The reason that store inventory is limited is because those stores have been reluctant to purchase goods whose sales are highly speculative, especially in the face of falling consumer credit demand. Inventory is a form of waste.
My wife works for a "big box" retailer popular here in the SE USA. She handles the inventory for the men's department. They started inventory reduction over a year ago. She tells me they have been directed by their management to add display tables and such to make the store look fuller, even though there is about half to two thirds the inventory on the floor compared to a couple of years ago.