Optimizing Retail Assortments

Marketing Science, May 2013

73 Pages Posted: 29 Jun 2013

See all articles by Robert P. Rooderkerk

Robert P. Rooderkerk

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University

Harald J. van Heerde

Massey University - Dept of Communication, Journalism & Marketing

Tammo H.A. Bijmolt

University of Groningen - Department of Marketing & Marketing Research

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: May 3, 2013

Abstract

Retailers face the problem of finding the assortment that maximizes category profit. This is a challenging task, because the number of potential assortments is very large when there are many SKUs to choose from. Moreover, SKU sales can be cannibalized by other SKUs in the assortment, and the more so, the more similar SKUs are. This paper develops an implementable and scalable assortment optimization method that allows for theory-based substitution patterns, and that optimizes real-life, large-scale assortments. We achieve this by adopting an attribute-based approach to capture preferences, substitution patterns, and cross marketing mix effects. To solve the optimization problem, we propose new Very Large Neighborhood Search heuristics. We apply our methodology to store-level scanner data on liquid laundry detergent. The optimal assortments are expected to enhance retailer profit considerably (37.3%), which increases to 43.7% when SKU prices are optimized simultaneously.

Keywords: retail assortments, optimization, product attributes, substitution, similarity, endogeneity, heuristics, micromarketing, pricing, hierarchical bayes, Gibbs sampling

JEL Classification: M31

Suggested Citation

Rooderkerk, Robert P. and van Heerde, Harald J. and Bijmolt, Tammo H.A., Optimizing Retail Assortments (May 3, 2013). Marketing Science, May 2013, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2286621

Robert P. Rooderkerk (Contact Author)

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University ( email )

P.O. Box 1738
Room T08-21
3000 DR Rotterdam, 3000 DR
Netherlands

HOME PAGE: http://www.rsm.nl/people/robert-rooderkerk/

Harald J. Van Heerde

Massey University - Dept of Communication, Journalism & Marketing ( email )

Dept of Communication, Journalism & Marketing
Private Box 756
Wellington, 6140
New Zealand

Tammo H.A. Bijmolt

University of Groningen - Department of Marketing & Marketing Research ( email )

Nettelbosje 2
Groningen, 9747 AE
Netherlands

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