Here is another good question on product mix and really gets to the heart of why inventory control is critical: I would prefer to carry higher end FT items (home accessories, personal accessories and jewelry) rather than the ethnic market mix seen in many FT stores. Do you know of any successful stores with such a mix of items and your comments on this approach?

(1) Again, you will just have to test your market and see what it can bear. Our store, Momentum started out with the same goal and we had to over time move our price points down. We still maintained a higher than normal avg price point and higher-end level but had to respond to customer demand. On an annual basis about 1/3 of your products will not make the cut and will have to be moved out. Experiment with what YOU want to carry and DO inventory control and you will know in real time if your store can maintain that level. For example a 1,000 sq ft shop, with 1,700 SKU’s in their inventory, will bring in about 500-600 new items every year, leaving your plenty of room to experiment a bit with new trends, styles, etc.