Guide
Set up a simple reorder point system
Know exactly when to reorder before you run out, without staring at spreadsheets daily.
Calculate how long a reorder actually takes
Add up your supplier's production time plus shipping time. If it takes 3 weeks from ordering to having stock in hand, that number drives everything else.
Work out your average weekly sales per product
Pull the last 8-12 weeks of sales for each product and average it. Seasonal products need a separate estimate for their peak period, don't use an annual average for a holiday item.
Set a reorder point per product
Reorder point = (weekly sales x reorder lead time in weeks) + a safety buffer. If it takes 3 weeks to restock and you sell 20 units a week, reorder around 70-80 units remaining, not zero.
Set up a low-stock alert
Most inventory tools (Shopify, Square, even a simple spreadsheet with conditional formatting) can flag when stock hits your reorder point. Don't rely on remembering to check manually.
Review and adjust reorder points quarterly
Sales patterns shift. A reorder point set during a slow month will be wrong during your busy season. Revisit the numbers every few months, not just once at setup.
That’s the whole thing.
Keep going
What to read next
- 01
Inventory & Stock
Do a physical inventory count without shutting down
Get an accurate count of what you actually have, not just what your system says you have.
- 02
Inventory & Stock
Avoid stockouts during your busiest season
Plan ahead so your best sales period isn't ruined by an empty shelf or sold-out listing.
- 03
Inventory & Stock
Track inventory shrinkage and loss
Find out where stock is actually disappearing to, theft, damage, or paperwork errors.