7 Best Practices for Managing Inventory in Your Pet Store

Inventory is the heart of a pet store. From choosing pet friendly products to pricing competitively to always having enough inventory in stock, managing inventory is a full-time job. Inventory systems are highly encouraged to help eliminate waste, identify trends, and perfect inventory levels. If cash flow is interfering with your ability to stock enough inventory, we’ll help you solve that problem too. 

Best practices for managing inventory in your pet store

Running a successful pet store is more than just having enough dog food and litter boxes in stock at all times, pet stores can have a complex inventory and clientele too. There are a variety of product categories, and within each category, there can be dozens or even hundreds of different brands and products. Additionally, depending on what animals your pet store caters to, you may have hundreds of brands and products for each different type of pet. For example, you can have more than just cat and dog supplies. There are fish, lizards, snakes, reptiles, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, birds, and more. Each pet type requires different types of food, shelter, toys, and supplies. 

Keeping track of your inventory can be an incredibly complex and full-time job. Here are some of the best practices you may want to consider when managing the inventory of your pet store. 

#1. Utilize automation

Even if you only own and operate one store, there are many ways that automation can help you manage your inventory. For example, investing in a quality POS and inventory management system can do wonders to automatically track your inventory and notify you when specific items need to be ordered. You can even use your inventory management system to automatically generate and send purchase orders to vendors for some or all of your top-selling products. 

#2. Have an inventory management process in place

Every business that contains a large amount of inventory needs to have an inventory management system process in place. An inventory management process includes recording, tracking, and managing your inventory. The goal is to maintain a balance between having enough inventory to make sure you can make every sale and not tying up too much of your working capital in stock. 

In order to achieve this, you should designate either yourself or one of your employees to be one hundred percent responsible for your inventory management process. By designating one person to inventory management, you can help to make sure that inventory is given the attention it needs to help your business be successful. You should also have this designated person work in tandem with effective inventory management software. 

Some of the responsibilities of this position may include inventory control, stock review, cycle counting, and working with vendors to use your inventory management system data to identify trends, high-demand items, and seasonality, and to help forecast future purchases. 

#3. Share data with your suppliers

By using a high-quality inventory management system, you can easily share your sales data with your suppliers. This type of data is mutually beneficial for both your business and the business of your suppliers. Suppliers can use this data to see which products are working and which are not and help you make future purchasing decisions that can help reduce waste while increasing sales and revenue. 

Your suppliers may also be aware of the latest products and technologies available that you may not have time to research. They then can help you update your inventory to ensure you have the latest offerings available. Suppliers also may have access to what other pet stores are purchasing in your region that tends to be selling well for them. The goal of your supplier is to help increase your business so they can increase yours. 

#4. Target a returning customer base (create loyalty)

The unique thing about pet store customers is that if you can build a relationship with a pet owner early on, they are more likely to stay loyal to you and your store over the life cycle of their pets. For example, when a customer comes in for the first time, they could have just gotten a puppy or kitten and need specific products for the early stages of their animals’ lives. Take the opportunity to build  trust early by having the products they need in stock and competitively priced, and they will likely return for every purchase they need throughout the animal’s entire life. Also, if you do not have an item they want, promise you will start stocking it and do it. Returning customers are the bread and butter of a successful pet store. Customers often choose a small pet store over a large retailer because they appreciate hand-selected products and pet lovers that greet them upon arrival. To compete with major retailers though you may need to offer easy shopping methods such as online ordering or curbside pickup. You can also stock specialty items that your Walmarts, Targets, and other big box retailers are not going to carry. This could be everything from organic treats to CBD products. 

#5. Purchase stock wholesale

This should be economics 101, however, as a pet store owner, you need to work with your suppliers to make purchases that qualify for wholesale pricing. Whether that is making minimum quantity purchases or ensuring you have a minimum number of orders over a period of time, do whatever you can to maintain that relationship with your suppliers that gives you access to the best wholesale prices. Again, it’s a balancing act. You can easily do this with the items that fly off your shelves, however, be careful with other items that may not sell as well. Having inventory that sits on the sales floor or in the stock room for long periods of time can put some serious limitations on your cash flow. 

#6. Invest in a POS system

The main benefit of investing in a POS system is that you can update your inventory in real-time as well as digitize inventory counts to be automatically entered into inventory management systems. You may be surprised to learn that there are still some pet store owners using paper inventory management systems that can often become inaccurate and inefficient. 

#7. Have a system for liquidating obsolete inventory

If you have your own pet store and you struggle to find ways to get rid of the old inventory to make way for new, there are several tactics that other pet store owners have used in the past to some degree of success. Here are some of the quickest ways to work toward liquidating older inventory.

  1. Remerchandising and remarketing: Sometimes products can be lacking sales simply because of their placement in the store or how they appear on the shelves. Experiment with moving things around, creating additional signage, or building special displays. 
  2. Sales promotions and/or events: Inventory liquidation sales are quite common in retail. Offer special sales on select items or create sales events with massive discounts. 
  3. Bundle items: Try bundling items together with buy-one-get-one deals or creating special baskets or bundles with additional discounts. 
  4. Incentive-based giveaways: Encourage customers to spend a minimum amount of money in the store to earn free items or pet care. For example, spend $100 and receive a free grooming session for your pet. 
  5. Supplier exchange programs: Speak with your suppliers to see if they have any programs in place to help with inventory liquidation. They may also be willing to swap out older products for new products in some type of exchange program. 
  6. Donate for tax benefits: Anything you cannot sell, you could also consider donating to pet rescues, animal humane societies, and other organizations that help animals. Not only will your extra inventory go to a good cause, but you can also receive some tax incentives as well. 

How inventory financing can help your pet store business

Inventory financing is a powerful tool that many pet stores use to help maintain their inventory levels and pay for large purchases without restricting their cash flow. Inventory financing is especially helpful for pet stores that may just be starting out and need to make their initial purchases before their grand opening. The problem is that traditional methods of inventory financing are known for being expensive and hard to qualify for. An entrepreneur just like you once faced the very same problems with inventory financing. As an entrepreneur he set out to solve a major problem and Kickfurther was born.

Kickfurther is the world’s first online inventory funding platform that enables small businesses to access funds that they are unable to acquire through traditional sources. For companies that sell physical products or non-perishable consumables and have revenue between $150k to $15mm over the last 12 months, Kickfurther can help. We connect brands to a community of backers who help fund inventory on consignment and give brands flexibility to pay that back as they receive cash from sales. 

Kickfurther can help startups and small businesses fund millions of dollars of inventory at costs up to 30% lower cost than the competition. With more than $100 million in inventory funded to date, Kickfurther can help you get funded within a day or even minutes to hours. 

Closing thoughts

Running a successful pet store involves a major commitment and seamless execution. Paying attention to the small details can make all the difference. As you encounter small or large problems, always commit to finding a solution. 

Interested in getting funded at Kickfurther? Here are 3 easy steps to get started:

#1. Create a free business account

#2. Complete the online application 

#3. Review a potential deal with one of our account reps & get funded in minutes

Learn more about pet store inventory financing solutions.

Effectively Manage Your Retail Inventory: 10 Tips to Consider

If you own a retail store, it’s essential to stay on top of your retail inventory. From eliminating waste to stocking enough of the right products, inventory management can increase revenues. It can also improve customer satisfaction. 

What is retail inventory management?

Retail inventory management is the process of taking inventory to ensure you have just the right amount of stock.

An accurate inventory management system will help you determine what’s selling, what’s not, and what you need more of.

Types of retail inventory management methods

Retailers should understand inventory management. From choosing software and POS systems to creating fulfillment and storage systems, a basic understanding of the types of inventory management methods is critical. Some of the most common inventory management methods for retailers include:

  • First in, first out (FIFO)
  • Last in, first out (LIFO
  • Just-in-time (JIT)
  • Economic order quantity (EOQ)
  • ABC analysis
  • Fast, slow and non-moving analysis (FSN)

Benefits of retail inventory management

Retail inventory management offers a variety of benefits including the following.

  • Boost customer satisfaction: Have you ever wanted to order an item only to find it was unavailable or on back order? Or worse, you placed your order only for it to be canceled? When this occurs you may feel dissatisfied with the seller. As a result, you’ll find another product to fulfill your needs. The need to order elsewhere may turn out to be a positive for the consumer, but a negative for the business that lost the sale. Businesses can avoid something like this happening by keeping on top of inventory and ensuring popular items are in stock.
  • Improve finances: Managing inventory efficiently helps you determine what items are selling well and which are not. This allows you to keep ordering the items that are selling and minimizes the chances of you investing in items that aren’t doing so well. In doing so, you can improve your ROI.
  • Minimize shrinkage: Shrinkage refers to the items that are lost due to error, employee theft, shoplifting, and damage. Taking inventory allows you to identify sources of shrinkage so you can prevent it from happening. It also helps you account for shrinkage financially so you can get a better handle on it.

Tips to manage retail inventory

Here are some tips that will help you manage your retail inventory more efficiently.

  • Ensure you have accurate inventory stock levels: It’s essential to have an accurate system in place for monitoring inventory. It’s also important to monitor it regularly to ensure you are up to date.
  • Know your inventory store metrics: Your inventory store metrics include your stock, your profits, your cash flow, your turnover, discounts, loss, supply, and demand. You can manage metrics in real time using a POS system.
  • Outline purchasing & receiving procedures:  Once you determine which items are making money, you can begin outlining your purchasing and receiving procedures. Creating purchase order forms and keeping track of them will help. You can compare your POs against the items you receive to ensure you got the correct items and quantities.
  • Optimize forecasting  models: Your inventory will give you a good idea of what purchases you need to make. For example, you know you will want to stock up on popular items, especially during busy times of the year. But keep in mind that the item’s popularity won’t last forever. You will need to stay on top of your inventory to forecast accurately.
  • Utilize data analytics: Your data analytics will give you a complete picture of your past sales history. You can use it to make predictions on future purchases. Certain types of software will even run reports to predict future demand based on past data. 
  • Implement supplier contingency plans:  A supplier contingency plan outlines what to do if you are understocked or overstocked on an item. For example, if you are understocked on an item and cannot get any more from your supplier, you may consider going to another supplier or ordering a similar item instead. If you are overstocked, you may think about running a sale.
  • Understand store vs. eCommerce inventory:  If you run both a brick-and-mortar store and an eCommerce business, it’s important to maintain stock and inventory for each separately. Of course, there may be times when you will need to borrow from your brick-and-mortar stock to feed an eCommerce order and vice versa, but this type of activity must be accounted for.
  • Determine a dead stock procedure: Dead stock is inventory that isn’t selling. You may try to move it by packaging it with another item or discounting it. You may also consider returning it to the supplier. Inventory management systems can help you identify dead stock so that you can work on moving it sooner rather than later.
  • Create a method for markdowns:  If supplies aren’t moving, marking them down may help with sales. It’s important to create a method for markdowns which includes determining how long an item should be on the shelf before it’s marked down and how much of a discount you want to apply.
  • Do regular stock counts: You must keep up to date on your inventory. Inventory counts should be conducted regularly. You can also use software to constantly stay up to date on your inventory.

How Kickfurter can help

Staying on top of your inventory is an essential part of retail business management. But first you will need to have the inventory to manage. When you are starting out in business, you may have a tough time dealing with the various expenses involved. Acquiring inventory is one of these expenses. Yet it’s essential in generating revenue. Kickfurther can help small businesses that need funding for inventory. And when we say help, we really mean it. 

Kickfurther is the world’s first online inventory funding platform that enables small businesses to access funds that they are unable to acquire through traditional sources. For companies that sell physical products or non-perishable consumables and have revenue between $150k to $15mm over the last 12 months, Kickfurther can help. We connect brands to a community of backers who help fund inventory on consignment and give brands flexibility to pay that back as they receive cash from sales. 

Kickfurther can help startups and small businesses fund millions of dollars of inventory at costs up to 30% lower cost than the competition. With more than $100 million in inventory funded to date, Kickfurther can help you get funded within a day or even minutes to hours. 

Closing thoughts

Keeping track of inventory is an essential part of doing business. Just because you have a system in place, does not mean you can move on from the topic. Inventory systems should be constantly evaluated and adjusted as needed. Investing in efficient operations will help you fulfill orders faster and save money in the long run. In business you should never take shortcuts. Staying one step ahead of the game will help you outperform your competitors while continuing to be successful 

Interested in getting funded at Kickfurther? Here are 3 easy steps to get started:

#1. Create a free business account

#2. Complete the online application 

#3. Review a potential deal with one of our account reps & get funded in minutes

Learn more about retail inventory financing options from Kickfurther.

Protect yourself – and your investors – from Amazon account suspension

An Amazon account suspension can crater a brand’s cash flow. Even worse, suspension can make it impossible for the brand to make payments, whether to credit card companies, investors, or the bank. Late-pays and no-pays have long-lasting negative impacts on growth.

After design, sourcing and manufacturing, transportation, and all the other challenges of product development, the last thing a brand can afford is to have Amazon cut off its revenue. But that’s exactly what happens if: 

  • Amazon receives too many product quality complaints that go unaddressed
  • Amazon Seller Performance detects policy violations by the seller

When an Amazon seller account is suspended:

  • The seller’s products are no longer available for sale on Amazon.com
  • The seller’s funds are held by Amazon – sometimes permanently
  • The seller’s inventory goes into limbo in the Amazon Fulfillment Centers

A successful appeal, known as a Plan of Action, can get the seller back up and running on Amazon. But the process can take days, weeks, or even months depending on the circumstances of the suspension.

This makes prevention key. By taking a few concrete steps now, a brand can avoid future suspensions that tie up cash and stymie revenue on the world’s largest e-commerce platform.

Step 1: Be vigilant about product quality to stave off Amazon account suspension

The fastest way to failure on Amazon is poor product quality. Shortcomings in product quality can work against a brand in many ways:

  • Generate a large number of returns, which are expensive for the seller and result in unfulfillable inventory and low – or even negative – profits
  • Prompt negative product reviews, which suppresses future sales
  • Create negative store feedback

Fortunately, Amazon provides many data sources where sellers can carefully monitor buyers’ reactions to products. This enables sellers to uncover the root cause of complaints quickly and easily. Sellers should monitor:

  • FBA and/or FBM returns reports, where buyers often provide the reason for the return
  • Product reviews
  • Store feedback
  • Voice of the Customer
  • Buyer-seller messaging

Sellers must believe the data. The biggest mistake many brand owners make is to assume that the customer was wrong. Yes, sometimes buyers make false or inaccurate complaints. But if a product has a high return rate or similar complaints from multiple buyers, the data must be taken seriously.

Step 2: Always be improving the account’s worst ASIN

Once a seller has a clear vision of product quality across their catalog, it’s time to choose the worst-performing ASIN. This ASIN doesn’t have to be a failure to justify improving it for the future. By taking an attitude and creating processes for continual improvement, the brand can ensure it will gradually improve its reviews, profitability, and success over time.

Most sellers target the product with the highest return rate for improvement. They can then read the specific comments in the data sets from Step 1 to determine why returns are higher than they should be. Improvements can then come in the form of:

  • Updating the product detail page to clarify information that is confusing to buyers
  • Requiring stepped-up inspections at the manufacturing facility
  • Improving product packaging so the item arrives at the buyer in perfect condition
  • Redesigning the product for its next manufacturing run
  • In the worst cases, choosing to discontinue the product

Is this hard work? Yes. But these incremental, continual improvements are what separates high-margin, successful brands from the flashes-in-the-pan. And while driving more revenue and profitability, these improvements also will keep sellers out of the Amazon suspension doghouse.

Step 3: Know Amazon’s rules to avoid account suspension

Amazon has a broad range of rules and regulations that sellers must follow. Some of these rules are common sense. Others require some Amazon experience, know-how, or research to even know they exist much less to understand them.

Too many brands assume that selling on Amazon is exactly the same as selling on another platform such as eBay, Etsy, or their own Shopify store. It’s simply not.

For example, Amazon has very detailed requirements around:

  • Ownership of multiple seller accounts
  • Prep of Amazon FBA inventory
  • Restricted products and hazardous materials
  • Advertising and promotions
  • Buyer-seller messaging
  • Requests for seller feedback and product reviews

Each of these categories – and many more – provide multiple opportunities for sellers to fall afoul of the rules and put themselves at risk of account suspension.

Amazon offers an extensive Help section on Seller Central, as well as video content it dubs Amazon University. Sellers should spend time ensuring they understand the rules for all Amazon accounts, as well as their specific categories. When in doubt, there are many Amazon agencies and consultants that can provide expert advice. It’s better to be safe than sorry and suspended.

About the Author
Lesley Hensell is co-founder and co-owner of Riverbend Consulting, which solves Amazon problems for third-party sellers and vendors. Lesley has personally helped hundreds of third-party sellers get their accounts and ASINs back up and running. She has been an Amazon seller for more than a decade, thanks to her boys (20 and 14) who do most of the heavy lifting.

5 reasons why giving equity away to fund your inventory creates inefficiencies

When you are starting and growing a business, it is important to make sure that you are as efficient as possible.

If you’ve ever given equity of your business away to fund goods or services, you’re not alone. A lot of companies do this in order to fund their inventory. However, there are some big drawbacks to this strategy that you should be aware of. 

In this post, we’ll discuss why equity-based funding can lead to inefficiencies and how you can avoid them. We’ll also tell you what you can do instead to help your business remain profitable.

Keep reading to learn more!

Top Reasons Why Giving Equity Away to Fund Inventory and Marketing is Inefficient

As a startup, it can be tempting to give away equity in order to raise money for inventory and marketing expenses. However, there are several reasons why this is not always the most efficient use of resources.

Leads to Conflict and Future Problems

First of all, giving away equity dilutes the ownership of the company among the founders and early investors. This can make it difficult to make decisions about the direction of the company and can lead to conflict down the road. Additionally, if the company is successful, the founders and early investors will have less of a return on their investment than if they had simply funded these expenses themselves.

Giving away equity also means that the company will have less control over its own destiny. The investors who hold equity in the company will have a say in how it is run, which can be counterproductive if their goals do not align with those of the founders. Giving away equity often means that the company will be valued at a lower price when it comes time to sell or go public, as investors will factor in the amount of equity that has been given away.

Equity Should Be Reserved for Key Moments in a Company’s Life

Equity should be reserved for key moments in a company’s life, such as attracting top talent or raising capital. Giving away equity to fund inventory or marketing expenses can dilute the ownership of the company and reduce the potential return on investment for early shareholders. 

A company’s equity is like its lifeblood – it’s what allows the company to grow and thrive. As such, there are a few key moments in a company’s life when you should reserve equity. The first is when you’re founded. This is the time when you have the most potential and the most to gain from investors. 

The second is when you’re growing rapidly. This is when your equity will be most valuable to investors, as they’ll be able to share in your success. 

Finally, when you’re profitable and stable, you should continue to reserve equity to attract and retain top talent. By reserving equity at these key moments, you’ll ensure that your company has the resources it needs to succeed.

While there are definitely times when giving away equity makes sense, companies should be mindful of when equity is truly needed and not use it as a Band-Aid solution to temporary cash flow problems.

It Can Devalue the Company and Make it More Difficult to Raise Money Later

Giving away equity in your company can have a number of other downsides. For one, it can devalue the company and make it more difficult to raise money later on. This is because investors will see that the company is not worth as much as it once was, and they will be less likely to invest. 

Additionally, giving away equity can make it more difficult to keep control of the company. If too much equity is given away, the founders may no longer have a majority stake in the business. This can lead to conflict and potentially even legal problems down the road. Therefore, it is important to think carefully before giving away any equity in your company. 

If you do decide to go ahead with it, make sure that you are doing so for the right reasons and that you are not putting the future of the business at risk.

It’s Tough to Track How much Has Been Given Away and to Whom

Giving away equity to fund marketing and inventory can be a tough decision for any startup. On one hand, it can be a great way to raise capital and get your business off the ground. On the other hand, it can be difficult to track how much equity has been given away and to whom. This can make it difficult to assess the true value of your company and make informed decisions about its future. If you’re considering giving away equity, be sure to weigh all the pros and cons carefully before making a decision.

It Can Be Seen as a Sign of Desperation or Weakness

Giving away equity in your company can be seen as a sign of desperation or weakness, so it’s important to think carefully before taking this step. One common reason for giving away equity is to raise money to fund inventory or marketing. However, this can be a risky move, as it dilutes the ownership of your company and reduces the amount of control you have over its future. 

If you do decide to give away equity, make sure you are doing so in exchange for something of real value that will help your business grow. Otherwise, you may find yourself regretting the decision down the road.

How Kickfurther can help grow your business

If you’re a business owner, you know that one of the most important things is keeping your inventory stocked. After all, you can’t sell what you don’t have! But sometimes it’s difficult to come up with the funds to purchase new inventory, especially if you’re a small business or just starting out. 

That’s where Kickfurther comes in. Kickfurther is a company that provides inventory funding for businesses of all sizes. They’ve funded millions of dollars in inventory for businesses all over the world, and they can provide funding quickly and easily.

Best of all, there’s no need to give up equity in your company. It’s a simple and convenient way to get the funding you need to keep your business growing. So if you’re looking for a way to grow your business without giving up equity, be sure to check out Kickfurther.

Wrapping up  

By giving away equity, you are also diluting your ownership and control. You’re essentially making it harder for yourself to succeed in the long run. So before you go out and give away equity to fund your inventory, take a step back and consider if there might be a better way. Let us help you find that better way—contact Kickfurther today to see what this company can do for you instead.

Best Inventory Demand Forecasting Techniques

What is inventory demand forecasting?

Inventory demand forecasting is typically a responsibility of a supply chain manager or someone who reports to them. Demand planning or demand forecasting is a research-based job function that is used to accurately predict the needed inventory levels for specific products over specific periods of time in the future.

The more accurate a business can be when it comes to calculating what products they will have and when they will have them combined with determining what products will be needed and when they will be needed, the more efficient the business can be. 

Efficient and accurate inventory demand forecasting can ensure that a business always has enough stock to fill customer orders without tying up too much capital in inventory. 

When it comes to inventory demand forecasting, there are a number of metrics that a supply management team needs to keep track of. Here is a quick breakdown of some of those most vital metrics used in inventory demand forecasting.

  • Sales velocity versus average sales: The rate of sales without counting the days that a product was out of stock. To calculate sales velocity, you need to take 365 days and divide it by the number of days an item was in stock and then multiply that by 30 days. 
  • Lead time: The time it takes for a business to receive a product after ordering it from a supplier.
  • Economic order quantity: The most cost-efficient quantity of a product that a business can order.
  • Reorder point: The reorder point is a metric that takes into account the number of units sold per day, the lead time, and the safety stock level. This metric helps a business decide when to make a new order from a supplier.
  • Inventory turnover: The number of occurrences where a business has sold and replenished a product.
  • Average inventory: The average number of a product you have during a given period. 
  • Safety stock: The amount of a product you need in stock in order to account for minor surges in customer demand. 

With these metrics, a supply chain manager and their team can ideally calculate the most accurate and efficient inventory demand forecast.

Types of inventory forecasting

There are four commonly used types of inventory forecasting used by companies. The four types include trend, graphical, qualitative, and quantitative forecasting. Here are each of these types of inventory forecasting in a bit more detail.

  • Trend forecasting: Trend forecasting is a data set that tracks changes in demand for a product over time. An analyst looking at this data may be able to identify possible patterns using past sales and realized growth. They can also look at specific customers or groups of customers and predict how they may purchase in the future. Based on all of this information, new marketing techniques and special offers can be created. 
  • Graphical forecasting: The same data that is collected for trend forecasting can be conveyed using graphs to show fluctuations in sales over time. 
  • Qualitative forecasting: Qualitative forecasting uses data from customers that is collected through market research and focus groups to forecast potential demand. 
  • Quantitative forecasting: Quantitative forecasting uses past data to create time-series forecastings. The more data that is available, the more accurate the forecast can be.  

How inventory demand forecasting may help your business

Accurate inventory demand forecasting is essential for any business. The more accurate and efficient the forecasting, the more benefits a business can enjoy. Here are some of the most ideal benefits a company can expect if it can accurately forecast future demand.

  1. Maintain accurate stock levels: Accurate stock levels are important both ways. If you are always out of stock or short on a particular product, back-ordering customer orders or needing to cancel orders can give your company a bad reputation and cost you money. Missed sales due to insufficient stock are something you want to avoid at all costs. On the other hand, having too much stock is a problem as well. If you have too much product in inventory, that is money sitting idle that could be put to other uses as working capital. Additionally, warehouse space is not cheap. Paying to store a product that sits for long periods of time is not a wise use of capital.
  2. Save time: If you have accurate inventory demand forecasting, many processes such as reordering and updating can be automated rather than entered in manually. These types of automated processes are an excellent way to save time and resources.
  3. Maintain a healthy cash flow: To piggyback off of how accurate inventory demand forecasting can be beneficial, having accurate inventory demand forecasting can help a business maintain a healthy cash flow. Inventory is just the physical embodiment of money. Keep a constant flow of goods receiving and shipping to have a good amount of working capital on hand at all times. 
  4. Quicker reaction time to changes: Sudden changes in the supply chain can more easily be taken in stride if the inventory demand forecasting is accurate and all of the necessary metrics are well-maintained. 

Best inventory demand forecasting techniques

Supply chain management teams have various techniques they like to use to create the most accurate inventory demand forecasts that they can. Here are a few of the best techniques that are used today.

Identify trends

Trends can be summarized as peaks and valleys of demand that a businesses experience for a specific product through the product cycle. It’s important to be on top of those trends for accurate forecasting. 

Adjust forecasting for seasonality

Seasonal demand exists for every type of product, however, it should be kept separate from base demand. Seasonal demand takes into account the holiday shopping season, weather patterns, and other factors that may create a surge in demand for a specific product. It is important to be aware of seasonality for each different product in inventory.

Use inventory demand types

Different products tend to have different demand types. Make sure you are aware of those demand types. Some products are always in demand but the level of demand varies greatly, some are always in demand but at consistent levels, and some have clearly defined peak demand times and times when there is little to no demand. 

Decide on future forecast period

The forecast period for a specific product depends on the volatility of demand. If demand for a certain product seems to be sporadic, then forecasting will need to be done on a more frequent basis. If demand for a product is slow yet consistent, then forecasting periods can be done for much longer periods into the future. 

Consider qualitative inputs

Qualitative inputs include sales promotions, competitor activity, and future events that could affect future demand. These factors need to be considered as well, however, they can be treated similarly to seasonal demand where it is calculated separately from base demand. 

Using a demand forecasting software

Demand forecasting software can be especially useful if your business is complex with multiple lines of products all with varying degrees of demand. There are enterprise resource planning systems, warehouse management systems, e-Commerce tools, and inventory optimization software that all can help a business create accurate forecasts. 

How Kickfurther can help

Accurately forecasting inventory can uncover over and under stocking issues. As you work to perfect inventory forecasting you may discover a need to stock more inventory. While finances should not stand in the way of stocking plenty of inventory, the reality is they do. Luckily, Kickfurther can help by connecting you to affordable inventory funding

Kickfurther is the world’s first online inventory funding platform that enables small businesses to access funds that they are unable to acquire through traditional sources. For companies that sell physical products or non-perishable consumables and have revenue between $150k to $15mm over the last 12 months, Kickfurther can help. We connect brands to a community of backers who help fund inventory on consignment and give brands flexibility to pay that back as they receive cash from sales. 

Kickfurther can help startups and small businesses fund millions of dollars of inventory at costs up to 30% lower cost than the competition. With more than $100 million in inventory funded to date, Kickfurther can help you get funded within a day or even minutes to hours. 

Interested in getting funded at Kickfurther? Here are 3 easy steps to get started:

#1. Create a free business account

#2. Complete the online application 

#3. Review a potential deal with one of our account reps & get funded in minutes

7 Inventory Control Problems and How to Solve Them

Inventory control can affect sales, budgets, customer satisfaction, and so much more. From being able to access inventory quickly to always having enough items in stock, inventory control is a complex topic. While you may have to make some mistakes on your own, you should try to avoid mistakes where you can. 

What is inventory control?

Inventory control refers to all aspects of managing your company’s stock levels and getting these products to customers as expected. The most important aspect of inventory control is ensuring accurate and sufficient stock levels in order to keep up with consumer demand. This process may be done in-house or through a third-party company such as a logistics provider or order fulfillment warehouse. The use of fully automated inventory control systems allows retail companies to successfully manage their inventory without costly mistakes or issues.

Why inventory control is important in business

Inventory control is one of the most important aspects of any products-based business. Failure to properly manage your inventory and successfully fulfill orders can lead to all sorts of costly issues and cut into your potential profits. Understanding how to manage your inventory and avoid inventory control problems is the key to your future business success and profitability.

Most Common Inventory Control Problems

While there are many things that can go wrong when it comes to inventory control, the most common problems that small businesses encounter are as follows.

  • Understocking or overstocking: Understock and overstocking can both be costly mistakes. In some cases they are a result of negligence, while in other cases they may be a result of poor inventory control or cash flow restraints. Understocking most commonly results from cash flow challenges or supplier problems. Both of these issues can easily be fixed, but before you dive in make sure you are managing inventory properly and know exactly what you need. On the other hand, overstocking occurs when too much inventory is purchased. If you don’t have adequate inventory tracking systems in place it’s easy to overstock inventory on accident. The sooner you acknowledge that you’re overstocked, the better. Make efforts to liquidate some inventory or devise a plan for moving it. Overstocking and understocking can affect your bottom line through lost profits, tied-up cash flow, and missed sales. Utilizing a robust inventory management system in conjunction with analytics can help prevent these costly issues.
  • Supply chain difficulties: Retail businesses are often at the mercy of their suppliers. Issues with your supply chain can lead to shipping delays, product shortages, the inability to fulfill orders, and other challenges to keeping up with consumer demand. These issues also affect customer satisfaction and can hurt your company’s reputation. It may sound scary to jump ship, but trying a new supplier may be necessary. Before switching, be sure to vet the new supplier. Asking to speak with current customers can be a great way to gather real insight.
  • Inaccurate stock: You can’t sell a product that isn’t actually on your shelf. A lack of automation and lack of communication between your warehouse and your website can lead to mistakes in your inventory count and inaccurate stock levels. While it may require investment, having accurate real-time data helps you spot problems and keep customers happy.
  • Demand complexity: There are many factors involved in proper inventory control. Businesses must remember to account for these factors including demand volatility, seasonal fluctuations, product life cycles, and supply chain complexities. These challenges can make it difficult to plan for and maintain the right amount of inventory.
  • Lack of communication: If different departments of your business are not properly communicating with each other, you will be much more likely to encounter inventory control issues. For example, whoever is in charge of purchase decisions should be kept informed of every aspect of inventory management from the current state of the warehouse to any anticipated changes in market conditions or seasonal demand. The right technology can increase this visibility and cooperation between everyone involved.
  • Lack of automation: If your company is still relying on paperwork and other manual systems, you may be missing a key opportunity to take your business to the next level. A lack of automation can be financially costly, take up too much time, lead to mistakes in data entry, and allow important information to fall through the cracks. On the other hand, the right inventory management system can allow key employees throughout the organization to stay informed and equipped with real-time (and accurate) data. A fully automated and integrated inventory management system is always the best choice.
  • Lack of experienced staff: When you’re running a product-based business, it’s key that all employees involved in inventory management, logistics, and order fulfillment are experienced and trained. Having knowledgeable staff will help your company quickly identify any inventory control problems and prevent them from happening in the first place. On the other hand, inexperienced staff can lead to damaged goods, inaccurate data, and poor business decisions. Remember that staff is at the forefront of inventory issues. Hire individuals you trust and are competent, even if that means paying them more. Furthermore, meet with them regularly to find out what’s working and what’s not.

Tips for solving inventory control issues

Luckily, there are many things your business can do to stay on top of inventory management and avoid the most common inventory control problems. Consider these valuable tips below to help you maximize productivity and profits. 

  • Consider outsourcing: Not all companies have the ability to manage their inventory themselves, especially small businesses who are just getting started. For these retail companies, hiring a third-party company who can expertly handle all of your logistics, inventory management, and order fulfillment can be a smart move. As an added bonus, leaving your inventory control to the experts frees you up to focus on other aspects of your business.
  • Incorporate analytics: In order to avoid common inventory control issues such as understocking and overstocking, all of your business decisions should be data-driven. Utilizing consumer analytics and inventory management KPIs will help your company avoid these issues. The right data allows you to make informed business decisions, forecast for future demand, account for seasonality, track product sales cycles, and maintain accurate inventory levels. Companies should also have a solid understanding of their target customer and current market conditions.
  • Incorporate technology: The use of automation, real-time inventory tracking software, and other technology can help your company stay on top of inventory control. Product visibility is extremely important to avoid understocking, overstocking, and inaccurate stock levels, so consider replacing any outdated systems with the latest solutions. Investing in the latest technology becomes even more important if you are managing your inventory remotely across several locations. Your inventory management system should be able to scale with your business, provide accurate information in real-time, and be accessible to employees throughout your organization anywhere in the world.
  • Invest in employee training: The more skilled and knowledgeable your employees are, the more equipped your company will be to handle logistics, order fulfillment, analytics, forecasting, and inventory management. An investment in the continued education and training of your staff is never wasted.
  • Keep up with trends: Industry knowledge is especially important for retail business owners. In order to make the best business decisions and avoid issues with your inventory levels, be sure to stay up to date with current market conditions and trends.

How Kickfurther can help

A lack of cash flow can hinder many retail companies from ordering the stock they need to remain both competitive and profitable. Kickfurther helps companies secure the funding they need for inventory. As the world’s first online funding platform that enables companies access to funds they are unable to acquire through traditional sources, we understand the struggles small business owners face. 

For companies that sell physical products or non-perishable consumables and have revenue between $150k to $15mm over the last 12 months, Kickfurther can help. We connect brands to a community of backers who help fund inventory on consignment and give brands flexibility to pay that back as they receive cash from sales. 

Kickfurther can help startups fund millions of dollars of inventory at costs up to 30% cheaper than the competition. With more than $100 million in inventory funded to date, Kickfurther can help you get funded within a day or even minutes to hours. 

Conclusion

Inventory control is critical for profits, customer satisfaction, and all business operations. In business it’s easy to overlook a few problems, but remember, that one problem will turn into more. If financial restraints are the cause of inventory control issues, take charge. By utilizing inventory funding through Kickfurther combined with staffing the right people and implementing efficient inventory management systems, you can maximize the potential of your business.

Interested in getting funded at Kickfurther? Here are 3 easy steps to get started:

#1. Create a free business account

#2. Complete the online application 

#3. Review a potential deal with one of our account reps & get funded in minutes