. Confirm orders

Place the orders you're happy with, keep the rest as drafts, and record deliveries as they land.

5. Track and improve

Compare what was forecast with what sold and what arrived, and start the next cycle from there.

How often

Large companies run S&OP monthly. A small brand with long lead times benefits from a quick weekly check of steps 2 to 4, and a fuller monthly review.

FloPlanner is built around these steps: it suggests, you decide. See built-in governance.