STOP LOSING SALES AND WASTING MONEY: HOW TO AVOID STOCKOUTS AND OVERSTOCKS AS A TOBACCO RETAILER
Losing sales due to stockouts or incurring unnecessary expenses due to overstocks can be detrimental to your business. Learn how to strike the right balance and avoid these pain points with effective inventory management strategies.
As a tobacco retailer, you know how important it is to have the right amount of inventory on hand to meet customer demand. However, it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of either stocking too much or too little of a product. Frequent stockouts or overstocks can have a significant impact on your bottom line, leading to lost sales or unnecessary expenses.
Stockouts occur when you run out of a product that customers want to buy, while overstocks happen when you have too much inventory that is not selling. Both scenarios can be detrimental to your business, as they result in lost revenue and increased costs. Let’s take a closer look at how these pain points can affect your business.
Lost Sales Due to Stockouts
Stockouts are a common problem for many tobacco retailers, and they can occur for a variety of reasons. Maybe you underestimated customer demand for a particular product, or your supplier was unable to deliver on time. Whatever the cause, the result is the same: you miss out on potential sales.
According to a study by IHL Group, retailers lose $1.75 trillion globally each year due to out-of-stocks. This is a staggering number, and it highlights just how important it is to manage your inventory effectively. Every time you run out of a product, you risk losing a customer to a competitor who has it in stock.
Unnecessary Expenses Due to Overstocks
On the other hand, overstocks can be just as damaging to your business. When you have too much inventory on hand, you tie up valuable resources that could be used elsewhere. You may have to pay for additional storage space or incur additional shipping costs to move excess inventory around.
Overstocks can also lead to other problems, such as products reaching their expiration date before they can be sold. This is particularly problematic for tobacco products, as they have a limited shelf life. If you’re not careful, you could end up with a lot of unsellable inventory that you can’t return to your supplier.
Finding the Right Balance
So, how can you avoid these pain points and strike the right balance when it comes to inventory management? One solution is to use a point of sale (POS) system that tracks inventory levels in real-time. This can help you identify when you’re running low on a product and need to reorder, or when you have excess inventory that needs to be moved.
Another strategy is to work closely with your suppliers to ensure that you have a steady supply of products that you know will sell. You can also use historical sales data to identify patterns and trends, allowing you to adjust your inventory levels accordingly.
In conclusion, frequent stockouts or overstocks can have a significant impact on your business as a tobacco retailer. By using effective inventory management strategies, such as real-time tracking and working closely with suppliers, you can avoid these pain points and keep your customers happy while maximizing your profits.
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Visit our website to view a full range of tobacco fixtures and cigarette displays. With the exception of custom units, all pricing is disclosed on our website and online ordering is very simple. Call us and we’ll provide you with immediate pricing for all custom units.
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