How to handle the late spring

Q: My store is located in the Midwest and spring just arrived here two weeks ago. Until then, it was still cool out. Since spring has just sprung, should I delay marking down merchandise to give my customers the chance to shift into shopping mode?

A: The answer is yes, you can delay your markdowns, but don’t wait too long. Customers know the markdown cycle and major stores will start marking down soon, so you can’t be completely out of sync.

This doesn’t mean that you have to take steep markdowns, but you do need to have a markdown budget that you’re working with. Don’t drift too far away from the markdown cycle or else your business could suffer.