D2C Inventory — Stop Overstocking, Stop Stockouts
The inventory paradox: Overstock and I’ve seen a founder’s cash sit stuck in unsold products; understock and they lose sales to “Out of Stock” pages. I work with Indian D2C brands on tight working capital, and getting it right is the difference between growth and a cash crunch.
The 3 Stages of Inventory Management
Stage 1: Spreadsheet (0-200 orders/month)
At this stage, I tell every founder a simple Google Sheet works fine. Track: SKU, current stock, reorder point (when to order more), lead time (how long your manufacturer takes), and weekly sales velocity.
Reorder formula: This is the formula I hand clients — reorder when stock = (daily sales × lead time in days) + safety stock (7 days worth).
Stage 2: Shopify Inventory + Apps (200-1,000 orders/month)
Shopify’s built-in inventory tracking handles the basics. I tell clients to add Stocky (free on Shopify plans) for purchase orders and demand forecasting. This stage covers most growing D2C brands I work with.
Stage 3: Dedicated Software (1,000+ orders/month)
Once my clients hit 100+ SKUs across multiple warehouses and channels, here’s what I tell them:
| Tool | Best For | Monthly Cost | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho Inventory | Multi-channel + manufacturing | ₹3,000-8,000 | Integrates with Zoho Books |
| Unicommerce | Marketplace + D2C brands | ₹5,000-15,000 | India-focused, all marketplace integrations |
| Increff | Fashion/apparel brands | Custom pricing | AI-based demand prediction |
| Vinculum | Enterprise D2C | ₹10,000+ | Full OMS + WMS |
5 Inventory Mistakes I See Killing D2C Brands
- Ordering based on gut, not data — I make clients track weekly sales velocity per SKU and order against actual demand, not assumptions.
- Too many SKUs too soon — I tell new brands to start with 10-20 SKUs. Each new SKU adds complexity and blocks capital.
- Ignoring dead stock — My rule with clients: any SKU that hasn’t sold in 60 days gets discounted or bundled to free up cash.
- Not syncing marketplace + D2C inventory — If a brand sells on Amazon AND its own website, I make sure inventory syncs in real-time to prevent overselling.
- No safety stock for top sellers — I tell clients their top 5 SKUs should always carry 2-3 weeks of safety stock. Running out of your best-seller is the most expensive mistake you can make.
At Growww Tech, my team and I help Indian D2C brands set up inventory management systems, multi-channel syncing, and fulfillment workflows. Let’s optimize your operations.
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