What to Do About Inventory???

[mhsiao45]

Hi,
I'm new here, and I also started an E-commerce business about a year ago. I sell high end dog clothing and accessories online. My question is this:

I have no idea what people in the retail industry do about inventory. I'm not sure how much to keep in stock, when to buy, when to clearance, and whether or not I should re-order items or just keep getting new styles.

I've heard how many people make the mistake of buying too much, or not buying enough. Also, I have hot sellers, but I know most retail stores change styles every season so you won't see a really popular item from last spring in a store next Spring.

Is there any good articles or websites where I can read about all this stuff? Thanks for your help!

[mhsiao45]

TTT

no one can help? Please!

[MASapparel]

its mainly a learning process, its different everywhere. As you grow you will see trends and how different seasons affect your sales. Buy around that to help with not under or overstocking.

you should also consider starting your own line. Thats what I do is help people get clothing lines off the ground, we handle everything from designing to printing.
email me if you are interested:
info@makeascenenow.com

[jasaunders]

If you aren't familiar with operations managerment related to the levels of inventory you hold, you should bring someone on your team who does. Or, if you are determined to do it yourself, you may want to consider taking some classes on operations management.

Managing inventory levels is one of the most critical aspects for a retail store. Knowing how to use various forecasting methods is essential. This is a book I have read that should get you started on the subject: Amazon.com: Operations Management: Quality and Competitiveness in a Global Environment: Books: Roberta (Robin) Russell,Bernard W. Taylor