Understanding Retail Weeks of Supply
How we calculate. WOS = inventory ÷ average weekly sales. The form uses the same arithmetic as the worked examples on this page. See our methodology and accuracy policy.
Real-world scenario: A typical Retail Weeks of Supply case uses inventory 1200 and average weekly sales 150. Enter the same figures below to reproduce the worked path.
What is Retail Weeks of Supply?
An inventory coverage KPI in weeks. Distinct from logistics inventory days of supply and from stock-to-sales ratio.
- Same UOM for inventory and weekly sales (units or $)
- Weekly sales = average run rate
- Label retail vs cost dollars
The Formula
Worked Example
Common Use Cases
- Replenishment: coverage checks
- Markdown timing: excess weeks
- Open-to-buy: WOS vs target
Pro Tips
- Don’t use Logistics days-of-supply for store WOS
- Freeze seasonal run-rate windows
- Pair with sell-through
Limitations: Retail Weeks of Supply results are educational retail merchandising aids—not accounting, tax, or inventory-system advice. Confirm definitions with your POS, ERP, and brand reporting standards.
FAQ
Same as stock-to-sales?
Related coverage idea. Stock-to-sales is inventory÷period sales; weeks of supply uses a weekly sales rate denominator.
What if average weekly sales is 0?
Weeks of supply is undefined—enter positive average weekly sales.
Authoritative References
For retail merchandising and store performance concepts, consult:
- National Retail Federation — retail industry context
- Retail Council — retail operations resources
- Shopify Blog — ecommerce and retail KPI explainers