Inventory management is a pain, so here are our tips for making inventory time painless (and how technology can help!).

Taking inventory is one of those frustrating tasks that’s tedious but necessary to keep your beauty salon business running smoothly. At its best, ordering inventory is a time sink. At its worst, inventory feels like dealing with a particularly aggravating client. Luckily, you can do a few things to keep the process running smoothly, letting you get back to the big picture stuff.

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Look out for new product trends and seasonal changes

Running a beauty salon is a lot of work, and keeping up with trendy new looks is one of the most time-consuming aspects of the business. New trends mean new products, though, so it’s important to keep your ear to the ground to identify up-and-coming styles for anyone who might walk through your doors.

Seasonal changes should also factor into inventory decision-making. As clothing trends change throughout the year, so do hairstyle trends. Keep tabs on which products you’ll need to fulfill your clients’ shifting needs. You’re in the business; you know the evergreen products already. The most successful salons are the ones that can adapt and stay ahead of the competition.

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Your personal inventory is just as important as your retail inventory

It’s easy to get so caught up in what your clients want that you start to neglect your own back bar inventory. Of course, it’s natural for clients to come first, but don’t let it distract you from keeping your tools stocked and ready.

Be as mindful with your back bar as you are with your retail shelves. Take note of what you’re using, what’s being under-used, and what’s most important for the services that you offer. If you run out of anything essential, you’re looking at unhappy customers and lower revenue, and that’s not good for anybody — least of all you. More importantly, though, knowing what you’re using, and how much you’re using, will make inventory time a lot easier.

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Use the right software to make the process painless

Watching trends and keeping track of your back bar may seem a bit dull, but they’re hardly the worst part of inventory management. The real tediousness comes from ordering each of the items your salon needs to function. Lucky for you, the right software can make the process as painless as possible. 

Inventory management tools help salon owners keep track of their purchase orders and inventory without too much hassle. For example, Boulevard’s salon management software keeps track of stock in a single, user-friendly location. It’s designed to make re-orders a breeze, ultimately saving you time so you can focus on client needs, your employees, or yourself. Inventory management will always be a bit of a headache, but there’s no reason to let it be a migraine.