9 Effective Tips to Solve your Inventory Problems

Product-based businesses and retailers deal with a unique set of challenges when it comes to inventory management and control. Without the proper solutions to solve and prevent these issues, your business may unnecessarily miss out on revenue and decrease your total profit. Inventory issues also decrease customer satisfaction and lead to poor customer retention.

Keep reading to learn more about the best practices and tips used throughout the industry to handle any inventory problems that may arise.

Best Tips & Steps to Solve your Inventory Problems

Solving inventory problems can be complex. Oftentimes the cause of the problem is not obvious. As a business owner or manager, you’ll need to fact find until you have enough information to come up with a creative solution. Here are some tips and steps to help identify and solve inventory problems.

  • Identify the main problem area: If you don’t know what’s wrong, you can’t fix it. Therefore, the first step to solving your inventory problems is to identify what your inventory management pain points are. This can be accomplished through proper communication and collaboration between departments, proper data and analytics, and inventory audits. Some of the issues you may encounter include frequent inventory shortages, overstocking, and inaccurate inventory counts. Possible causes include faulty demand forecasting, failure to plan or account for seasonal changes, poor communication, lack of automation, supply chain issues, changes in current market conditions or trends, vendor failures, poor ordering strategies, and poor production planning.
  • Eliminate dead stock: Dead stock is any inventory that can no longer be sold, is out of season, or is otherwise irrelevant. Dead stock can be hard to get rid of, and so should be avoided at all costs. When a product becomes obsolete, you miss out on the opportunity to convert that asset back into cash. With the proper inventory management systems in place, you can reduce your chances of finding yourself with dead stock. In the event that you do have excess inventory that needs to go, your options include selling to customers at a discount, trading with other companies for different products, bundling your unwanted inventory as a package with other in-demand items, or selling in bulk at a discounted price in a liquidation sale.
  • Save money on storage: Warehousing and storage can be one of the largest expenses of a retail or product-based business. This cost can be variable depending on your current inventory levels and storage needs. Consider switching warehousing vendors, eliminating some of your warehouse locations, liquidating dead stock, and cutting down on poor-performing product lines. Likewise, overstocking and overproduction should be avoided at all costs.
  • Perform regular audits: There are a few different methods of audits including physical inventory counts, spot checking, and cycle counting. A physical inventory audit consists of manually counting your entire inventory at the end of each fiscal or calendar year. While this is the most comprehensive method of performing an inventory check, it’s also the most time-consuming. Spot checking involves manually counting all of the available inventory from one particular product or product line and comparing it against the current numbers in your system. Many companies prioritize top-performing products or products that are flagged as being counted incorrectly. The final method of cycle counting involves spreading out your physical inventory audit throughout the year. For example, each month you may check a different product line on a rotating schedule. This solution is ideal for larger companies with multiple warehouses and product types.
  • Create an auditing strategy: With the right auditing strategy to address the issue, your business can overcome any inventory-related challenge. All of your business decisions should be data-driven, and the information obtained from your audits should be kept updated through the right kind of software or inventory management technology. Regular auditing and reporting can help your company both avoid and manage recurring inventory management problems.
  • Incorporate automation: The addition of automation into your inventory management is perhaps the single best thing you can do to increase the success of your business. If you’re still relying on paperwork, Excel charts, and other outdated inventory control systems, it’s time to consider updating your processes with the latest technology. Automation eliminates the possibility of human error, saves your company both time and money, and helps identify key problem areas with your inventory. The most common types of automated inventory systems include enterprise resource planning solutions (ERP) and warehouse management systems (WMS). These systems use barcode tracking technology to increase visibility into your inventory with accurate real-time data.
  • Incorporate analytics: Analytics is a key component of any successful inventory management strategy. Having access to the right data allows everyone from your Purchasing Manager to your Warehouse Manager to make informed decisions.
  • Invest in software: The right software should allow your employees to access real-time inventory data from anywhere in the world, increasing visibility into your product stock and eliminating the need for manual processes. The right software can save you money and increase your efficiency. As a retail business with multiple product lines to manage, you can’t go wrong with an investment into some quality software.
  • Invest in your workforce:  Likewise, you can never go wrong with investing into the ongoing training and education of your employees. Poorly trained employees can increase the chances of experiencing inventory problems, while a skilled staff can help eliminate and even prevent them. If you don’t yet have the resources to manage your inventory storage and order fulfillment in-house, third party logistics providers can bring the level of expertise you need in order to succeed. No matter which method you use, all workers involved in inventory management and control should be up to date with current industry knowledge and trends.

Incorporating these tips into your business operations and taking inventory management best practices into account will go a long way towards the future success of your company.

How Kickfurther can help

As we try to leverage our business, we may fall short on resources in the beginning. Inventory problems often arise as a result of a lack of technology or manpower. Product-based businesses often struggle with cash flow since the inventory ties up a lot of cash. Therefore, other areas of the business are left struggling until the company becomes successful enough to afford more resources. While some businesses may be able to push through to get to a breaking point, most companies will experience failure taking this approach. In order to grow your business and run it properly, you’ll likely need various types of financing. The challenge with financing is that it’s often expensive and hard to qualify for, especially for small businesses. 

For your inventory needs, Kickfurther can help deliver affordable inventory funding. Kickfurther is the world’s first online funding platform that enables companies access to funds 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 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

The effective management of your product inventory is crucial to your business success and profitability. While there are many problems with inventory management that can arise, there are also many steps that companies can take to prevent these issues.

The use of affordable inventory funding through Kickfurther in combination with the right analytics, proper strategy, regular audits, and the incorporation of automation can help your retail or product-based business solve any inventory-related problems.

Interested in getting funded at Kickfurther? Create a free business account today to get started!

Inventory Shortages – 6 Tips for Retailers

Inventory shortages (or stockouts) can result in lost revenue, backorders, shipping delays, longer lead times, increased shipping costs, decreased customer satisfaction, and poor customer retention. As a retailer, you’ll go to any length to avoid inventory shortages. However, if shortages are due to working capital restrictions, you may be unsure of how to resolve the issue. Keep reading as we uncover everything you need to know about inventory shortages and how to avoid them. 

Most common causes of inventory shortages

While the consequences of inventory shortages are many, the most common causes of stockouts are basic and few. 

  • Lack of inventory: The most obvious cause of inventory shortages is a lack of inventory. Failure to plan ahead and account for seasonal changes, industry trends, consumer demand, and current market conditions will likely result in inventory shortages and stockouts every time. Retail businesses should use what is known as demand forecasting to prevent this issue and keep up with the demand for inventory. There’s also the possibility that your supplier just can’t keep up. If this is the case, choose a different supplier or put customers on an ordering basis. Just make sure if you’re taking orders that your products are worth waiting for.
  • Working capital issues:  If your business is regularly experiencing a lack of cash flow, it may be difficult for your company to order enough products to keep up with consumer demand and maintain adequate stock levels. Frequent, small orders that keep your fulfillment team struggling to catch up are not as cost-effective or efficient as larger purchases made with proper demand forecasting. Inventory financing and other forms of business financing can fix this problem. In an effort to access more working capital while keeping costs down, take advantage of Kickfurther for inventory funding. We’ll explore this option in more detail later on.
  • Inaccurate data: Whether you haven’t updated your inventory management system to the 21st century or you are encountering frequent lost and damaged goods, the wrong inventory count can lead to inventory shortages. Regular audits as well as automation software can help prevent stockouts caused by poor data.

Tips for retailers experiencing inventory shortages

Retailers experiencing frequent inventory shortages (and other inventory control problems) should consider the following tips to improve their inventory management.

  • Perform inventory optimization: Inventory optimization is a method of best practices to balance inventory demand with cash flow in order to maintain proper stock levels and meet consumer demand. Inventory optimization takes current market conditions and trends into account along with historical data to calculate a demand forecast. AI demand forecasting is increasing in popularity.
  • Supplier segmentation: Companies must remain flexible and responsive in order to stay competitive, keep up with market conditions and industry trends, and ensure that products remain in stock and available for purchase. Supply chain issues can cause many inventory management issues including stockouts. Supplier segmentation helps reduce this risk and increases your company’s efficiency. The key idea behind supplier segmentation is that vendors who are vital to your organization require a higher level of engagement and resources to adequately manage. Increase the value of your supply chain by defining your strategic relationships with vendors and segmenting them dynamically. Through this process, your company can gain valuable insights into your supply chain, gain a better understanding of supply and demand, and plan ahead for seasonal fluctuations in product demand. Likewise, diversification of these vendor partnerships is crucial. You never want all of your reliance to be upon one company or supplier, especially when it comes to your best-selling product lines.
  • Speed up your replenishment capabilities: There are a number of ways that your product-based business can increase its ability to keep shelves restocked. You may need to be flexible with your preferred vendor and consider ordering from other suppliers when necessary. You may need to take out inventory financing or another form of business financing in order to have the cash flow needed to keep up with consumer demand. Companies should regularly evaluate their current third-party logistics provider (if applicable) and compare them against other providers to get the best lead times and shipping times. Regular physical audits and data-driven demand forecasts are an important part of the replenishment process. Making sure that you are placing seasonal orders and other orders in plenty of time to meet consumer demand is another great way to ensure your products remain on the shelf. No matter how you accomplish it, replenishment optimization is key to increasing customer satisfaction and avoiding the costly issues that come with stockouts.
  • Implement training with employees on stocking: A properly trained team will help prevent inventory management issues every time. Afterall, they are on the ground at all times, and you may not be. Encouraging communication and new ways of doing things can help solve problems and improve inventory systems. Furthermore, make sure your employees have the resources they need to keep up with inventory. As a business owner or manager you should stop and talk to employees as often as time allows. A quick “how’s it going” can teach you more than a one-hour training or meeting. It’s amazing what you’ll find out just in passing. If you choose to hire a third-party logistics company or other provider, be sure they have the expertise and industry knowledge you need in order to succeed.
  • Send out proper allocations: For companies with physical retail locations, ensuring that you have the proper allocations for each store is crucial. Utilizing key data about your inventory and creating an allocation optimization strategy will help ensure that you send the right amount of product to the right stores. Demand may change per store so make sure you understand the market for each location. Allocations will not be the same at every store.
  • Provide transparency to customers: Many online retailers have found great success with keeping customers updated via real-time visibility into product inventory. Receiving a “low stock” alert or seeing a low number of products left in stock on the product page helps incentivize customers to go ahead and place that order. Letting your customers know when the product will be back in stock is another great benefit of transparent inventory management systems. Another key strategy is to showcase similar options to consumers whenever you have to turn away potential orders due to stockouts. All of these methods help reduce the drop in customer satisfaction when their favorite items are out of stock.

How Kickfurther can help

Funds for inventory can force unwanted inventory shortages. The reality is that inventory ties up a lot of cash and as you try to grow, this may cause challenges. To overcome this challenge, small businesses often obtain inventory loans and funding. Inventory funding comes with its own set of challenges from the cost to qualification requirements. 

An entrepreneur that once struggled to find affordable inventory financing for his small business, did what entrepreneurs do best – solve problems. It was after countless no’s and high financing costs that he created Kickfurther

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

5 Strategies to Avoid Inventory Overstocks and Understocks

Overstocking and understocking are two problems that product-based businesses face. These problems can be especially challenging for new businesses who are just getting started and have not had time to gather much data, get to know their customer base, or go through many seasonal cycles yet. We’ve compiled a quick guide including valuable information about common inventory management pitfalls of overstocking and understocking and how to avoid them.

What is inventory overstocking?

In simplest terms, inventory overstocking is when a retail business purchases too much inventory.

Overstocking is a common issue for many small businesses, especially in the beginning stages of growth. A lack of proper planning and proper analytics can lead to overstocking.

It can be tempting to purchase large amounts of inventory in hopes of making more profit. Likewise, it is easy to accidentally purchase more inventory than you actually have a demand for, especially when you are still learning what your customers want and need. However, overstocking can hurt your company’s cash flow and profit margins and should be avoided.

What is inventory understocking?

On the other hand, inventory understocking is when a retail business fails to purchase enough inventory to keep up with demand. It is especially common in businesses with high seasonal fluctuations and new businesses who are still learning the demands of their customer base.

Understocking may be a company-wide issue, or it may apply only to a few best-selling products that just seem to keep flying off the shelves. While not a bad problem to have, you may be missing out on potential profits and hurting your company’s reputation if the products your customers want are routinely out of stock.

Key differences between overstocking and understocking

While both overstocking and understocking result from a failure to plan, there are some key differences in how they affect your company’s bottom line.

Overstocking can put a stress on your warehousing capabilities, leave you stuck with oversupply that must be sold off, and takes away funding from other areas of your business such as marketing or staffing.

On the other hand, understocking leaves money on the table in the form of missed sales, eating into your company’s revenue and profits. Even if you choose to fulfill those transactions as backorders, it can put a strain on your business.

The good news is that both of these common inventory issues can be addressed with proper planning, data, and inventory management.

Causes of overstocking and understocks

Here are the most common causes of inventory issues such as overstocking and understocking:

  • Reliance on emotions over data: Although starting a new product-based business can be exciting, you must make your business decisions based on facts and not emotions. If the product you thought would be a best-seller turns out to be a dud, cut your losses and move on. Businesses make mistakes when they fail to account for the numbers.
  • Failure to collect data: Of course, you can’t make business decisions based on data if you aren’t gathering any. Inventory analytics is key to understanding why your business performs the way it does. Likewise, it is equally important to identify your target audience and know what their product demands and expectations are. Lastly, all retail companies should stay up to date with current market conditions and industry trends.
  • Failure to innovate: Not keeping up with technology can lead to gaps in inventory visibility and decrease the efficiency of your inventory management systems. For example, if you are still maintaining paper records, you are likely missing out on an opportunity to streamline your operations and save both time and money on your inventory management. The right technology can be especially helpful for eCommerce companies who often have to monitor inventory remotely across multiple locations.
  • Failure to forecast: Likewise, demand forecasting software can help you make the right inventory calculations. This is especially helpful if your company is just starting out and doesn’t have much historical sales data to go by yet. While even the best forecasting is still a prediction of future demand, it is still far better than a random shot in the dark.
  • Failure to account for seasonality: Seasonality can lead to some of the biggest gaps in inventory management if you don’t anticipate these drops or increases in demand. For example, if you own a sports & outdoor business, you probably won’t need to order as much camping gear in the winter or snowboarding gear in the spring. Keeping these seasonal fluctuations in mind can help your company avoid common inventory pitfalls.

Tips to minimizing inventory overstocks and understocks

With the proper inventory management system, businesses can avoid costly mistakes when it comes to ordering and maintaining the proper amount of product in stock.

  • Ensuring you have the right systems in place: Whether you handle your company’s inventory in-house or through third-party fulfillment or logistics companies, it is important to maintain a cost effective inventory management system that accounts for shipping speed, customer service, staffing, efficiency, accuracy, and quality. If your current system isn’t quite cutting it – don’t be afraid to jump ship and find one that will.
  • Performing inventory audits on a regular basis: Even the best performing business can always improve, and inventory audits can help ensure your company is operating at its highest potential. Undergoing regular inventory audits helps to ensure accurate data, identify areas of shrinkage, and give you a better understanding of inventory flow.
  • Accurate data collection: Without data, your business is flying blind. We’ve compiled an article on the top inventory management KPIs your business should be tracking here.
  • Inventory management software: Inventory management software helps increase your company’s visibility into your available inventory, especially if you are using third-party warehousing and order fulfillment services. With the right software, you can track your available inventory from anywhere in the world with just the click of a button.
  • Use the ABC method: ABC analysis classifies and prioritizes your inventory into 3 key categories: (A) high-value products with low sales volume, (B) moderate-value products with moderate sales volume, and (C) low-value products with a high sales volume. Taking the time to use this system will both boost efficiency and save you money. For example, using ABC analysis can help companies understand which products need to be ordered the most often, and which big-ticket items you should avoid overstocking.

How Kickfurther can help

Inventory challenges are real, and they go beyond just overstocking and understocking. Oftentimes, inventory levels are a direct result of funding. Small businesses may struggle to get the funding they need at a price they can afford. Determined to succeed, they know they must find a way. For entrepreneur Sean De Clerq, the way to succeed was to create Kickfurther.. Kickfurther is the world’s first online inventory financing platform that enables companies to access funds they were unable to acquire through traditional sources. 

So how does it work?

Kickfurther has companies start by creating a profile. Next, we connect brands to a community of eager buyers who help fund the inventory on consignment and give brands the flexibility to pay that back as they receive cash from their sales. Flexible repayment schedules alleviate cash flow challenges that are often made worse by traditional lenders. Small businesses can take advantage of flexible repayment schedules by allowing the brand to scale quickly without impeding your ability to maintain inventory. To qualify for funding through Kickfurther, brands must sell physical products or non-perishable consumables. In addition, brands must have revenue between $400k to $15mm over the last 12 months. Our average funding amount is $78,000, but businesses can fund up to $5MM to manufacture new inventory or get reimbursed for current stock.

Closing thoughts

No matter how your company chooses to maintain its inventory, business owners must keep in mind the various aspects of inventory management including how to avoid overstocks and understocks, how to account for seasonality, how to gather data about your inventory, and how often to order more inventory. Furthermore, they must ensure they have the funding to stock the appropriate amount of inventory without taking away from other parts of the business. By freeing up cash flow, hopefully you have more money to invest in other critical areas of operation. 

Interested in getting funded on Kickfurther? Create a free business account today to get started!

10 Inventory Management KPIs Your Business Should Be Tracking

Inventory is at the core of success for every product-based business. It’s what generates revenue, but it’s also what ties up most free cash. For product-based businesses to operate efficiently and maximize potential, they must have accurate inventory management systems and track KPI’s. Determining what this exactly means for your company can be challenging, but with a little bit of research and education we’re confident that you can make significant improvements.

What are KPIs in business inventory management?

KPI stands for “key performance indicator” and is exactly what it sounds like – a metric or data point that is a key indicator of your company’s performance and success.

If you operate a product-based business, most of your KPIs are going to be related to inventory management and maintaining products in stock. By measuring key aspects of your company’s inventory in real-time, you can make informed business decisions that will increase profitability and improve your bottom line.

How is inventory management measured?

There are many different KPIs that can be used to measure the success or failure of your current inventory management systems. Companies often use specialized software or companies who provide analytics services to help them keep an eye on this key business data.

The benefits of measuring your inventory management performance includes the ability to see how efficiently your company is moving products off the shelves and how your actual product sales compare to sales forecasts. Utilizing this data helps your company anticipate future business needs and pivot when needed, which translates to increased revenue and profitability.

We’ll cover the most common and most helpful inventory management KPIs in more detail in the next section.

Top inventory management KPIs your business should be tracking

Proper analytics is key to your future business success, especially when it comes to inventory management. Knowing and understanding your company’s relevant data and trends will help your business increase profitability, reduce expenses, manage cash flow, evaluate the need for financing, avoid understocking or overstocking, and account for seasonality.

Here are the top KPIs your retail or product-based business should be tracking:

  • Product Sales: You may also see this KPI called “sales revenue.” It’s the revenue gained from customer purchases minus any returns, discounts, and other losses. This metric is typically tracked on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis. To calculate product sales use the following formula: Gross sales revenue – sales returns – discounts.
  • Cost Per Unit : This KPI measures how much it costs your company to produce or buy a single unit of a particular product. It’s important in calculating your profit margins and financial projections, placing orders, and knowing which products are the most cost-effective. To calculate cost per unit, use this formula: (fixed costs + variable costs) / # of units.
  • Rate of Return: Rate of return (ROR), commonly known as return on investment (ROI) is calculated as a percentage and is used to show the profit or return made on the initial investment, usually expressed annually. This number is a key indicator of the strength of your business along with its potential for future growth. To calculate ROR, use this formula: [(final value – initial value) / initial value] x 100.
  • Inventory Turnover Rate : Also known as the inventory turnover ratio, this KPI measures the number of times your business sells and replaces its product inventory in one year. This number indicates how fast your inventory is moving off the shelves, which helps you identify areas of overstock and measure the efficiency of your product sales. It also lets you know the current performance of your inventory management and marketing strategies. High turnover, while generally a good thing, can also be a red flag to areas of insufficient stock. On the other hand, low turnover can suggest issues with overstocking or simply be a result of sluggish product sales. The 2 most common ways to calculate turnover include: Cost of Goods Sold / Average Inventory OR Sales / Inventory.
  • Days Sales of Inventory: This key metric helps calculate the amount of time it takes a company to turn its inventory into sales. DSI is typically expressed as an average number of days and uses the following formula: (Average Inventory / Cost of Goods Sold) X 365.
  • Stock to Sales Ratio: Stock to sales is a ratio that measures the amount of inventory in storage vs the number of sales. This key metric is used in making inventory stocking decisions. Stock to sales ratio = $ inventory value / $ sales value.
  • Stockouts: Usually expressed as a percentage, this number helps measure how many items are “out of stock” at the time of order. This KPI is an indicator of your ability to meet customer demand. Having too many stockouts results in a decrease in customer satisfaction as well as the potential loss of future business. Stock outs can be caused by seasonal increases in product demand, poor inventory management, production delays, or supply chain issues. There are a few different ways to measure stockouts including: Volume of unmet product orders as a percentage of total sales volumes, volume of unmet product orders as a percentage of total purchase orders, or number of products on stockout as a percentage of total product lines.
  • Backorder Rate: Backorders not only cost your company time (and possibly money), but they also can hurt your reputation. When customers regularly find that your most popular items are out of stock, they begin to lose faith in your business. Backorder rate is the measurement of how many orders a company is failing to fulfill at the time of order. A low backorder rate indicates a well-managed inventory system, while a high backorder rate identifies a need for better forecasting to keep items in stock.  To calculate your backorder rate, use the following formula: (# delayed orders due to backorders / total # orders placed) x 100.
  • Inventory Shrinkage: The inventory shrinkage rate helps companies determine the rate at which the value of their inventory has been reduced due to loss, theft, or errors in reporting. To calculate this important KPI, simply subtract the actual current value of your inventory from the expected value of your inventory, and then divide this number by the expected value. This KPI can be most accurately measured immediately following a physical inventory count (otherwise known as an audit). You will want to keep an eye on your shrinkage rate over time and use it to help identify and correct any pain points such as inaccurate record keeping, frequently damaged goods, or employee theft.
  • Lead Time: Lead time is the amount of time it takes for a customer to receive their order after purchasing it. Lengthy lead times can be an indicator of issues with your supply chain or order fulfillment process, while short lead times are an indicator of healthy business operations. To calculate lead time, simply add your order processing time + production lead time + delivery lead time. The faster your lead time is, the higher your customer satisfaction will be (think Amazon Prime).

How Kickfurther can help

Once you know and understand key inventory management metrics, your business can take advantage of funding opportunities. Keep in mind that funding can be costly so make sure you’ve accounted for additional costs. Traditional financing or funding methods are often the most expensive and hard to qualify for, thus forcing business owners to flee for alternative methods. Here’s where Kickfurther comes in to help. Kickfurther is the world’s first online inventory financing platform that enables companies to access funds they were unable to acquire through traditional sources. Compared to other funding sources, Kickurther is up to 30% cheaper. 

So, how does it work?

Kickfurther has companies start by creating a profile. Next, we connect brands to a community of eager buyers who help fund the inventory on consignment and give brands the flexibility to pay that back as they receive cash from their sales. Flexible repayment schedules alleviate cash flow challenges that are often made worse by traditional lenders. Small businesses can take advantage of flexible repayment schedules by allowing the brand to scale quickly without impeding your ability to maintain inventory. To qualify for funding through Kickfurther, brands must sell physical products or non-perishable consumables. In addition, brands must have revenue between $150k to $15mm over the last 12 months. Our average funding amount is $78,000, but businesses can fund up to $1MM to manufacture new inventory or get reimbursed for current stock.

Closing thoughts

Whether you handle the collection of your key inventory management data points in-house or you outsource these calculations to a third-party company or software, knowing and tracking the top KPIs for inventory management are critical to future business success. With confidence in how much inventory you need to achieve sales goals, you can earn the confidence of backers to secure funding. Funding for inventory can resolve cash flow challenges that inventory may cause. 

Interested in getting funded on Kickfurther? Create a free business account today to get started!

10 effective ways to avoid the most common inventory mistakes

Inventory mistakes are costly – there’s no denying that. While mistakes can lead to our success, they can also lead to failure. As humans, we are bound to mistakes from time to time, but we should do everything we can to avoid them. In business, this often means educating yourself. 

Top inventory mistakes and how to avoid them

Many product-based companies make the same common mistakes when they are first starting out.

Small business owners have many things to keep in mind when setting up a retail store or eCommerce website, and it can be easy to drop the ball in a critical area.

Luckily, you can learn from the issues other companies have experienced and take steps to avoid these common inventory management pitfalls. The first step toward avoiding mistakes is being aware of them. Here are some of the top inventory mistakes.

  • Manually managing your inventory: With so much technology out there to help, companies who are still attempting to manage their inventory the old fashioned way are missing out. Software can help with everything from inventory visibility to product demand forecasting, eliminating costly inventory management issues like overstocking and understocking. This becomes even more important if you are remotely managing several warehouse or product fulfillment locations.
  • Lacking control of products in your catalog: When you manage your inventory across different facilities it can be difficult to maintain control and visibility of your products. Your company should have a document, tool, or other resource that tracks and manages all of your product catalog information from taxonomy to profit margins. Maintaining the right information allows all of your business decisions to be data-driven.
  • Focusing strictly on price: There are so many other aspects of inventory management and order fulfillment that make a huge difference in your business success. Be sure to consider customer service, efficiency, product shipping times, analytics, automation, and other value-added services offered by your logistics or order fulfillment company. Keep these factors in mind when choosing suppliers for your products as well. When faced with a difficult choice, always go with the company that can provide better customer satisfaction and value overall.
  • Too many storage facilities: Having to maintain multiple storage facilities and fulfillment warehouses can really put a strain on your business. Although hiring third-party companies can be a huge advantage for many small retailers who aren’t quite ready to manage their own inventory, it is important to keep an eye on the efficiency of the inventory management systems and companies you have selected. Having more locations doesn’t always result in better service. Be sure to select a company who offers inventory visibility and runs a tight ship when it comes to product lead times, quality control, shipments and returns, and customer service.
  • Neglecting to forecast: It’s critical to forecast your future sales and inventory needs in order to purchase the right amount of stock. Overstocking and understocking are common pitfalls of almost any retail business, especially one that is just starting out. Having a better idea of which products are your top sellers, how often you need to order inventory, and how much product to order will save you many headaches down the road. This includes understanding your target audience and the products they buy. Many companies fail to identify their target customer and therefore miss opportunities to meet consumer demand. Understanding your customer base also allows you to tailor your marketing and advertising dollars where your efforts will be most effective.
  • Not being ready for seasonal demand: Another important part of product forecasting is accounting for fluctuations in seasonal demand. In addition to the predictable increase in demand around the holidays, your business may experience other seasonal peaks and valleys unique to your industry. For example, a clothing business should be prepared for a drop in the demand for sweaters as the weather warms up, and account for an increase in the demand for swimsuits instead. Anticipating these changes allows you to order the proper amount of inventory and avoid overstocking or understocking.
  • Failure to prioritize: Many companies fail to account for differences in product demand when placing their inventory orders. Instead, you should strive to use the ABC model. The ABC analysis system classifies and prioritizes your inventory into 3 distinct product categories: (A) high-value products with low sales volume, (B) moderate-value products with moderate sales volume, and (C) low-value products with a high sales volume. This system will not only boost efficiency but should also save you money and improve your cash flow. ABC analysis will help you understand which products need to be ordered the most often, and which big-ticket items you should avoid overstocking.
  • No automation: A lack of automation can cost your business both time and money. On the other hand, automated inventory management systems can provide real-time access to updated product information including current stock levels. Having accurate data helps you identify trends, spot problems, and keep customers happy. Your automation software should allow multiple employees in different locations to access information at the same time and keep an eye on all current orders and shipments.
  • Lack of knowledge: Whether you are managing all of your inventory and shipments in-house or using a third-party logistics company, it is critical that all employees working on the inventory management process are skilled and properly trained. Industry knowledge is especially important when operating a products-based business, and you should take steps to ensure that everyone in your company stays up to date with current market conditions and trends.
  • Not enough funds: In order to stay profitable and maintain a trustworthy reputation, your business must keep enough stock of all items for sale to avoid understocking and backorders. No company wants to have to turn orders away or be constantly struggling to keep up with backorders and apologizing for lengthy lead times. However, a lack of cash flow can hinder many good companies from being as profitable as they could be. The good news is that obtaining specialized financing such as inventory financing can help.

How Kickfurther can help

Implementing inventory systems to improve efficiency can be costly. As can just operating a business in general. If your cash is tied up in inventory you may be strapped for resources which can lead to mistakes. If funding can help you improve efficiency, avoid mistakes, and generate higher profits, it’s definitely worth the effort and cost.

Kickfurther is the world’s first online inventory financing platform that enables companies to access funds they were unable to acquire through traditional sources. In addition, Kickfurther is up to 30% cheaper compared to industry options. 

So, how does it work?

Kickfurther has companies start by creating a profile. Next, we connect brands to a community of eager buyers who help fund the inventory on consignment and give brands the flexibility to pay that back as they receive cash from their sales. Flexible repayment schedules alleviate cash flow challenges that are often made worse by traditional lenders. Small businesses can take advantage of flexible repayment schedules by allowing the brand to scale quickly without impeding your ability to maintain inventory. To qualify for funding through Kickfurther, brands must sell physical products or non-perishable consumables. In addition, brands must have revenue between $400k to $15mm over the last 12 months. Our average funding amount is $78,000, but businesses can fund up to $1MM to manufacture new inventory or get reimbursed for current stock.

Closing thoughts

Whether you manage your inventory yourself or utilize a third-party company to handle all of your logistics and order fulfillment, understanding your data and using it to make informed business decisions is the key to your future success. Utilizing consumer analytics and top inventory management KPIs, will allow your company to avoid common inventory mistakes, eliminate costly issues such as overstocking and understocking, forecast future demand, account for seasonality, maintain accurate inventory levels, and achieve maximum profitability.

The use of inventory funding like Kickfurther in combination with accurate data and reliable inventory management systems can help your business maximize growth potential.

Interested in getting funded on Kickfurther? Create a free business account today to get started!

What Is Inventory Funding and How Can It Benefit My Growth?

Growing your business takes careful planning. If you’re like many small and medium-sized businesses, allocating financial resources to cover set expenses, investments and finance growth strategies is where creativity and resourcefulness are needed. 

It’s likely you have a list of growth initiatives that you believe will carry you to the next level. Finding the right funding partner allows you to stay flexible as you reinvest into your company to meet other growth opportunities. 

Identifying the right resources to fuel your expansion can ensure you get and stay on a growth trajectory. But how do you do this? Business veterans will tell you that hastily selecting partners can set a business back, while avoiding the decision can cause you to miss out on key opportunities for long-term growth. The key to success is to take steps early to put resources in place to support opportunities when they occur.

What is inventory funding? 

Inventory financing is a form of short-term loan, line of credit or funding that gives you the cash to pay your suppliers to produce inventory and then uses the inventory as collateral against funding. Lenders in this space include traditional banks, specialist inventory financing companies or online lenders.

It leverages the resources of a financing partner to pay for inventory production, which is one of the largest expenses many brands report. Funding can be customized to address your business’s exact manufacturing, shipping, and sales timelines so that you don’t make a payment on goods until the inventory sells. This works well with natural cashflow cycles. 

The products produced typically act as the collateral for the financing, meaning that if the business reports an inability to repay the funding, the inventory can be sold to cover the debt. 

Inventory financing is especially valuable to any business experiencing a significant delay between paying for inventory and receiving payment from retailers. It is also helpful for businesses that want to receive volume-based discounts by placing larger orders to support all of their sales channels. This works best when done on a quarterly or other regular basis and can help to prevent the stock-out issues that hinder growth.

Inventory Funding through Kickfurther 

For physical product companies (CPG companies), or those producing shelf-stable consumables, a growth funding option that provides larger amounts than traditional financing and at faster speeds is inventory funding with Kickfurther. 

Kickfurther is an inventory funding option, where the manufacturing costs are sent directly to suppliers, and paid back as the inventory sells. This payment system aligns better with natural revenue cycles than does the immediate repayments many traditional and online loans feature. Funding inventory through Kickfurther prevents growing businesses from having to pinch cash on hand and choose between paying for additional inventory or investing in the marketing, equipment, and staff needed to grow.

What are the benefits of working with Kickfurther? 

  • 30% lower costs: 

When you compare our rates to other forms of funding, you’ll often see you’re saving. Companies returning to fund additional deals often see their rates fall each time. 

  • Higher funding opportunities: 

We have an average funding of $78,000 but can fund up to $2MM to 

manufacture new inventory or get reimbursed for current stock and reinvest in where your business needs it most. 

  • Funded in Minutes:

Once approved, our community of backers fund most deals within a day, often within minutes to hours. 

  • Custom Payment Terms: 

Businesses create a custom payment timeline of 1-10 months based on their expected sales cycles, with no payments until you start making sales.This alleviates the cash-flow bottleneck lenders cause without customized repayment schedules. 

 

Interested in inventory funding through Kickfurther? Create a business account today.