Expanding a catalog can have a major impact on companies in the retail industry. The end goal, of course, is to increase profits by selling a high number of units of the new product, but businesses that don't consider the factors pertaining to such an action, including inventory ramifications, could fail to see their initiatives live up to their potential. 

Indiana University may have come up short in the Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament late last month, but the team's successful regular season sparked renewed interest in the school and its historic program. As a result, a number of consumers have begun requesting Indiana University apparel from retailers or clothing manufacturers that didn't already offer it. 

Baby Fans, Inc. – a provider of sports apparel for babies – recently began selling clothing representing Indiana University. In a press release issued last month, co-founder Todd Wilson expressed his enthusiasm for the move, stating that it represents his company's commitment to meeting customer demand.

"We have listened to our customer requests and are very excited about adding Indiana University to our roster of teams," Wilson said. "March is an exciting time in college basketball, and newborn Hoosiers fans can now cheer on their favorite team in our gear."

While Baby Fans hopes to find success in its endeavor, it is not a large company and therefore must ensure that the move yields optimum results. For example, should the organization fail to keep up with demand and keep its inventory filled, the resulting consequences could be disastrous. That's why obtaining proper inventory management software is so important. Not only will the right solution help businesses keep up with any changes in demand or inventory processes, many are flexible enough to accommodate additional changes down the road.

For example, should Baby Fans want to add more schools in the future, having the right solution in place will significantly help the process. Their initiative should be encouraged and those who make similar business decisions should do so with optimism. Having strong inventory management software will make that possible.