Case Study: Bob’s Stores achieves 16% store-level inventory reduction and improved in-stock rates with Mi9 Retail

Bob’s Stores Keeps Customer Interests at the Forefront

Bob’s Stores, a regional apparel and footwear retailer founded in 1954 with 34 stores across six northeastern states, faced a growing problem: a 15+-year-old replenishment system that lacked scalability and forecasting capability. The retailer needed to ensure the right products were in the right stores at the right time while driving down inventory costs and reducing stock-outs.

Bob’s Stores implemented Mi9 Retail Demand Forecasting and Replenishment (rollouts in 2009–2010), enabling automated, time‑phased ordering, more accurate customer-driven forecasts, and the ability to hold some safety stock centrally. The changes produced a 16% reduction in average store-level inventory, a 9% increase in assortments meeting in‑stock goals, and fewer overstocks, obsolescence and lost sales.

Bob’s Stores

Victor D’ Amato

Assistant Vice President of Planning and Analysis