Q4 Clearance Surge: What It Means for Liquidators
Inventory Rush, Discount Pressure, and Liquidation Opportunity
As 2025 heads into its final quarter, retailers across the country are racing to clear shelf space. From apparel to patio furniture, unsold seasonal inventory is being marked down, moved out, and — increasingly — liquidated.
While this Q4 clearance cycle happens every year, insiders say it’s hitting harder and earlier this time around. According to a recent report by the National Retail Federation (NRF), 42% of retailers accelerated their markdown schedules this year due to bloated inventory levels and tighter warehouse capacity.
“This is when things start moving fast,” says Allen R. Klein, president of the Allen R. Klein Company. “Retailers are staring down holiday shipments, lease rollovers, and year-end audits — they need excess inventory gone, and they need it gone now.”
Q4 Is Liquidation Season — With a Twist
October through December has long been considered “prime time” in the liquidation industry. But this year brings added urgency, thanks to:
- Sluggish back-to-school sell-throughs in August
- New import tariffs on select categories
- Ongoing retail closures, especially in the mid-tier apparel sector
According to Coresight Research, U.S. retailers are on track to close over 15,000 stores in 2025 — a 30% increase over 2023. That’s flooding the market with more goods, more quickly, than in previous years.
“These closures are accelerating inventory decisions,” says Roger Bolduc, VP of Operations at ARK. “When stores shut down mid-quarter, entire distribution plans collapse. That’s when clients call us — they need a solution right away.”
Why Speed Matters
In the liquidation world, timing is everything. Retailers holding onto unsold Q3 or Q4 goods risk not only storage fees but also depreciation.
“Once the holiday merchandise arrives, you can’t have Halloween and patio sets sitting in the back,” Bolduc adds. “Every extra day those products sit, they lose value — and tie up cash that should be reinvested.”
For liquidators like ARK, speed and trust are the currency that matters.
Real-World Complications: Why Human Help Still Wins
One recent example involved a truckload of Q3 home goods that nearly missed delivery due to a third-party logistics breakdown. A shipment of steel chillable drinkware — destined for a regional discount chain — missed its warehouse appointment due to a late truck and lack of communication from the carrier.
“The trucking company didn’t even alert us,” says Bolduc. “They just didn’t show. And when we contacted the warehouse, they told us the next available window was a week later — which would have killed the deal.”
Because of ARK’s long-standing relationship with the client, and hands-on follow-up from its team, the warehouse granted a next-day appointment. The load was salvaged, the deal closed, and the buyer never skipped a beat.
“No AI platform or bot could have fixed that at 4am,” Bolduc says. “This business still runs on relationships and real-time decisions.”
What Sets ARK Apart
With over 40 years in the business, Allen R. Klein Company has built one of the most trusted networks in the liquidation sector. That depth of experience offers two key advantages:
- An extensive buyer and distributor database
- Credibility and integrity in the marketplace
“In liquidation, your word is your currency,” says Klein. “Our buyers trust us to deliver what we promise, and sellers know we can make deals happen when the clock is ticking.”
Final Thoughts: Opportunity for the Prepared
The Q4 surge is here — and it’s moving fast. Retailers under pressure to clear stock need partners who can act quickly and get the job done right.
“Deals are out there,” Klein notes. “But it’s not enough to just find product. You need to know how to move it — and who’s ready to buy.”
📞 Ready to Move Inventory?
Contact the Allen R. Klein Company today and learn how decades of experience and trusted relationships can help with your company’s liquidation needs.
