Promotions
Promotions are marketing events that affect demand. Tether allows you to define promotions so their impact on forecasts can be properly accounted for.Managing promotions requires Admin access.
Why Track Promotions?
Promotions cause demand spikes that disrupt normal patterns:| Without Promotion Tracking | With Promotion Tracking |
|---|---|
| Forecast assumes normal demand | Forecast adjusts for promotion |
| May stockout during event | Adequate inventory planned |
| May overstock after event | Smooth transition back to normal |
| Hard to measure promo impact | Clear lift measurement |
Promotions Dashboard
Navigate to Demand Forecast → Promotions.Dashboard Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Promotion List | All promotions with status |
| Calendar View | Visual timeline of promotions |
| Status Filters | Active, Upcoming, Past |
| Create Button | Add new promotions |
Promotion Status
| Status | Description |
|---|---|
| Active | Currently running |
| Upcoming | Scheduled for future |
| Past | Completed |
| Draft | Not yet finalized |
Creating a Promotion
Basic Information
Enter promotion details:
- Name: “Summer Sale 2024”
- Description: Details about the promotion
- Promotion Type: Category (see types below)
Date Range
Set when the promotion runs:
- Start Date: When promotion begins
- End Date: When promotion ends
- Consider lead time for inventory
Affected Products
Select which SKUs are in the promotion:
- Individual SKUs
- Entire collections
- By dimension (e.g., all “Blue” products)
Promotion Types
Managing Promotion Types
Create categories for your promotions:Common Promotion Types
| Type | Typical Lift | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Sale | 50-100% | 1-3 days |
| Weekly Deal | 20-30% | 1 week |
| Seasonal Sale | 30-50% | 2-4 weeks |
| Holiday Event | 40-80% | Varies |
| Clearance | 50-100% | Until sold out |
| New Launch | Varies | 2-4 weeks |
| BOGO | 80-120% | As configured |
Promotion Detail View
Click on a promotion to see full details:Overview Section
- Name and description
- Date range
- Status
- Type
Affected Products Section
List of SKUs included:- SKU name and code
- Collection
- Individual lift settings (if different from default)
Channel Section
Channels where promotion runs:- Channel name
- Channel-specific settings
Impact Analysis
- Expected total lift
- Units increase projection
- Revenue impact (if calculated)
Promotion Impact on Forecasts
How Tether Uses Promotions
- Identifies Promotion Period - Start and end dates
- Applies Lift - Increases forecast by specified percentage
- Limits to Scope - Only affects specified SKUs/channels
- Maintains History - Past promotions inform similar future events
Lift Calculation
Example:- Base forecast: 100 units/day
- Promotion lift: 40%
- Promoted forecast: 140 units/day
Pre and Post Effects
Consider effects outside the promotion window:| Period | Effect |
|---|---|
| Pre-promotion | Customers may wait to buy |
| During promotion | Lift occurs |
| Post-promotion | Demand may dip below normal |
Editing Promotions
Modifying a Promotion
- Click on the promotion
- Edit any field
- Save changes
What You Can Change
| Field | Editable | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name/Description | Always | |
| Dates | Before start | Extend end after start |
| Products | Before start | Or carefully during |
| Lift percentage | Always | |
| Type | Always |
Canceling a Promotion
To cancel a promotion:- Open the promotion
- Click Cancel Promotion
- Confirm cancellation
- Forecasts revert to baseline
Recurring Promotions
For promotions that repeat:Creating Recurring Promotions
Managing Recurrences
Each occurrence can be:- Modified individually
- Canceled without affecting others
- Part of bulk updates
Promotion Calendar
Calendar View
The calendar shows promotions visually:- Color-coded by type
- Shows overlapping promotions
- Click to see details
Using the Calendar
- Navigate: Use arrows to move between months
- Filter: Show/hide by type or status
- Zoom: Day, week, or month view
Identifying Conflicts
The calendar helps spot:- Overlapping promotions on same products
- Back-to-back promotions
- Promotion-free periods
Measuring Promotion Performance
Post-Promotion Analysis
After a promotion ends:- Compare actual vs. forecasted lift
- Document findings
- Update lift assumptions for future
Metrics to Track
| Metric | Calculation |
|---|---|
| Actual Lift | Promo sales / baseline sales |
| Forecast Accuracy | Actual lift / predicted lift |
| Incremental Units | Promo sales - baseline |
| ROI | Incremental margin / promo cost |
Best Practices
Plan Ahead
Plan Ahead
Enter promotions early:
- Before inventory planning cycles
- Allow time for supply chain response
- At least lead time + safety buffer
Be Specific
Be Specific
Define scope carefully:
- Only include affected SKUs
- Specify correct channels
- Use accurate date ranges
Validate Lift Estimates
Validate Lift Estimates
Base lifts on data:
- Historical promotion performance
- Similar promotion results
- Conservative if uncertain
Review Past Performance
Review Past Performance
Learn from previous promotions:
- Compare predicted vs. actual
- Adjust future estimates
- Document patterns
Coordinate with Teams
Coordinate with Teams
Communicate promotion plans:
- Marketing: Timing and scope
- Operations: Inventory needs
- Sales: Channel specifics
Troubleshooting
Promotion Not Affecting Forecasts
Possible causes:- Promotion in draft status
- Date range doesn’t match forecast period
- Products not correctly selected
- Verify promotion status is active
- Check date ranges overlap
- Review product selection
Unexpected Forecast Values
Possible causes:- Multiple promotions overlapping
- Lift applied incorrectly
- Products in multiple promotions
- Check for overlapping promotions
- Verify lift percentage
- Review calendar for conflicts