What: Changing and unpredictable weather patterns are impacting consumers’ behavior as temperatures fluctuate across the globe.

Why it is important: Climate change is making shopping behavior harder to predict, adding to inventory management challenges for brands and retailers.

Weather has always influenced customer spending, but climate change is making weather patterns more unpredictable, making it harder for retailers to merchandise seasonal products and manage inventory.

While it is easy to overlook with warnings of falling sales from big brands, weather has always had an impact on how customers spend. With weather extremes expected to become more regular and intense, it is becoming harder to predict what people will buy and when.

To help tackle this challenge, retailers should have products that can be versatile, keep tight control over inventory levels, and have a supply chain that can react quickly to fluctuations in demand. Many brands are turning toward data-analytics services that help improve inventory planning, match products on shelves, and push digital ads to the kind of weather consumers are experiencing in real-time. Additionally, brands should look to curb their own emissions and reduce environmental impact.

How climate change is transforming the way we shop