Reseller Storage Ideas Every Seller Needs
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As an online reseller, your inventory is your livelihood. Whether you resell clothing, home goods, toys, video games, all of the above or something in between, it’s got to be kept in salable condition. You’ve got to be able to locate it when it sells.
You don’t want to pull out that collectible Starbucks coffee mug to pack for shipping and find it chipped due to something being stacked on top of it — or worse yet, be unable to find it at all in the mess that used to be your spare bedroom.
To store and manage your ebay inventory properly, you’ve got to have a system. And when it comes to inventory storage and inventory management, there are probably as many ways to store inventory as there are sellers. Just as selling on eBay, Poshmark, Mercari, and other sites is not one size fits all, neither are effective storage solutions. You need to set up a system that works for your reselling business.
Today, I'm sharing my top inventory management tips from working with hundreds of sellers; tweak them and make them yours!
Best Ebay Inventory Storage Ideas
Assess Your Inventory Storage Area
First, look at your space and your inventory! Effective inventory management is about optimizing space according to what you sell. For example, if you sell a lot of mugs and board games, they can be grouped together on shelves. You could have one shelf for mugs and another for board games.
Clothing inventory can be stored in tote bins or hung on rolling racks or in a closet. Do you have enough floor space for bins and racks? Do you have any closets you can use?
So let’s say mugs and board games are going on shelves; clothes are going on racks and in closets; plush toys are getting bagged (to protect them from dust) and put in tote bins. That’s one reseller storage solution.
Other sellers prefer to store a variety of items all in one bin. They list them in clumps, then take that listed inventory and store it all in the same bin. So their storage system is organized by bin number, perhaps along with a shelf number. And their SKU system (more about that in a moment) tells them the location of each item.
There is no one size fits all inventory storage solution. You will need to figure out what makes sense for you.
Know your area! Are there bugs that can get into things? Then you want your items sealed in plastic inside tote bins. This is especially true for clothing inventory.
Does your area flood? Make sure your inventory is not in cardboard boxes, and raise it several inches off the floor on shelving units.
If you live in a hot or humid area and use storage units to store your ebay inventory, climate control is the way to go.
Take Action
Do it now. Once you’ve decided how your items will be stored — bins, shelves, closets — get it done. Look at your schedule for the next few weeks.
Setting up your inventory can be a daunting task, so don’t get overwhelmed!
Break it down: Monday, you're organizing mugs; Tuesday, you're organizing toys; etc. This will help you to do it quickly. Play great music, or listen to your favorite podcast, such as the I Love to Be Selling podcast.
Create a Labeling System
As you sort through your inventory, put your SKU system into place. Your SKU system is how you will find your item when it sells. On eBay and Poshmark, you have a Custom label (SKU) field. Only you, the seller, see this field. Put the item location in this field. This can be the shelf number and bin number and or a physical location such as a mug shelf or toy shelf.
I also put in the SKU field the month and year when I bought the item, where I bought it, and the price. This helps me to decide what offers to send and/or accept for any given item. I abbreviate this information, so a typical SKU might be 1/23 (meaning January 2023) SA (for Salvation Army) $3.
You can also create a spreadsheet in Google Docs with this information, including the item’s listing title. My Reseller Genie is incredibly helpful for tracking and managing your inventory. You can effortlessly upload your inventory to My Reseller Genie or add items manually.
Other sellers assign a custom SKU to each item as they list it. The items are arranged on shelves in order of custom SKU. The listing information with custom SKU is on a spreadsheet along with the listing’s title. As items sell, the seller checks their spreadsheet and then locates the sold item.
Optimize to Save Time
Streamline your process! What are the steps your inventory goes through, from when it comes in the door to being listed to being stored? When you can’t find a listed item, what happened? Did you neglect to enter its location in the SKU field? Did you sell it on ebay and forget to remove it from Poshmark?
Is your inventory organized so that you can put your hands on items when they sell? If your inventory is out of control, why?
Are you not putting it in its proper place? Start doing so. The extra minute taken to enter data in the SKU field and properly store your item is crucial for selling success and de-stressing your life!
When it comes to managing inventory as a reseller, ensuring smooth operations and peace of mind is paramount for running a successful business. Whether you opt for a spreadsheet or leverage specialized software like My Reseller Genie, organizing your inventory is crucial for success. However, it's not just about inventory management; maintaining a clear grasp on your finances is equally vital.
Consider incorporating robust bookkeeping practices into your business framework. By diligently tracking expenses, profits, and inventory through tools like My Reseller Genie, you streamline operations and gain valuable insights into your business's financial health. With your data organized and readily accessible, you're empowered to focus on what truly matters: growing your reselling without stressing over numbers.
Best Shelving Units and Bins for Inventory Management
Conclusion
In closing, keep in mind that nothing is set in stone. As your inventory changes, so will your storage solution. You might find you need bigger bins, or you’ll want to reconfigure your space to fit more shelving. That’s fine.
Set up your space so it works for you now. As things change, you’ll adapt!
Remember that your storage and SKU solution is yours alone. It’s got to fit YOUR selling. Pick a solution that appeals to you, and go for it!
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