Organize your inventory like a pro eBay seller 

When it comes to reusing old numbers, for me personally, it would be too much brain processing everyday to manage it that way. I misspoke about the consolidation portion. Kyle said it’s like 30 mins, not an hour. I also forgot to include that we do it once a month. I’d rather do 30 min process once/month vs however long it would take daily to assign unused numbers to 30+ new items, filling in the empty slots here and there, and having to re-sku a return because that returns number is now being used by another item. That’s a lot of busy work and not efficient and streamlined.

Only thing different I do is when I take that picture. It’s on a scale. So you have all the info for shipping. But that’s the game easy and clear. Love her

Finally! You are the first person who actually shows how to and where to enter the sku number. Thanks so much!

I have and always use clear totes. I don’t like exposure to the elements that boxes have. I have 9,000 listings and a lot of totes .

In the midst of switching over from the Bin System to the box system. Waiting on more shelves to be able to continue. So much faster/easier to find things!! Like you had mentioned, it takes a bit to switch, but once it is done, it is a game changer. More tie saved, and space to store inventory!

Tipping the box is such a great idea! I would have never thought of that. Here I’ve been all aggravated that my bags fall over before the box gets full! Lol Another helpful video Carrie!

Your tips on how to stack the clothes so it lets the air out and you can squish more in is genius. It makes so much sense and my brain wouldn't have ever come up with it! lol

Nice vid and channel. I independently came up with this method and started doing this back in 2017 before daily refinement put out his videos on it a couple years later. I was initially mad that a RU-vidr had figured it out and everyone was sharing this idea with all my competitors lol. I also use to design fulfillment centers at Amazon, but I resell now and prefer eBay over Amazon as a reseller. A solution for the consolidation issue as you start to get a lot of racks is that you should assign several storage racks an aisle letter. Or wall letter if up against different walls. Basically some kind of letter that makes it easy to identify different sections of your inventory. If you use multiple rooms for storage you can still use one letter per every few racks unless you scale to a business with 100’s of storage racks. Then you would need a two or three letter system. The key point is that you can break your consolidation up so you only have to consolidate one aisle or one wall’s worth of items at a time instead of your whole inventory. Also as you grow it will be faster to find items. You can search for “A” and only print those after printing all the consolidated multi item orders shipping first. So print the consolidated shipping then print A00001, A00002, ect. Then do the “B” numbers. Those would also start at B00001 as well and be it’s own independent number system. That makes it faster to pick as well. It will also take much longer to go through your sku numbers and if you did for some reason you could start over that aisle as AA as long as your not scaling past 20 something aisles. I would not do individual racks as there own letter because it would be harder to assign sku numbers to items as you store them or before photographing because you might have to store a batch into two different racks after consolidating, and each rack would become its own consolidation project. It starts to be like you mention in your pinned comment about why it is not as efficient doing single bin numbers. Also having 3 to 5 separate number systems for 15 to 25 storage racks is really not harder to manage for a small business. But needing a full label system for each rack and figuring out which items can fit in to one rack vs another before assigning a sku would become convoluted to manage with 15 to 20 something storage racks. And be less time efficient. But 3 to 5 racks per aisle letter, depending on your throughput and turn over, is a good design trade off. This is because you can still quickly consolidate an aisle to free up enough boxes for your entire next batch to be stored using the same aisle numbers. And if you scaled to a 50 to 100 racks and got a little fulfillment storage place you could just have an employee do one or a target number of aisles on some kind of scheduled routine. At peak near Christmas you would obviously have to be doing it more often in order to maximizing your capacity. Also if you get a lot larger by aisle consolidation can be done without a major disruption to the overall business that a full consolidation would take. At a small to midsize scale you will spend the same amount of time consolidating, but this will make it a simpler manageable task that can be done with each or every few listing batches vs a random problem that sneaks up on you every few weeks. And there is no down side to doing at your scale but only benefit in pick times now and easier consolidation as you grow. Also if you did scale this to a larger fulfillment center you would in theory eventually start losing time with the complexity of consolidating 50 to 100 racks as you would need to do it more often at that scale to maximize your capacity utilization vs by aisle. This is because the gaps in your inventory would be spread out over a larger space. Like 100 racks that all need to be consolidated to get to the end with the empty boxes. So let’s say you scale to where you fill up one racks worth of boxes per day and your selling about the same your going to have to consolidate the full inventory every day when you get close to filling up your inventory. But by aisle you can assign one photographer an aisle or two to consolidate before they photograph the next batch. There are a couple eBay reseller business that have got that big. You could also run into an issue where you are nearing your capacity at peak pre Christmas time. That might force you to have to do things more inefficiently to keep your storage full. Otherwise you will lose capacity spread out over your inventory. A scenario would be only have time to get halfway through before you needed to store more items. You could end up having to make a special sign to stick out from one of the racks somewhere in the middle to show employees where to pick from if they get over a certain number. You could also still shift the half full boxes over and put them at the end but that would be waisting time as your going to have to do that when you consolidate those later anyway. If you have a pre storage area or never let the last storage rack get filled up before starting consolidation to ensure you had a good buffer. But then you would not be utilizing that area to be filled with storage. Without aisles it could get complex real quick at peak pre Christmas time of year with a few employees, and possibly lead to mistakes with shipping and the order of storage. Or you would just have to sacrifice storage capacity or plan to pay higher rent for a larger storage facility than you could otherwise have gotten away with. Before being an engineer at Amazon I also had experience as an area manager at target and at Amazon at a site that used single Asin pallet storage not just randomized bins. Consolidating pallet inventory and bin fluffing partially filled rainbow racks actually becomes a massively convoluted process as you scale a storage business. Eventually it becomes a full time job for a few associates to do and takes a lot of management attention as well. Fortunately the nature this niche eBay clothing store business is that you can mitigate that complexity by treating every few aisles as one big storage bin.

Thanks for this video. I do this as a side hustle so I have a smaller store of about 100-150 items. I have 2 shelving units with the clear bins. I label each bin, but even with my small store, I am still rummaging through a bin looking for the items that sell. I will be implementing this setup too. I think It will also help with creating more storage space since the plastic bins take up so much room. Great idea! Thanks!

I just started switching my 250-ish items over to this system a week ago! Helping so much already😊

This is a great system….. for Clothing Sellers! Now, how about the Rest of us who sell Hardgoods? Any Advice for an inventory system?

You talked about the labels sticking to plastic easier than to the clothing. Have you thought about getting the clear bags like they give you at the dry cleaners to put over your big jackets? Then you would still have the label on plastic, the jacket would be still protected from any elements, and you have mitigated the risk of a sticker falling off of a jacket…

Great vid as usual, Carrie! Organization is CRUCIAL!

I have been selling on eBay since 1999. I sell a lot of clothing but also hardgoods. So I have been using open totes on shelves for over 20 years. I put all my clothing in bags with numbers and stack them in order. The totes hold 2 rows of clothing. Then I put hard goods in totes too. Everything is bagged & numbered and totes have an ABC type system. I have small drawers for tiny items. Then even smaller drawers for jewelry. These long box system isn't your idea but another RU-vidr. I like to watch other resellers just to see brands they are selling etc. Plus in a reseller community on Facebook. I do like your jeans only idea and have thought of doing that years ago. I just couldn't find enough jeans priced well enough to make it work for me. I have stopped selling certain clothing items because they take too long to sell.

I switched to the numerical file system and I love it. I didn't love cardboard boxes in a storage unit because the boxes seemed to warp with moisture the first winter I tried using cardboard boxes so I still use totes but now it's super easy and fast to find items!

Thank you. I use a similiar system, but you gave me a few good tips. First of all, I never thought of positioning the box end-to-end and stacking that way. So much easier! Also, keeping the box where you're listing and just adding to it makes a whole lot of sense. It will save me the step of throwing everything into a bag and putting it all away. And last but not least, I could not figure out how to put the SKU number in the custom label. So thank you again. These tips will be SO helpful going forward!

I use the box inventory but I Reuse my numbered bags so I never have to consolidate the boxes, super easy. I also use the box system for shoes, they actually fit pretty well in the boxes and just number the boxes with the shoes. I’ve got about 1300 items on 3 shelves

Great video as always. The tip on adding sku numbers onto the ebay listing page was super helpful!

I am going to be using your inventory system. I got 40 stackable, 20L x 12W x 10H plastic produce crates on Facebook Marketplace for 1 dollar each. I am planning on getting some shelving as my inventory grows. I just need to start sourcing and actually get some inventory. 😅

Excellent quality video. Thank you for sharing! I am one of those environment people so I will also be hacking the sku stickers/poly bags by buying blank tags and a pricing gun, write the sku on tag, then when it sells covering up with branded sticker. 😌 I’m quite proud of this plastic less solution and feel great about cardboard instead of the plastic bins I have now! 🎉

So helpful, I'm getting ready to move and have so much stuff to list. If I put it on rolling carts or hangers with the sku numbers that's awesome. The listing tips - super helpful!

I sell vintage jewelry, so this system won't work for me unfortunately. I do think it's absolutely brilliant for clothing, etc. I use clear fishing tackle boxes with removable dividers - the boxes are stackable, and I have them on a shelving system. Each box is labeled, as is each row (E1, E2, etc for earrings). It's been a game changer for me. Organization is key. No more missing items! Love your videos. 😊

Omg!! You are so right! I am afraid someone will buy something and have no idea where I put it 😳😳 Thank you so much! Grateful for you 🙏🙏❤❤

I can see you got your fridge at the scratch and dent store. Lol I have the same one So easy to go to the bins and get jeans the way you do it makes it a no-brainer

Great video, thanks for sharing! I'm an everything seller, but I'm thinking about niching down so I can have a system as neat and slick as yours.

Thanks for posting this "how to" video. I already started your process on my Ebay store that Men's shirts/jeans/jacket focused. I posted my first 50 items on my new store last weekend. As a long time seller of collectables & comic books this system is very very import and very helpful. You're right in stating that sometimes items do go missing. It's happened to me a couple of times and having to cancel even a couple of sales a year can have a huge impact on your sellers account with Ebay.

Thanks for showing where to set press on SKU details in eBay. I have been searching for that and could never find it. SO HELPFUL!! LOVE your system!!

Thanks ! I needed to see how to implement this system!

I use the same system. It’s the easiest and simplest. Haven’t lost an item in a very long time

Thank you so much for going over that. I’m converting to boxes. Just waiting for my boxes to come so I can get my stuff out of bags and totes . 🤣

I love your content; one thing I can't find is the name of your eBay store for your jeans.

Another way to do this and avoid consolidation while maximizing storage space is to go to a bin system. Each bin is sequentially numbered, 0001, 0002, 0003, etc...your SKU is then 0001-XXXXX. you can easily find the bin number the item is in and also when you see a bin has space you can add new stuff in there calling it SKU 0001-XXXXX. I have 2500 clear bins doing this system in a 5000 sf warehouse. I sell only new items i buy wholesale so one bin can have (10 QTY of brand X white size M).

I do the exact setup after photographing the item. I have put my small scale where I lay the bag to take the photo with the item & the sku#.

Thank you for showing how to get that custom sku up there!!! 😮‍💨

Thank you so much for explaining this system. I have about 127 active listings and need to organize badly.

I don’t know if this would work better, but what about a small piece of painters tape on the coats, then the numbered sticker

Yay can’t wait to watch this! This is exactly what I need to see ❤😊 thank you

I did this a couple of months ago - total game changer ❤

Hey girl, hey! I have a similar system but to avoid the box consolidation, I keep my inventory numbers on a notecard that I photograph with the jeans/item and store in the pocket. When the items get pulled for shipping, I also pull the notecards and reuse them with the new inventory hitting the store.

Thank you for your time on this and all of your videos!!! I switched to box system for most clothing, HOWEVER, I need storage suggestions for slinky, thin, silky clothing that falls to the bottom of the bag and is a wrinkled disaster when it’s time to mail…. Would appreciate all suggestions!! Thank you!!

I would use a hang tag for hangers that you can apply the number sticker to…or put it on the hanger. Bad idea???

If you are starting out, you could most likely get fresh fruit boxes free from grocery stores. They are heavy duty with handle cutouts -Just use the boxes tops and bottoms separately.

I had the same problem when I started, but organically transitioned to the box system. It seemed odd to spend hours changing it when I could just list new items and wait for the old ones to sell.

20 items per tote stacked vertically in columns of 100 with re-usable poly sacks is a far superior system with no downsides and unmentioned benefits. Clear totes is the answer people, when done correctly. forget the wasted space and time with consolidation

Crazy how many folks have adopted daily refinements setup.

Excellent Video! Thank you.

Thank you for all the information. It is much appreciated. I have a question about the bags. I noticed that on one of the sizes you use a permanent seal but on the other size it is not permanent. Is there a reason? Thank you for all of your help, love your videos

Very helpful video. Is it possible to link the bags you use to this video?

Great Vid. Great Clear Instructions. Thank You ,

The only thing I would do differently is put the shirts in the bags a little bit more professionally..

Where do you get you shirt bags? This is such an awesome video. Thank you for sharing.

Great tips Carrie!

I currently have about 250 listings on my store and have been looking into updating my inventory; thank you for this helpful video! May I ask what size are the clear poly bags you are using to store the shirts in?

I ordered the boxes from Amazon instead of Uline to save on shipping cost. If you do order it from Amazon, make sure it is the 200lb weight, not the 65Lb one.

This video is so helpful! I started incorporating this system but found it's taking a lot of my time pulling old inventory (800 items) and applying this. Do you have any advice on how to do this quicker and what sequence of numbers to apply to brand-new inventory? Thank you!

Awesome video!! Thank you!!

What is the distance between the top of one shelf and the bottom of the 2x4 above it?

I buy the 8x8x30 boxes even though my shelves are 24 wide because the boxes will easily hold with a 6 inch over..it gets me more storage for less expensive shelves..a 24 will hold a 30 inch box very easily which I find to be 25 items of clothing on average where as 24 inch holds 18.

I don't have the space to store items horizontally. I have to stack vertically -- boxes and totes on top of each other so I can't use the box system :( and I can't afford the shelving units

If you just want to watch the tutorial, skip to 6:18.

Opps last video I asked about this I have bins and hate them

Very helpful, thanks!

i love ur haircut

A big thank you for putting out this video!!! Extremely helpful! You had posted two links for the bags. What size bag goes with which item? On average how many bags can a box that you use hold?

Wouldn’t it be easier to make a note of the number of the item sold and any new items that need stored you use those numbers again instead of moving all the stock ? Just a thought as it seems easier but I may have missed something .. 🤔

My father in law used to talk to me while holding a knife! 🔪 only cause he would always be cooking something when I saw him 😂

Hi Great video! I did not know there was a skew placement on EBay. Where did you get your roll of numbers from? Thank you.

Great video, appreciate the information. Question, are the bags you store the clothes in acid free? I use to own a ladies clothing consignment store and when ladies would bring in clothes that were stored in dry cleaning plastic it would some times stain the clothes from being in the plastic for so long. Thanks

Can we get the link for the lights, please! I am in the middle of chamging from bins to boxes, but I need the new lights more! My pics are dark😢

This is a great video

Can you put the shirt directly into your polymailer instead of a clear bag? Then you just have to slap on the shipping label and seal the bag. Is there a reason for the clear bag?

It looked like your sku numbers were ordered/pre printed on a roll. When you place an order for those labels, are you able to order custom numbers, like "1001 - 1999" or something? I have a ton of labels I bought for FNSKU labels for selling on Amazon, and was thinking could use those for SKU numbers. I like what you have a bit more, since it would save time over printing individual SKU numbers 1 at a time.

You are awesome 👌 👏 👍

Thanks for sharing

How does one get to the table at 8:08?

Hi Carrie! How many boxes do your metal shelves hold? Trying to estimate shelf space and inventory.

I wish would put the links to your supplies here, I'm not on Instagram

you can talk with the scissors, it's okay :D

We do the box system but keep the same numbers and reuse the large bag we put the items in.

Hey Carrie-I’m worried about damage from sticking the SKU labels directly onto the hanging clothes. What about sticking the labels onto index cards with holes punched in them so they can slip over the hangers?

I love your videos! Which size bags do you use for the jeans? What size for shirts?

Hi Maam Carrie, Good Day! do you mind explaining me how to set up the shipping rate? Will it come automatically? If not, where and what are the steps you do so you can ship internationally? Sorry for the questions im just new.

I wish I can do boxes but we have mice in our basement.😢

I am sorry I do not understand how I am going to replace the sku I sold?

Instead of shifting everything to consolidate, wouldn't it be easier to check your recent sold listing and reassign a previously used number?

Hey carrie, what brand of thermal printer do you have?

❤❤❤❤

Great system! Quick question though - what type of lighting and camera do you use for your videos?

One question, I only have 1,200 active listings on eBay and I have 500 listings, but I noticed that in terms of monthly sales limits, just last month I had a limit of 5,000, but right now I have a limit of 5 million, which means can you help me understand, please?

Do you reuse the numbers on your bags ?

Once you sell an item do you recycle numbers?

Could you add the links here? I don’t have an instagram and don’t want to have one 😅

6:23 😂😂😂

So I heard that the boxes are cheaper if you get 8x8x24 instead of 8x10x24 thoughts?

Are your boxes for jeans the same size as the shirt ones?

Do you collaborate with brands?

do you wash everything?

This is great for clothing but almost impossible for everything sellers.