A Complete Guide to Restocking Inventory
As an Amazon seller, managing your inventory efficiently is one of the most important aspects of maintaining a profitable business. Restocking your products at the right time is crucial to ensure that you don’t run out of stock (which leads to lost sales and reduced visibility) or overstock (which leads to unnecessary storage fees). In this blog, we’ll dive deep into the importance of restocking in Amazon Seller Central, how to determine when you need to restock, and Krolog.com can help you streamline your inventory management.
Why Restocking is Crucial for Amazon Sellers
When you sell on Amazon, you rely heavily on Amazon’s FBA services to store and ship your products & to handle most of the logistics, but it also means that you must maintain the right inventory levels in Amazon’s warehouses. Here are a few reasons why timely restocking is critical:
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- Avoid Stockouts: Running out of stock means your listings will go offline, and you can’t make sales. It also impacts your product ranking and visibility in Amazon’s search results.
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- Minimize Over-Storage Fees: Amazon charges monthly storage fees for FBA inventory, and these fees increase during peak seasons. Overstocking can result in unnecessary charges.
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- Keep Up with Demand: Restocking on time helps you avoid missed sales opportunities, especially during busy periods like holidays, Prime Day, or seasonal sales.
Understanding Your Restock Date in Amazon Seller Central
Amazon Seller Central provides valuable tools that help you manage your inventory and restocking. One of the most useful features for sellers is the Restock Inventory section, which offers restock suggestions based on your product’s sales velocity and historical data.
How Amazon Calculates Your Restock Date
Amazon determines when you need to restock based on several factors:
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- Sales Velocity: Amazon analyzes your average daily sales and how quickly your products are selling. For example, if your product typically sells 10 units per day, Amazon will calculate when you’ll run out of stock based on this rate.
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- Inventory Levels & lead Time: Your available inventory is monitored continuously. If you’re nearing the point where your stock will be exhausted soon, Amazon will suggest a restock date & the time it takes for suppliers to deliver products to Amazon’s fulfillment centers.
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- FBA Performance: Sellers who consistently maintain healthy inventory levels and meet customer demand can avoid stockouts and other issues that could harm their sales rank.
As an Amazon seller, managing your inventory efficiently is one of the most important aspects of maintaining a profitable business. Restocking your products at the right time is crucial to ensure that you don’t run out of stock (which leads to lost sales and reduced visibility) or overstock (which leads to unnecessary storage fees).
Restock Report and Inventory Health
In addition to the Restock Inventory tool, Amazon offers an Inventory Health Report that allows sellers to track their inventory’s performance. This report includes the following insights:
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- Days of Supply: This shows how many days your current inventory will last based on the current sales rate.
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- Recommended Restock Quantity: Amazon may provide suggestions for how much additional inventory you should send to maintain stock.
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- Stranded Inventory: Items that are listed but not currently available for sale due to a variety of reasons.
By regularly reviewing the Inventory Health Report, you can anticipate when to restock and make necessary adjustments to your ordering processes.
When Should You Restock? Key Indicators
Now that you know where to find your restock information, let’s explore when you should actually restock your products.
1. Sales Velocity
If your sales are steady and predictable, you can use your average daily sales as a guide. For instance, if you sell 50 units a day, you can calculate when you’ll need to reorder. A good rule of thumb is to reorder when you have 30-45 days of inventory left.
2. Inventory Level Alerts
Amazon provides real-time alerts when your inventory is low. These alerts show up in your Seller Central account, especially under the Manage Inventory section, which can help you stay on top of when to place orders with your supplier.
3. Seasonal Demand
During peak shopping seasons like Black Friday, Prime Day, or Christmas, you may need to restock more frequently. Amazon provides suggestions to help you plan for these busy times.
4. Restock Recommendations
The restock report will provide a suggestion based on Amazon’s predictions. If your sales trend is rising or if there’s an upcoming spike (like a promotion), you should restock early to prevent running out of stock.
Managing Restocking with Amazon Seller Central
Here are some key features within Amazon Seller Central that will help you manage your restocking effectively:
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- Restock Inventory Tab: This section is where you can track your restock date and view recommendations for how much inventory to send to Amazon’s warehouses.
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- FBA Inventory Reports: These reports include real-time data about your FBA inventory, such as how many units are available, how many are reserved for pending shipments, and the sales velocity for each item.
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- Amazon Replenishment Alerts: Enable notifications or check the “Restock Inventory” page regularly to receive timely updates about inventory levels and restocking needs.
How to Contact Amazon Seller Support for Restocking Assistance
If you’re unsure when to restock or need help with managing your inventory, Amazon Seller Support is available to assist & feel free to reach out to Amazon Seller Services at Krolog.
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- Contact Seller Support: You can reach Amazon Seller Support through the Help section in Seller Central. If you need assistance with restocking, you can open a support case or initiate a chat with a representative.
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- Phone Support: Although there isn’t a specific Amazon Seller Central contact number listed for general inquiries, you can request a call from Amazon support after submitting a query through Seller Central.
Restocking in Amazon Seller Central is a critical aspect of maintaining a healthy, profitable business. By understanding Amazon’s restocking tools and reports, you can make informed decisions about inventory levels, avoid stockouts, and minimize overstock costs. Keep an eye on your Restock Inventory tab, use the Inventory Health Report, and take advantage of Amazon’s automated recommendations to optimize your inventory management. And if you ever have questions or need assistance, Amazon’s Seller Support is there to help you get back on track.
By mastering the timing of restocking and staying proactive about inventory management, you can ensure that your products are always available for your customers, leading to better sales and higher rankings in Amazon’s search results.