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5 min readOTB templateopen-to-buy template

Open-to-Buy (OTB) Planning Template

A structured OTB planning template for apparel brands — covers beginning-of-period inventory, planned sales, planned receipts, ending inventory targets, and OTB calculation by department and period.

What this template is for

The Open-to-Buy Planning Template gives apparel brands a structured framework for calculating and managing their OTB budget across departments and planning periods. It translates high-level financial targets — planned sales, margin goals, and ending inventory — into a receipt plan that constrains buying decisions before purchase orders are placed.

It is designed for brands planning in flat spreadsheets without a connected system. The template imposes the financial discipline of OTB without requiring a platform, but has structural limitations that become material as complexity grows.

Best for: Apparel brands with 1–3 departments managing one seasonal OTB, planning in periods (months or quarters). Works for both DTC and wholesale channels when planned separately.


Free Template

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The most-used open-to-buy template for mid-market apparel planning teams. Pre-built formula logic, seasonal structure, and variance tracking.

  • Monthly OTB calculation with beginning inventory, on-order, and planned sales inputs
  • Category-level splits and carry-over tracking built in
  • Variance columns for plan vs. actual OTB tracking in-season
  • Used by apparel brands managing mid-market seasonal buy budgets

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RetailNorthstar Editorial Team
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