Why has Merama's beauty product sales volume dropped 30% in the last month across Latin American marketplaces?

Introduction

Merama's 30% drop in beauty product sales volume across Latin American marketplaces over the last month is a critical issue that demands immediate attention. To address this problem, I'll employ a systematic approach to identify, validate, and resolve the root cause while considering both short-term and long-term implications.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Considering the sudden drop, I'm wondering about recent changes. Have there been any significant product updates or marketplace policy changes in the last 1-2 months?

Why it matters: Recent changes could directly impact sales performance. Expected answer: Yes, there were some product updates or policy changes. Impact on approach: If confirmed, we'd focus on analyzing the impact of these changes.

• Given the specific mention of Latin American marketplaces, I'm curious about regional factors. Are we seeing similar trends in other regions where Merama operates?

Why it matters: This helps determine if it's a localized issue or a broader problem. Expected answer: The issue is primarily in Latin America. Impact on approach: If confirmed, we'd focus on region-specific factors.

• Thinking about the beauty industry's seasonality, I'm wondering about historical patterns. How does this 30% drop compare to typical month-over-month variations in beauty product sales?

Why it matters: This helps distinguish between normal fluctuations and unusual declines. Expected answer: This drop is significantly larger than typical variations. Impact on approach: If confirmed, we'd focus on identifying extraordinary factors.

• Considering potential data anomalies, I'm curious about our measurement systems. Have there been any changes to how we track or report sales volume in the past month?

Why it matters: This helps rule out potential data or reporting issues. Expected answer: No changes to measurement systems. Impact on approach: If confirmed, we'd focus on actual sales performance issues rather than data discrepancies.