What does a merchandise plan help define?

A merchandise plan is a strategic tool that retailers use to outline the specific stock levels needed for each season. This plan is crucial for managing inventory effectively, ensuring that the right products are available to meet customer demand at the right times. By defining seasonal stock levels, retailers can avoid overstock situations, which lead to markdowns and lost profits, as well as avoid stockouts that can result in missed sales opportunities. The merchandise plan helps retailers align their buying and inventory management with seasonal trends, sales forecasts, and consumer behavior, ultimately contributing to efficient operational planning and maximizing sales potential.

The other options, while important aspects of retail management, do not directly relate to what a merchandise plan specifically aims to define. For instance, marketing strategies focus on promotional tactics rather than product assortment and stock levels, brand image deals with overall perception rather than inventory, and employee training requirements concern staff development rather than merchandise management. Thus, the primary function of a merchandise plan is to establish the necessary stock levels for different seasons to support retail operations effectively.