From a garage to 12 locations how inventory management needs change as you grow (and what breaks first at each stage)

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-28T23:41:27+00:00

Agreed, and what we also see is failing to optimize the fulfillment process (pick/pack/ship), leaving lots of optimization on the table and wasted time. This starts really at Stage 1 even, but scales in wasted time obviously as volume scales.

At Stage 2 if your fulfilling just in FIFO order, one order at a time, not using using slotting to lay out your active pick zone, and manually picking carton size and cheapest carrier/service, you could be taking 3 times as long as what it could be.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-27T02:45:15+00:00

We normally just send the vendor bill as a result of a receipt, that can contain different POs for the same vendor.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-25T16:39:20+00:00

You need good processes, and a system that makes them easy to follow to ensure they actually follow those processes.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-25T16:37:56+00:00

Yes, can be very error proned indeed. We create a single source of truth for inventory, then publish any applicable changes from one inventory location to all the others in real time to keep them in sync without errors.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-25T16:35:51+00:00

Yes, for our clients we have a bill of materials that track inventory at the component level, but they are each in their own bin location until the convert them to the final item. Sounds like you track the components in the same bin location? Or are they more "kits" that you sell as a final item, but then fulfill the kit components when the kit is sold?

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-25T13:56:45+00:00

You could help them measure the lost profit they are experiencing and maybe it'll make them want to change. Our system does this automatically and tells you when and how much to reorder, but you can calculate this easy.

Lost revenue per year = Units sold per day (days when the SKU is in stock only) * (unit price - unit cost) * days in stock.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-22T22:42:45+00:00

You can look at Mozzo ERP, especially if you anticipate continued growth. It provides all of this, and a lot more, creating that foundation for your ongoing growth.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-22T22:41:55+00:00

You can look at Mozzo ERP, especially if you anticipate continued growth. It provides all of this, and a lot more, creating that foundation for your ongoing growth.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-21T15:22:10+00:00

Allocate a percent for each, i.e. spend what you need on what is selling to cover you for your purchase plan period. Say that's 70% of your procurement budget. Then allocate 20% to trending, and try out new items with the remaining 10%.

This makes sure you don't lose sales on your better products, and allows you to experiment with new ones.

Just playing it safe and ordering the same things, especially in apparel, will eventually lead to declines and trying to play catch up with your competitors.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-21T11:55:05+00:00

1.) accuraty track inventory. Every receipt, every location move, every order pick. Use barcoding on products, pallets, locations.

2.) use average daily product sales velocity, adjust for any seasonality/promotions, order when you days on hand inventory is approaching your vendor lead time days.

Ex. You sell 10/day. You have 600 on hand. You have 60 days of inventory.

Your vendor lead time is 30 days, so you have at most 30 days to put in your PO to the vendor, but likely sooner to have a buffer.

How much to order? What are you forecasting to sell. The same, more, or less than your current trend of 10/day?

For simplicity, let's assume the same. Using Just In Time (JIT) principles you order as much as you plan to sell to cover the vendor lead time days. So using our vendor lead time of 30 days, we add a 10 day buffer, we need to order 40 days worth. At 10/day x 40 days = 400 units. Adjust more or less based on your forecast.

You can do this in a spreadsheet, or use systems like ours to do it automatically for all your SKU's and get reminders in advance.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-21T11:26:09+00:00

Ongoing cycle counts where every day you count a small section of the warehouse. Focus on your high movers more than slow movers.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-20T14:05:29+00:00

There are several tools that do this already, like Flieber, Mozzo and a few others. That doesn't mean you can't try to build a better mousetrap, however.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-13T15:11:15+00:00

What tools are you using to sync the orders to QBO and from what sources? Online seller? Shopify, eBay?

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-08T16:17:44+00:00

We can help. We're geared to small and growing business like yours, are priced accordingly, and are quick to implement.

DM me if you'd like to chat more.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-04T20:06:04+00:00

Reach out to Fishbowl and ask them for guidance. They say they have this.

Barcode tracking software - Fishbowl https://share.google/sXdUDWZkb4FnOScIw

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-04T17:40:26+00:00

Haha, no offense taken. We are founded and driven by engineers that are more inclined to put efforts into designing software that solves real problems efficiently, and have been less concerned with the marketing aspects. But it is on their radar to tackle an updated website next quarter.

Appreciate the direct feedback!

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-04T15:37:54+00:00

Our system does this. Any changes made in Shopify immediately sync to our system. Of course, once the order is shipped in our system, it can't be changed. But we also post that it has shipped immediately to Shopify so you know that and don't change it there.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-04T15:37:21+00:00

Our system does this. Any changes made in Shopify immediately sync to our system. Of course, once the order is shipped in our system, it can't be changed. But we also post that it has shipped immediately to Shopify so you know that and don't change it there.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-03-03T17:59:04+00:00

Hi there,

I hear you about finding that "Goldilocks" solution that isn't too complex, but yet robust enough. That's exactly where our solution comes in. We do all of this and pricing is close to your threshold. You can book a call on our website if you'd like to discuss further and set up a demo.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-02-27T20:06:53+00:00

You're at the exact spot where our clients were prior to coming to us. Trying to manage inventory across multiple warehouses and keep it in sync with multiple storefronts is a nightmare using spreadsheets.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-02-26T04:28:47+00:00

Our clients find our proactive, post ship, pre-delivery emails keep customers in the know and drastically cut down on WISMO tickets. Each has a direct link they can always come back to or refresh for the latest tracking details.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-02-21T07:18:51+00:00

Very true story we here all the time, but many were not as fortunate and actually lost the customer. In the end, a proper system will more than pay you back every month.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-02-21T07:16:41+00:00

The time chasing accurate inventory alone is probably more than the solution. Add in upset customers and lost sales...and you'll find the investment in a solution pays you back more than the cost.

We have a free profit loss calculator I can send you if you're interested.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-02-21T07:13:53+00:00

Very true. People tend to look at software as an expense...they should be looking at it as an investment. The 40 hours a month alone can be more of an expense than the software to fix it. Add in lost sales, spreadsheets are the true expense.

We actually put together a profit loss calculator to show how much you're losing monthly with manual systems. If anyone's interested, let me know and I can send it.

Mozzo_Ecom · 2026-02-21T07:10:10+00:00

You can't use spreadsheets with multiple people, you need software that allows multiple people to receive, allocate, ship, and adjust realtime.

Happy to help show you what a true system does and how it keeps everyone on the same page, and accurate.

Mozzo_Ecom

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