Demand Forecasting & PlanningCOO24 min read

How DTC Brands Win with Better Moving Seasonality vs Fixed Seasonality in Demand Forecasting for $10M–$100M Companies

Learn how mid-market DTC brands align inventory with campaign-driven demand timing.

DTC Seasonality Is Campaign-Led, Not Calendar-Led

For mid-market DTC brands scaling from $10M to $100M in annual revenue, seasonal demand patterns are increasingly driven by marketing campaigns, paid media bursts, influencer collaborations, and product drop events rather than predictable calendar cycles.

Demand peaks may therefore move across weeks or months depending on campaign execution timing.

Influencer Campaigns and Product Drops

Collaborations with creators or timed product releases introduce short-term demand surges.

These events often occur outside traditional seasonal windows.

Customer Acquisition Cost Volatility

Changes in CAC influence marketing spend allocation.

Campaign pacing decisions may therefore alter demand timing across planning horizons.

Inventory Risk from Fixed Seasonality

Forecasting based on historical calendar patterns may position inventory ahead of campaign-driven demand peaks.

Stockouts during product drops reduce revenue opportunities.

Moving Seasonality for DTC

Moving seasonality forecasting models demand peaks based on campaign schedules, marketing spend forecasts, and product launch timelines.

Inventory deployment aligns with high-intent purchase windows.

Improved Service Levels

Aligning inventory arrival with campaign timing reduces stockout risk.

Customers experience consistent availability during promotional periods.

Working Capital Efficiency

Inventory positioned closer to consumption windows improves turnover.

Reduced holding costs enhance liquidity.

Campaign Timing Defines Seasonality in DTC

For mid-market DTC brands, adaptive seasonal forecasting enables alignment between inventory and dynamically shifting demand patterns.

AI-native planning systems operationalize moving seasonality.

Align inventory with campaign-driven demand.

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