Inventory management for e-commerce and Etsy sellers
When you sell online, your worst day is selling something you can’t ship. Overselling means a refund, an apology, and a dent in your reviews. The fix isn’t more spreadsheets — it’s one source of truth for what you actually have. Here’s how to set that up as a small online seller.
Separate raw materials from finished goods
If you make what you sell — candles, prints, jewellery — you’re really tracking two things: the components (wax, wicks, blanks, packaging) and the finished items ready to ship. Track both. Knowing you have 40 listed necklaces is useless if you’re out of the clasps to assemble the next batch.
One stock number, every channel
Selling on Etsy, your own Shopify store and a marketplace? The danger is three places each thinking they own the last unit. Keep a single inventory count as the truth and reconcile your listings against it on a schedule. When something sells, decrement the real count — not just the channel it sold on.
Set reorder points for materials with long lead times
That hand-dyed yarn from one supplier with a three-week lead time will sink you if you wait until you’re out to reorder. Set a reorder point based on how fast you use it plus that lead time, and let low-stock alerts tell you before it’s a problem.
Use QR codes on bins and shelves
Print a QR code for each item and stick it on the bin. Pulling stock to pack an order? Scan, adjust the count, done — from your phone, no app to install. It keeps your numbers honest without stopping to open a laptop mid-pack.
Plan for your busy season
Q4 and gift seasons can be 3–4× a normal month. Don’t get caught ordering materials in December. Read handling seasonal demand without over-ordering to stage your buys.