Whether you are a retailer, or you work with retailers, The Retail Owners Institute makes it easy for you to get a quick financial health assessment of any retail business.
From all the ratios available, The ROI has selected 6 Key Retail Ratios for retailers to regularly monitor and manage:
• Pre-Tax Profit
• Gross Margin
• Inventory Turnover
• Debt-to-Worth Ratio
• Current Ratio
• GMROI
Choose any one of the 55 retail segments listed on this page, and click the link.
Once on that "Retail Segment" page, see Retail Benchmark Trend Charts for the past 5 years. Available only from The ROI.
For more info, see How to Use The ROI's Benchmark Numbers Like a Pro!
Men's Clothing Stores
Women's Clothing Stores
Family Clothing Stores
Clothing Accessories Stores
Shoe Stores
Jewelry Stores
Art Dealers
Florists
Office Supplies & Stationery Stores
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
Pet & Pet Supplies Stores
Used Merchandise Stores
Furniture Stores
Floor Covering Stores
Home Furnishings Stores
Audio/Video & Consumer Electronics Stores
Household Appliances
Sporting Goods Stores
Hobby, Toy & Game Stores
Musical Instrument & Supplies Stores
Bookstores
Baked Goods Stores
Meat Markets
Candy & Nut Stores
Fruit & Vegetable Markets
Supermarkets & Grocery Stores
Convenience Stores
Gasoline Stations Convenience Stores
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores
Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies & Perfume Stores
Pharmacies & Drug Stores
Optical Goods Stores
Home Centers
Paint & Wallpaper Stores
Hardware Stores
Lumber & Building Materials Dealers
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
Nursery, Garden Center & Farm Supply Stores
Kiosks
Electronic Shopping, Mail Order Houses
Auto Parts & Accessories Stores
Boat Dealers
Motorcycle Dealers
New Car Dealers
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
Tire Dealers
Used Car Dealers
Variety Stores
Espresso, Juice, Snack Bars
Limited-Service Restaurants
Drinking Places - Alcoholic Beverages
Full-Service Restaurants
"How and when can these benchmark numbers be used?"
For perspective
• Calculate these ratios for your own business, and then see how you compare to your retail industry segment.
For goal setting
• Use these benchmarks when you are setting your own target ratios for the next year.
For preparation
• Seeking a bank loan for your business? The bankers will look at these industry benchmarks as they assess your store's performance.
For understanding
• The credit departments of your vendors and landlords will examine your ratios to assess your credit worthiness.
For saving time
• Use The ROI's Key RATIOS Calculator to quickly calculate your own ratios.
Have questions?
Get answers at The ROI's Retail Benchmarks Resource Center. Free to everyone to use
See the how-to article: Go Figure! How to Calculate Your Key Ratios - in 12 Seconds Each!
Watch and listen to the recorded webinar: The Retail OWNER'S DASHBOARD
Very quickly, you can see how and why to monitor the true "vital signs" of your business.
About the Retail Segments
The segments featured at The ROI reflect the definitions and designations of the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS).
The top of each Retail Segment Page on The ROI site includes the NAICS code and the NAICS definition for that industry segment.
About the Key Retail Ratios
The ROI has selected six key ratios (from the abundance of ratios available) that are particularly important for retailers to regularly monitor and manage. See The ROI's Benchmarks Resource Center to learn more about these key ratios for retailers.
The ROI's exclusive Retail Benchmark Trend Charts show the median value reported by Risk Management Association's Annual Statement Studies for each of these key ratios each year.
Remember, there also is a Top Quartile – and Bottom Quartile – of results for every segment. See your local library for those details.
As you examine the trends in any retail segment, here are some pro tips for you.
An upward trend is usually a good sign - with one exception. That is the Debt-to-Worth ratio, where lower is financially stronger, as it indicates less debt.
There really are no right or wrong ratios. However, examining the trends over time can provide early warnings of potential trouble spots.
Connecting the dots of the cause-effect connections can be very revealing. For more on that, see How to Use The ROI's Benchmark Numbers Like a Pro
Since 1999, empowering retailers and store owners to "Turn on your financial headlights!"
Step 1: Enter LY results for five key ratios Step 2: Enter This Year's Targets Step 3: Each month (no later than the 10th of the month!) enter YTD results
(Need more info on these ratios, how to calculate them, and what they mean? See the Retail Finance Basics section here at The ROI. And, view this online webcast from The ROI Co-Founders for more about the Owner's Dashboard. Click here to download and printout your own master copy of the Owner's Dashboard Trend Form)
"Turn on Your Financial Headlights!"
So, we've put together some "Know It NOW!" Bundles. In just 90 minutes or so, you can be up-and-running!
Plus, you get unlimited 90-day online access to your complete Know It NOW! Bundle, including its Executive Calculator. Each Know It NOW! Bundle is just $59 for 90-Day Online Access! (ROI Members get half-price discount!)
This great value gives you what you need to know, saves money, and best of all, saves time!
BUYERS Bundle • BUDGETING Bundle • BORROWING Bundle
Get 90-Day Online Access • details, more info
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