How much open-to-buy should I place for spring?

Q: I just got back from the spring shows and the news about the economy is pretty negative. How much open-to-buy should I place for spring, given the possibility of a downturn?

A: You’re right, the news isn’t great, but don’t let it scare you. However, we do know that retail sales tend to decrease after an election year so your best bet is to plan conservatively. Take what you spent last year and dial it back by about 5 percent. So, if you placed 85 percent of your OTB upfront last year, this year you should place 80 percent. This is just a change by degrees, but it should put you in a smart position for spring.