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 Product Attributes. – This set of parameters helps the retailer relate to the customer, by factoring into the plan brand, vendor, fabric, silhouette, pricepoint, and theme.  These parameters enable the planner to tailor the assortment and build the proper relationships among the various components.  For example, the planner can determine the right percentage of brands, the right quantity of each brand, and similar calculations. 

Store Structure/Store Characteristics - These parameters enable the planner to categorize stores into groups, a critical step before one can define product assortments.  Grouping by the size, volume, and type of store, the climate, and the customer type helps the planner meet each store’s particular demands.  The store characteristics are pivotal in micro marketing and they also support distribution to the stores. 

Time Dimension/Product Seasonality - The time dimension for an assortment plan considers the usual week, month, and season definition, along with product transition and crossover between seasons.  But assortment planning also needs smaller time periods or mini-seasons such as back-to-school, holiday, and summer clearance.  These overlapping time periods consider events and/or time periods that help define the product characteristics needed to address customer demand.

Space Dimensions/Space Utilization - As the assortment plan develops, it allocates available space based on the product definition.  Factors such as the number of styles and quantities of each style will affect space utilization. Product dimensions, product density, product display requirements, store structure, store layout, store “look,” and visual merchandising all affect the space plan and, consequently, the assortment plan as well.