This is how we store and manage our inventory

[gac-stop]

We are at the end of the year and it's time to organize storage room and inventory and make it ready for 2025.

This is our stock storage room. Items are stored in its respective bin. We use free Google spreadsheet to keep track of our inventory.

How do you store and manage your inventory?

 

[caldreamer]

I use the same metal racks and store everything is in boxes (labelled alphabetically A1, A2).   I indicate in description where item is stored  and also "add note" to listing to indicate the same thing.   Nothing is worse than losing an item and having to go through the entire inventory when you can't find an item.

However, if you plan on moving inventory around then spreadsheet would be best.

[dhbookds]

We use numbered Banana boxes (free from wmart)...have racks scattered around the house.......keep a notebook with the item name and box # which are also entered into the listing in the sku box.  I  prefer a written record, outside a computer, just in case computer dies. 

[meme6253]

After seeing that, I REALLY need to do a much better organization of my inventory, I never lose anything, but i do need to make it easier to find.

[fern*wood]

These posts make me sad and ashamed.  I currently have around 1650 items listed and have never had any storage system other than my half hearted (really wanted to use a different word here) attempt at clumping similar items near each other.  Trust me, this is not a recommended strategy.

[squinkercat59]

I have mostly small items; they are organized into clear plastic shoebox-sized boxes and labeled (patches, pin-back buttons, jewelry, paper, toys, etc.). Sewing patterns are in numeric order. The rest is neatly arranged on 6-foot shelves that line the walls, except for the area where my desk and computer are.  At one time I had more than 4000 items in my inventory, but try to keep it around 1000 now, as I have gone from having my business in a 900-square foot basement to just one 12x12 bedroom, half of which is dedicated to displaying my own collections and storing packing materials and supplies. I feel cramped, but it's pretty organized.

[chariot_badges]

All my stuff is small, and about the same size.   Less than six inches long and three inches wide.   Weighs about 2 oz.

I put them in bags.  Food storage bags of various sizes.   Bag 214 is a gallon-sized (begins with 2) and contains about 50 parts.  Inside of 214 are sandwich size zip bags that hold the tiny pieces (labeled s1, s2 etc.) ... about 20 or more.

There are also very large bags.  Three gallon I think, starting with the number 3, and they can be subsorted within each bag with one gallon sized.   So.   320 can hold 100 emblems, and a gallon bag 320a holds another twenty.  

Believe it or not, there are 1500 inventory items there.   Room to double by just adding another shelf. 

I have two boxes ... 200 & 210 that holds the old, large chunks of steel.   The foot long side emblem that weighs ten lbs that goes on the side of a 1965 Ford F100.

[gac-stop]

I learned a hard lesson when I started back then. I couldn't find the sold item and had to cancel the order. It’s a nightmare as a seller if you can’t locate a sold item. My stress level was through the roof. Surprisingly, I found it after a week hidden in the same stockpile, but by then, it was already too late.

I can only imagine how stressful it is to dig through piles for a sold item if you don’t have an organized inventory storage room. That experience taught me a valuable lesson. So, I started using an organized inventory system. Now, I’m more efficient and can check my inventory at a glance.

I highly recommend setting up an organized storage system if you have a lot of items. It’s a little hassle to set up initially, but once it’s in place, you’ll thank yourself.

I use Google sheet to manage current inventory and Google form to stock items. It's petty cool, I like it a lot.

[gac-stop]

I learned a hard lesson when I started back then. I couldn't find the sold item and had to cancel the order. It’s a nightmare as a seller if you can’t locate a sold item. My stress level was through the roof. Surprisingly, I found it after a week hidden in the same stockpile, but by then, it was already too late.

I can only imagine how stressful it is to dig through piles for a sold item if you don’t have an organized inventory storage room. That experience taught me a valuable lesson. So, I started using an organized inventory system. Now, I’m more efficient and can check my inventory at a glance.

I highly recommend setting up an organized storage system if you have a lot of items. It’s a little hassle to set up initially, but once it’s in place, you’ll thank yourself.

I use Google sheet to manage current inventory and Google form to stock items.

[gac-stop]

I learned a hard lesson when I started back then. I couldn't find the sold item and had to cancel the order. It’s a nightmare as a seller if you can’t locate a sold item. My stress level was through the roof. Surprisingly, I found it after a week hidden in the same stockpile, but by then, it was already too late.

I can only imagine how stressful it is to dig through piles for a sold item if you don’t have an organized inventory storage room. That experience taught me a valuable lesson. So, I started using an organized inventory system. Now, I’m more efficient and can check my inventory at a glance.

I highly recommend setting up an organized storage system if you have a lot of items. It’s a little hassle to set up initially, but once it’s in place, you’ll thank yourself.

[gac-stop]

I learned a hard lesson when I started back then. I couldn't find the sold item and had to cancel the order. It’s a nightmare as a seller if you can’t locate a sold item. My stress level was through the roof. Surprisingly, I found it after a week hidden in the same stockpile, but by then, it was already too late.

I can only imagine how stressful it is to dig through piles for a sold item if you don’t have an organized inventory storage room. That experience taught me a valuable lesson. So, I started using an organized inventory system. Now, I’m more efficient and can check my inventory at a glance.

I highly recommend setting up an organized storage system if you have a lot of items. It’s a little hassle to set up initially, but once it’s in place, you’ll thank yourself.

[luckythewinner]

My listed inventory is stored in the basement in boxes on shelves, or in ring binders on shelves. 

[mr_lincoln]

@gac-stop 

I have three 48"W x 18-24"D x 72" H shelf racks and one that is only 30" wide.  Most of my business is train stuff so I group it mainly by gauge.  The boxed freight cars I arrange in numerical order which makes finding a car easy.  Games, models, diecast cars, Star Wars, other toys I put in groups too.  

Since sizes and shapes can vary over time on different inventory lots I shuffle things around from time to time which is actually good, it keeps me in touch with what I have. Every so often I cull through things, shift inventory to other venues or deep six it LOL!

So, let me quote as follows "It ain't pretty but it's effective!"

                

               

[onlinecentral]

My day job experience taught me the importance of computerized inventory management with locations containing a row, section, level, etc. While I had intended to use that, I later opted to store everything by part number. I make up part numbers for the few items that don't have one.

When I create listings, I input the part number into the Custom label (SKU) field. It appears on your Items Awaiting Shipment and other sold screens. That is handy for pulling the merchandise you sold out of storage. It also appears on the shipping labels and packing lists you create on eBay. That helps you match the label to the merchandise to avoid errors mixing up labels.

I started using copy paper boxes. Then I bought hundreds of 17-1/4 x 11-1/2 x 12 copy paper size boxes. I gather double wall appliance boxes on garbage day and cut them into inserts. Then the boxes have triple wall strength and can withstand a lot of weight when stacked. Not all boxes need that reinforcement and it is an ongoing, multi year project.

I stack the boxes with the 11-1/2 x 12 side against a wall. Then allow for an a 18 to 24 inch aisle. Then stack more boxes on the other side of the aisle. The box, aisle and box pattern will add up to 54 to 60 inches width, 4-1/2 to 5 feet, depending upon your desired aisle size. You can repeat the pattern for every 5 feet of width in your room.

I have some plastic tubs with a lid. The 18 inch dimension is compatible with my row and aisle spacing, although I need to stack them sideways to fit.

Advantages:
No expense to buy shelving or pallet racking.
No wasted space for the shelving or pallet racking.

Disadvantages:
I need to unstack 6 or 7 boxes to get to the bottom one. Then restack them back into order.