Salon Inventory Management: A Simple Stock-Count and Reorder Method

Why inventory matters more than you think

Stock sitting on a shelf is cash you can't use. Running out of a colour shade mid-appointment costs you a client's trust. A simple routine solves both problems.

Step 1: Separate back bar from retail

• Back bar: colour, developer, lighteners, treatments and wash products used on clients.
• Retail: products clients take home.

Track them separately. Back-bar use follows your appointment book; retail follows client demand.

Step 2: Count on a fixed schedule

• Count colour and developer weekly, on the same day.
• Count retail every two weeks.
• Use one sheet with columns for product, size, quantity on hand and date.

Step 3: Work out your reorder point

For each product, estimate how many units you use per week and how many days your delivery takes. A simple rule:

Reorder point = weekly use × (delivery time in weeks + 1 week of safety stock)

Example: you use 4 tubes of a shade per week and delivery takes one week. Reorder when you're down to 8 tubes.

Step 4: Find slow movers

• Flag any retail product that hasn't sold in 60 days.
• Move it to eye level, pair it with a service, or recommend it during consultations.
• If it still doesn't move, stop reordering it and ask your rep about alternatives.

Step 5: Review monthly

• Which shades do you reorder most? Keep extra on hand.
• Which products are stylists using faster than expected? Check portioning and mixing habits.
• Is retail growing? Compare month to month.

How a supplier can help

With no minimum orders, you can reorder smaller amounts more often and keep less cash tied up on shelves. A dedicated Metro representative can review your order history with you and suggest which shades and sizes to keep stocked.

Become a Partner to work with a dedicated rep, or read our salon retail revenue guide.