Reading promo funding without breaking contribution
How promotional pounds should appear on margin contribution charts so buyers see the trade-off, not a surprise hole.
Promo funding can make a hero SKU look generous until contribution is restated without the deal. Charts that hide funding create false confidence; charts that dump every mechanic into one red bar create panic.
A practical split
- Show base contribution without time-bound deals
- Show funded contribution for the promo window
- Call out mechanics that are supplier-paid versus retailer-funded
Timing matters
Align the promo calendar to the same weeks as your sales extract. A chart that pairs March sales with February funding will invent problems that never existed on the shelf.
We often pair this reading with a margin review workshop once the charts are stable.