Assortment depth describes how much choice or inventory a retailer carries within a product category or selection, using a clearly stated definition.
How it works in retail
It can refer to styles, variants or units within a range. Teams should clarify the unit of analysis when discussing a deep or shallow buy.
A retail example
A boutique buys one trouser style in several colours, a full size range and multiple units of each key size.
What to keep in mind
Depth differs from breadth, which describes the range of categories or choices offered. Many styles with only one unit each create different risks from fewer styles bought deeply.
Examples are illustrative. Terminology and measurement conventions can vary by business and market.