Keeping your inventory in check is an important aspect of your business that should not be overlooked. By managing, storing, and organizing your stock effectively, you ensure that your business can maintain a certain degree of productivity and that your products arrive in the condition that they expect them to.
How you manage your eBay inventory's storage and organization is vital to your business's long-term success.
The perfect inventory storage is easily accessible, cost-effective, and well-maintained. For some people, this may be a spare bedroom, a garage, an outbuilding, or even a storage unit or warehouse. Essentially, any premises that is safe from the elements and secure as to prevent theft can make for ideal inventory storage. Most eBay sellers utilize a form of centralized storage where one location is used to store all inventory, and from there, it's distributed to customers.
There are many ways in which you can make your eBay inventory storage and organization as hassle-free as possible. We're going to explore four tips that can help remove the headache from inventory management and streamline the entire stock management process.
Having a floor plan that works for you is essential to smooth operations. However, don't be afraid to restructure your floor plan as your business grows or changes. It's likely that your products' supply and demand will change over time, so your storage should change to reflect this.
If your products are small, you may wish to store them in Tupperware boxes to keep them safe. If your products are a little larger, this may not be an option. The most important thing about storing your inventory is keeping them in a manner that allows you easy access without having to move other stock as this increases the likelihood of you damaging your inventory.
If space isn't an issue, you could consider pre-packing your items for an easier time when it comes to dispatching them. The uniformity of boxes can make things easier to stack on shelves, especially if your unpackaged items are an unusual shape. However, if you're low on space, pre-packing may not be right for you as it can increase the amount of space that your inventory takes up.
Clear, easy-to-read labeling is a must as it helps you to record inventory in the simplest possible manner. An easy way of recording your inventory is by using a google sheet or excel spreadsheet. You can list everything about the item, including costs and a description, before assigning it a unique code (an SKU or stock-keeping unit), which will allow you to easily locate it on the shelf and your database.
Depending on the products in your eBay inventory, you'll be required to follow different industry recommendations. Here are some of the most common:
Electronics should be kept in their original packing material, when possible. The specially designed boxes will keep them safe and secure in storage. However, if you don't have the original packaging, wrapping electronics in antistatic foam can help to keep the screens protected.
Store hard goods as close to the floor as possible as to minimize any damage should they fall or be dropped — expensive appliances can still be damaged even if they're in packaging.
Soft goods include things that are quite literally soft. Things such as bedding, linens, pillows, and towels can be easily stored, and thanks to their flexibility, they can fit into all manner of spaces.
Clothing should always be kept neatly folded and not on hangars. Over time, hangars can damage and stretch clothing. Clothing needs to breathe and keeping it in plastic can cause mildew to grow inside. Wrapping garments with acid-free tissue paper is one of the best ways to protect them.
If the furniture you're storing is new, keeping it in on the floor in the box is adequate. If the furniture is second-hand, you should dismantle it and wrap it to keep it safe and undamaged. Dismantling it also helps you use your limited space in a more efficient manner.
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