For Those Who Sell.. How Many Items To Stock?

[kmmcrafts]

I was just wondering how much stock you try to keep on hand for each item? I am sure this will make for interesting conversation.. hopefully not a heated one, LOL

For me it depends on the item ( I am sure it's the same for many of you ).. If it's a item that can be stack cut I typically stack cut 3-5 with Christmas ornaments and some other items that I make as well.. I typically only keep 1-2 desk clock type items on hand.. Since I sell online.. many of my items once sold out.. I re-do the listing and make it a Made-To-Order item and then list that it can be up to 2 weeks processing time before being mailed ( during peak sales times ).. This way I don't have a ton of stock hogging up storage space etc. I currently offer around 350 different listings.. just over 50% of that is made to order items.. Hopping to have around 500 item listings by the end of the year.. however made to order items keep coming in.. so that may not happen this year.. I also try to build up some inventory of those popular sellers before each holiday shopping season as many buyers at that time of year typically buy it today even though they need it by yesterday LOL.. so before the shopping season I do try to stock most items..

Anyway, just thought it would be interesting to see what other sellers stock.. Doing online selling is way different than the craft fairs etc. so this should teach me something.. maybe.. LOL

Kevin   

[JOE_M]

Where do you sell online?

[kmmcrafts]

16 minutes ago, JOE_M said:

Where do you sell online?

Etsy, My own site, Artfire, and Zibbet.... Listed in the order of how much business I get from them.. Actively selling for about three years now.. My own site is currently being re-worked.. not actively selling on artfire for the last two years..

[amazingkevin]

14 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

Etsy, My own site, Artfire, and Zibbet.... Listed in the order of how much business I get from them.. Actively selling for about three years now.. My own site is currently being re-worked.. not actively selling on artfire for the last two years..

What ever works for you keep,it going

[lawson56]

There are a few Items I have more than 1 of.not much.I do a lot of Automotive,Famous People.Wildlife.so I have learned to roll with the flow.One week it could be this car or truck,next week,this famous person.so fourth and so on.

[WayneMahler]

I try to keep 2 of the top selling items in stock at all time. But this can change with shows and seasons. What's great and hot today might be setting for a while next week / month. I do a lot of custom work and that keeps me busy. During the fall season I try to keep 3 of the top sellers and do a lot of stack cutting for ornaments and such. Seems inventory changes needs constantly.  Keeps things interesting. 

[Iguanadon]

Hi Kevin,

In my puzzle world, I've tracked every puzzle I've sold the past year and know which ones are the "popular" ones.  Out of the 120+ different animals, I have about 20 that I maintain duplicates of.  Anywhere from 2 extras to 12 extras depending on how many I sell on a weekly basis.

Right now I'm stocking up for a big event at the end of August and my goal is to have 2 of everything and then up to 20+ of each of my top sellers.  My goal is to have 500 puzzles on hand for the event with a goal of selling 200-250.

Iggy

Edited June 15, 2017 by Iguanadon

[Trka2002]

What is the name of your etsy shop?

[Denny Knappen]

I don't like to make the same thing twice.  With that said, I made over 200 Miniature Birdhouses.  I have 10  on my display now.  In my booth at ArtCrafters, I have 25 on of a kind projects.

[kmmcrafts]

Thanks for sharing how you you stock your items..

[kmmcrafts]

4 hours ago, Trka2002 said:

What is the name of your etsy shop?

It's in my signature.. as well as my web site.. but my web site is a work in progress right now..

[Rob]

You have some really nice stuff in your etsy shop Kevin.  Looks like you sell a good number too.

Rob

[Jim Finn]

I bring to a sale, and display, about fifty boxes.   I also display other items.  I use 40 feet of tables to display  all my stuff.  I have found , over the years, by keeping records, which items sell the most. (about 4-5 of them) I bring two   of those and only one each  of all the rest.   I seldom sell more than 12 boxes and almost never sell more than one of a kind, except for those few good sellers.  I bring and sell many toys though.  I usually sell about twenty of those. (four different toys)  My toy sales always covers my space rent.

[kmmcrafts]

3 hours ago, Rob said:

You have some really nice stuff in your etsy shop Kevin.  Looks like you sell a good number too.

Rob

Thank you very much for the kind words  Over the last three years I've done quite well on etsy.. before that I never really tried and never really had but only a handful of stuff on there just on and off.. mostly at Christmas time. 

[kmmcrafts]

3 hours ago, Jim Finn said:

I bring to a sale, and display, about fifty boxes.   I also display other items.  I use 40 feet of tables to display  all my stuff.  I have found , over the years, by keeping records, which items sell the most. (about 4-5 of them) I bring two   of those and only one each  of all the rest.   I seldom sell more than 12 boxes and almost never sell more than one of a kind, except for those few good sellers.  I bring and sell many toys though.  I usually sell about twenty of those. (four different toys)  My toy sales always covers my space rent.

Wow 40 foot of tables.. that much be quite a display.. I know I have seen you around on the scroll saw forums and I knew you did boxes.. just not sure if they are scroll saw boxes or like band saw boxes.. can't remember.. but anyway.. sounds like you do pretty good with them..

 

[trailfndr]

Because my work is Intarsia,  I rarely have more than one of any item.  If its a Christmas sale, I will make 2-4 pieces of the same design for Santa's, or Snowmen,  but otherwise, I just don't stock multiple pieces of the same pattern.  Just takes too long to make them, and I prefer having the wider variety of items to sell.

[Jim Finn]

9 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

Wow 40 foot of tables.. that much be quite a display.. I know I have seen you around on the scroll saw forums and I knew you did boxes.. just not sure if they are scroll saw boxes or like band saw boxes.. can't remember.. but anyway.. sounds like you do pretty good with them..

 

My boxes have images or lettering inlaid into the hinged lids.  I use the double bevel inlay method using my scroll saw. I made and sold 32 band saw boxes last year also.

Edited June 17, 2017 by Jim Finn

[ike]

I hve 2 spring sales the rest is in the fall and up till christmas. I Do mostly nativity scenes and  dog puzzles I have 45 different dogs and at least 2 of each. Nativity scenes I do 6 different The biggest seller is 2 lighted oneswhich I take about 10 each @ $30 eaach The other I take about 6 each . I do mostly church salesand 2 big sales at schools.

IKE

[kmmcrafts]

2 hours ago, Jim Finn said:

My boxes have images or lettering inlaid into the hinged lids.  I use the double bevel inlay method using my scroll saw. I made and sold 32 band saw boxes last year also.

Wow! Those are beautiful.. I've never done any inlay work but seeing this makes me want to look into it.. Thanks for showing your display.

Kevin  

[kmmcrafts]

7 hours ago, trailfndr said:

Because my work is Intarsia,  I rarely have more than one of any item.  If its a Christmas sale, I will make 2-4 pieces of the same design for Santa's, or Snowmen,  but otherwise, I just don't stock multiple pieces of the same pattern.  Just takes too long to make them, and I prefer having the wider variety of items to sell.

I can see the reasoning for that.. I bought a book a couple years ago on doing intarsia because I was interested and wanted to try it.. but the fretwork seems to keep me busy and I just haven't yet tried it.. I get the book out ever so often ( just a couple weeks ago ) and get ready to do one... then I get a order to do and get sidetracked.. One day I will get to it though.. And now Jim showed the inlay stuff.. got to try that too now..