Today is officially my business year end. I always have to plan it around school holidays, and as we go away tomorrow for a week, it seemed as good a day as any to count stock.
Yes, exactly. We have to count ALL our stock. Everything. Maternity bras, nursing bras,
One of the many styles we've counted today
mastectomy bras, plus size bras, sports bras, soft cup bras, briefs to match bras, breastfeeding tops, breastpads, nursing nightwear…..exactly – EVERYTHING! We even have to go into those boxes that have come back from shows with all the bits and pieces in, like bra extenders, sort them, and count them – a job that always gets left!
It took the full day, which was expected. But I’ve found, for the first time since I started bras4mums, stocktake day has been a very inspiring.
It’s given me the chance to review everything I stock. I’ve had to ask questions about all the odd bra styles that I’ve ordered in for certain customers of a certain size or shape, who then didn’t purchase the bra. Do I keep that style in my range? Do I discount it on bras4all? Do I ebay it to get some cash back?
Some decisions I’ve made today have been hard. Some weren’t so difficult. But it got me thinking about why it’s taken until today for me to go through this process. Shouldn’t I as a business owner always be looking at opportunities to develop my range? Shouldn’t I as a business owner always ensure I’m doing what I should be doing – FOCUSing my business towards my vision?
My Themeword for 2010 is FOCUS. I thought I was doing pretty well so far. My business course is really helping me get back on track after an up and down 2009. But today is by far the biggest day this year so far in my clearing out the old, and getting on with the new. I’ve made decisions that felt right about the direction of the business, just by looking at my whole stock. How easy was that?
Maybe we should all put in our diaries to look at our business and personal ‘stock’ every so often to ensure we’re FOCUSing on our vision. I’m certainly going to put in my diary to do a half year stocktake this year.
Mmm, just the accounts side to do now….is their remote internet access on Islay? That part of year end will just have to wait!
Happy Easter everyone.
What a great post, I too have got FOCUS as one of my keywords in my plan 2010 and I try to go back every month to check how the monthly plan is going and I am just about to have a big revision this weekend to evaluate how the first three months have been and see where I am off the plan etc. Enjoy your hols, you deserve it!
You make a great point. I like the word ‘review’. We should be constantly (at least frequently) reviewing everything that we do, and questionning it. It helps to prevent complacency by constantly checking and justifying what you do. Goes for everything from procedures to packaging. Then we more frequently see things that just dont’ cut it anymore. I don’t envy you a lingerie stock count!
Gah! I hate stocktaking! Thanks for the post – you’ve reminded me that I need to get on with mine pronto!
I’m also long due for a written down review for one of my sites – otherwise I suspect I may be getting half-way through the year without having a clear direction of where I’m going to…
Best wishes
Alison