How should I handle a wholesaler's request to replace slow-moving stock?

The community's consensus is to treat slow-moving stock as a relationship risk and to proactively solve it together with the wholesaler rather than defensively negotiate replacements.

**Key approach:** - **Focus on demand generation** — Remember that wholesalers are service providers and won't build customer demand for you. The onus is on you to stimulate end-customer demand to move stock through the channel. - **Lead the solution collaboratively** — Rather than waiting for replacement demands or shifting responsibility, take the initiative to work with the wholesaler on sell-through strategies. This protects the long-term relationship and demonstrates partnership. - **Proactive planning** — Put robust demand-stimulation plans in place before slow-moving stock becomes a problem in the first place.

**Caveat:** Slow-moving stock damages both parties and is a sign that the underlying distribution/demand strategy needs review. Members emphasized this is fundamentally a demand problem, not a stock-return problem.