Finance in retail
retail finance: gross margin and markdowns, inventory turns and working capital, same-store sales, and the unit economics of stores vs e-commerce.
This block builds sector-specific financial fluency for retail and distribution, an industry defined by thin margins, heavy inventory exposure, and seasonal cash cycles. You will see how core finance concepts, working capital, margin structures, capital allocation, apply differently when a business turns physical stock into revenue through stores, warehouses, and multiple channels. The block moves from foundational logic to the precise ratios and benchmarks analysts and CFOs use to judge retail performance in the US and Europe, then closes with the regulatory landscape and risk checks specific to inventory-heavy, consumer-facing businesses. By the end, you will read a retailer's financials the way a sector specialist does, not a generalist.
Ce que vous allez maîtriser
- Apply core financial concepts correctly to retail-specific structures like inventory, store networks, and multi-channel sales
- Calculate and interpret key retail ratios such as inventory turnover, same-store sales, and gross margin return on investment
- Benchmark a retailer's financial performance against US and European sector norms
- Identify financial red flags and conduct due diligence checks specific to inventory, supplier terms, and lease obligations