Why garment stock is harder than it looks
A grocery shop sells one item in one form. A garment store sells one design in five sizes and four colours, which is twenty different items that look like one on paper. If you only count designs, you will think you have a kurta in stock when the only pieces left are a maroon XXL and a blue S that nobody asks for.
This guide covers how to set up stock by size and colour, how to read it, and how to make better reorder decisions.
Set up each item properly
Every design should be recorded once, with each size and colour as its own line underneath. Use a short design code that your staff can read on the tag, and keep size names consistent. Decide whether you write M or Medium, 32 or W32, and stick to it. Mixed naming is the main reason stock counts go wrong.
For footwear, record each size separately for each colour. For sarees or fabric, colour and design may matter more than size, so set it up the way customers actually ask for the product.
Count by size, not by design
When you take stock, count each size and colour separately. It takes longer the first time, but it is the only count that tells you what you can actually sell. Many stores do a full count once or twice a year and a quick count of fast-moving designs every month.
- Count one rack or section at a time
- Count sizes and colours, not just pieces
- Note damaged pieces separately
- Match the count to the system and fix differences the same day
Watch for broken size sets
A broken size set is when the popular sizes of a design are sold out and only the edges are left. The design still shows stock, but customers who walk in mostly cannot find their size. These pieces slow down and often end up on discount.
Look at your best designs every week and check which sizes are low. Reordering the middle sizes early keeps the design selling. If the supplier cannot refill those sizes, plan to move the leftover pieces before they become old stock.
Learn your size curve
Every store has a pattern of which sizes sell most. In some areas, M and L sell the most in men's shirts. In others, larger sizes move faster. Look at what you sold over the last season by size and use that to decide how many of each size to buy next time, instead of ordering equal quantities of everything.
The same applies to colours. If black and navy sell twice as fast as bright colours in your store, your orders should reflect that.
Common mistakes
These are the errors that most often lead to wrong stock numbers and wrong orders.
- Recording only the design and not each size and colour
- Different staff writing sizes differently
- Not updating stock for returns and exchanges
- Ordering equal quantities of every size
- Ignoring broken size sets until the season ends
Use the stock to help customers
Good size and colour stock is not only for the owner. When a customer asks for a size, your staff should be able to check in seconds instead of searching the back room. If you have another store, they should be able to see whether that branch has it. A customer who hears 'we can get it for you tomorrow' is more likely to wait than one who hears 'sorry, not available'.
Keep the routine simple
The best stock system is one your staff will actually follow on a busy Saturday. Tag every piece as it arrives, bill only by scanning, and record every return and exchange against the bill. If those three habits hold, your numbers stay close to reality between counts, and the counts themselves get quicker because there are fewer differences to chase.
Give one person the job of checking low sizes each week. When everyone is responsible, nobody looks.
How VegaStyle helps
VegaStyle stores each design with all its sizes and colours and shows the stock of every combination, so low sizes are easy to spot. Barcode billing reduces stock as you sell, and multi-store stock shows what other branches hold. For a demo, message D&D Technology on WhatsApp at +91 95116 38160.
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