Managing Inventory During Holiday Sales In Ecommerce

Did any of the following happen to you during Black Friday this year? Inventory nightmares: Too much of what didn’t sell, too little of what did. New product delays: Arrivals after the sale—ouch. No demand plan: Sales forecasts were more "fingers crossed" than data-backed. Manufacturer mismanagement: Lead times? What lead times? Lack of strategy: No inventory plan or reorder process in place. The result? Overproduced seasonal SKUs that will sit for a year and missed opportunities from delayed products and stockouts. This was a real-life scenario I've faced in 2023. Here’s what we fixed: Built a demand plan grounded in data to align inventory with sales projections. Implemented an inventory strategy (including seasonal and reorder plans). Used a planning tool (we used Planster) to know exactly when to reorder. Tightened supplier management to enforce lead times and ensure on-time deliveries. Pre-built inventory ahead of the sale and adjusted reorders during and after, optimizing cash flow. The results? Forecast accuracy within 5-15% for top SKUs. Seasonal SKUs sold out. New products landed weeks early. Working capital stayed lean. So what are the top 5 mistakes brands make before big sales? No demand plan → "Guess-and-hope" forecasting. Poor inventory strategy → Overstock or stockouts. Supplier mismanagement → Missed lead times and late arrivals. No pre-built inventory → Scrambling during sales or leaving money on the table. Lack of post-sale strategy → Cash flow tied up in deadstock or delayed reorders. And here are 5 steps to crush your next big sale: Build a data-backed demand plan for sales projections. Create an inventory strategy for seasonal SKUs and reorders. Use tools (like Planster) to time reorders perfectly. Get tighter controls on supplier lead times and deliveries. Pre-build inventory and manage post-sale reorders to optimize working capital. Holiday sales are about more than flashy discounts—they're about execution. If you're missing the backend strategy, you're leaving growth (and profit) on the table. What’s been your biggest challenge when planning for big sales? Let’s talk. 👇

How to Manage Inventory During Black Friday & Cyber Monday 🛒 One of the biggest challenges of Black Friday and Cyber Monday is managing inventory. At Blade Commerce, we know that a successful BFCM campaign requires not just great marketing, but also flawless inventory management. Here’s how to keep things running smoothly: 1️⃣ Forecast Demand // Use historical data and current trends to forecast demand for your products. This helps ensure you have enough stock to meet customer expectations without over-ordering. 📊 2️⃣ Set Inventory Alerts // Implement inventory alerts to notify you when stock levels are low. This allows you to restock in time or adjust your marketing strategy to avoid disappointing customers. 🔔 3️⃣ Optimize Fulfillment // Streamline your fulfillment process to handle the increased volume of orders. Ensure your team is prepared, and consider temporary staffing if necessary to keep things running smoothly. 📦 🌟 Pro Tip // Offer back-in-stock notifications for popular items that sell out quickly. This not only retains customer interest but also provides valuable data on demand. 📧 Effective inventory management is critical for a smooth and successful BFCM. Make sure you’re prepared to handle the surge in demand without missing a beat. 🚀 #BFCM #BlackFriday #CyberMonday #InventoryManagement

FBA Inventory Planning: Holiday 2025 Deadlines and Best Practices Amazon’s Peak Readiness Guide for Q4 highlights a single message: ship early and plan aggressively to maximize holiday sales. Missing cutoffs or underestimating inventory needs can cost sellers their biggest season of the year. Key FBA cutoffs: - Prime Big Deal Days — inventory due Sept 10–19 - Black Friday / Cyber Monday — inventory owing Oct 20–30 - AWD option — send to AWD by Aug 29 (Prime Big Deal Days) or Oct 9 (BFCM), then let Amazon auto-replenish FBA Best practices to follow: - Ship in August/September — waiting until October is risky - Hit 7-day delivery windows to ensure faster processing - Consolidate deals inventory so it gets prioritized in prep centers Amazon advises sellers to keep 4–6 weeks of inventory before events and at least 28 days afterward. Tools like Capacity Monitor/Manager help manage storage, and AWD can avoid peak storage fees while automatically replenishing FBA. If you want to stay informed about important Amazon updates and get more insights like this every week, subscribe to my Amazon Weekly Newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/e2k6AHwR