Style Color Size
Style Color Size (often abbreviated as SCS) is a fundamental merchandising concept used in retail and fashion to organize and track product variations. It refers to how products are categorized by their design (style), available colors, and size options. This system helps merchandisers and buyers manage inventory, plan assortments, and make buying decisions. For example, a single t-shirt style might come in three colors and five sizes, creating fifteen different combinations that need to be tracked and managed.
Examples in Resumes
Managed Style Color Size distribution across 50 stores to optimize inventory levels
Developed new Style-Color-Size planning strategies that increased sell-through by 25%
Led SCS analysis to improve buying decisions and reduce excess inventory
Typical job title: "Merchandising Planners"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Merchandising Planners
Professional Networks
Job Boards
Industry Events
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you develop a style-color-size buying strategy for a new market?
Expected Answer: A senior candidate should explain how they would analyze historical data, market trends, and customer demographics to create a balanced buy plan. They should mention consideration of store clusters, regional preferences, and sales history to optimize the mix.
Q: Describe a time when you had to adjust your SCS planning to address changing market conditions.
Expected Answer: Look for examples of adapting to major market shifts, using data to make quick decisions, and successfully reallocating inventory across channels or stores.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you determine the optimal size ratio for a new product?
Expected Answer: Candidate should mention analyzing past sales data, considering target customer demographics, store locations, and similar product performance to create balanced size curves.
Q: What factors do you consider when planning color assortment?
Expected Answer: Should discuss seasonal trends, regional preferences, target customer, brand guidelines, and historical color performance in determining color mix.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is a size curve and why is it important?
Expected Answer: Should explain that a size curve shows the distribution of sizes for a product, helping ensure stores have the right proportion of each size to meet customer demand.
Q: How do you track and analyze style performance?
Expected Answer: Should mention basic metrics like sell-through rates, weeks of supply, and regular price sell-through to evaluate style success.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of size curves
- Sales data analysis
- Inventory reporting
- Basic forecasting
Mid (2-5 years)
- Assortment planning
- Buy plan creation
- Markdown management
- Store clustering
Senior (5+ years)
- Strategic planning
- Category management
- Cross-functional leadership
- Advanced forecasting
Red Flags to Watch For
- No understanding of basic retail metrics
- Cannot explain size curve concepts
- Lack of experience with inventory management
- Poor analytical skills or data interpretation
Need more hiring wisdom? Check these out...
Career Site SEO: Unlock Ridiculous Visibility and Attract Rockstar Candidates
Beyond Borders: Mastering the Art of a Global Onboarding Calendar
Culture Add vs Culture Fit in Hiring: Why It May Be Time to Rethink Your Approach
