How to Create a Line Plan. Decide the Season Before You Design It.

A line plan is the plan of which products you will launch in a season, and at what price. To create one, review last season's results, set targets for the season, split the range into categories and price points, decide how many styles and colourways each slot gets, and then fill those slots with new and repeat styles.

The line plan is the first document of a season, and design, sourcing, costing and sales all work from it, so a clear plan saves time at every later stage. A vague one shows up months later as styles over budget and stock that does not sell.

Line plans differ by brand, but most contain:

A line plan is an internal planning document. It decides what you will make before the products exist.

A range plan is another name for much the same thing, more common in some markets. Some brands use it for the visual view of the plan.

A line sheet is the sales document buyers see once the products are designed: photos or sketches, style numbers, colours, prices and delivery dates. Read our guide to what a line sheet is.

Line planning is shared work. Merchandisers usually own the line plan and balance the range. Designers turn slots into products and bring the season's creative direction. Planners and buyers set quantities and budgets.

Sourcing checks that the plan can be made at the target cost and on time. Sales bring customer feedback and confirm what each channel needs.

The plan copied last season's shape without checking what sold, so slow categories kept their slots.

Start every plan from last season's sales and sell-through, by category, style and colour.

Extra styles and colourways were added one at a time, so stock is spread thin and sampling and minimum order costs go up.

Give every option a slot, and cut options that do not fill one.

Designs were made first and costed later, so nobody knew the target until the quote arrived.

Set a target cost for every slot before design starts.

The line plan is a file that stopped matching reality once design started.

Update the plan every time a style is dropped, added or re-costed.

Design, sales and buying each keep their own copy of the plan, so every meeting starts with which file is right.

Keep one plan, linked to the product records, that everyone reads.

Imagine Hana, head of merchandising at a resortwear brand, planning a linen summer season. For example:

Most line plans start in a spreadsheet, and for a first draft that is fine. The problem comes later, when the plan has to stay in step with dozens or hundreds of products as they are designed, costed, sampled and approved. A PLM (product lifecycle management) system connects the plan to the product records, so it shows where each style really is. If you are new to PLM, read what PLM is.

Polluxa PLM is product lifecycle management software for fashion, footwear, beauty, consumer goods and manufacturing brands. Planning is the first of its five stages: decide what to make with line plans, briefs and mood boards.

Learn more about our PLM software for consumer brands.

When you want to see a season planned on your own products, book a demo.

A line plan is the plan of which products a brand will launch in a season, and at what price. It sets categories, number of styles, colourways, price points and target margins before design starts.

Usually the merchandising team, working with design, planning, sourcing and sales. Merchandisers balance what customers want, what the brand can make and what it needs to earn.

Before design work for the season begins, so designers have a clear brief. Many brands start the next season's plan while the current season is still in development.

A line plan decides what products to make. An assortment plan decides which of those products go to which stores, regions or channels, and in what quantities. Some brands combine both in one document.

There is no fixed number. It depends on your sales target, price points, stock budget and how many styles your team and suppliers can develop well in the time available.