Before the Busy Season: Product inventory, part two

Order product, and perhaps even extras, ahead of time. This helps prevent rush orders from suppliers, more expensive rush shipping charges, and out-of-stock issues. Selecting a new product for a client at the last minute is not just time consuming, but stressful as well.

Sheet goods for lasering and sublimation or printing are primary products for most of us. For lasering, there are certain color combinations we use the most – this may change seasonally. For instance, I use a large volume of red over white and black over white acrylic sheet goods for solar and electrical projects. This business picks up in the spring and often slows during our hottest summer months. I often double my order of these two color combinations in March so I don’t run short.

Having to break down an order into many small engraving projects to take advantage of odd pieces of leftover sheet goods is time consuming and inefficient. Overnight orders of heavy sheet materials can eat into profit margins quickly, and missing project deadlines (regardless of how challenging they are) can cost us clients. There are many other supplies such as trophy parts that can be ordered ahead of time to help avoid this. Check these supplies the month before busy season begins and order extra.

-Bob Hagel, Eagle’s Mark