Run your retail reports
By Kathy Cruz

Make sure you run your retail reports to grow profits.

Inventory management is a crucial aspect of running a successful souvenir shop. It’s not just about filling shelves — retailers need to also efficiently manage stock levels, replenish products at the right time, and avoid both overstocking or stockouts.


It’s easy to overlook the data that’s available in your POS, but these reporting features are some of the best inventory management tools. Reviewing these four reports on a regular schedule will give you valuable insight into sales trends and inventory health.



Aged inventory report

An aged or dead inventory report can help you to identify products that have been sitting in inventory for a long time without selling. This will help you to pinpoint any slow-moving or obsolete products.


"When you get into a habit of running these reports, you will be able to make data-driven decisions."


Run this report monthly to track aging inventory and prevent overstocking on products that aren’t selling. By identifying dead inventory, you can take steps to discount, bundle or remove these items.



Sell-through report

A sell-through report will show you the rate at which items are selling and helps you identify products that are either moving too slowly or too quickly.


Run this report monthly to assess your inventory’s turnover and to adjust stock levels accordingly. By identifying slow-moving products, you can take action to reduce excess stock.



Reorder report

A reorder report will alert you when inventory for specific items falls below predefined thresholds, helping you know when to reorder based on historical sales data.


Run this report weekly to keep up with demand and avoid stockouts. Timely reordering ensures you always have enough stock of high-demand items, especially during peak seasons, preventing lost sales.



Sales by category report

Your sales by category report will break down sales by product categories (e.g., clothing, jewelry, decor). It helps identify customer preferences and product trends.


Run this report monthly to monitor your product mix and assess category performance. By analyzing sales data by category, you can adjust your inventory strategy to focus on high-performing categories while phasing out slow-moving ones.



Building the habit

When you get into a habit of running these reports, you will be able to make data-driven decisions. With just a few minutes each week or month, these reports will help you fine-tune your inventory management, reduce inefficiencies and boost your bottom line.



Kathy Cruz is a retail business coach and host of the Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast. Reach her via email at: kathy@savvyshopkeeper.com. Learn more on her website, www.savvyshopkeeper.com and Instagram @savvyshopkeeper.