Turn a list of appealing products into an order you can assess. Start with your customers and shelf dimensions, collect a quote for specific references and record actual results after receiving the stock. The tables below can be copied into your own workbook; the worked numbers are explicitly hypothetical and do not represent supplier prices.
Build a quote-ready collector assortment
Start with a theme hypothesis, not a sales forecast. Write down who shops with you, which subjects they request and the shelf area available. Then choose a manageable set of product references to discuss with the supplier.
Use a simple buying table
| Record | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Product reference and theme | Keeps the quote tied to the intended design. |
| Dimensions and shelf position | Checks whether the assortment actually fits. |
| Proposed quantity | Shows your intended mix without assuming minimums. |
| Quoted cost and delivery needs | Makes budget and timing questions explicit. |
| Actual units sold and notes | Supports the next buying decision. |
Compare a few deeper selections with a wider range of single designs using your own customers and storage limits. Neither variety nor duplication is automatically the better choice. Keep prices and freight as quote inputs until confirmed.
Label any example assortment as a planning example, not a proven bestseller list. Send the product references, quantities and constraints for a quote, then revise the table to match the accepted terms.
Reorder from the stock you actually have
A useful reorder starts with a stock count. Separate items available for sale from display samples, reserved orders, damaged pieces and returns awaiting a decision. Otherwise, the same inventory can appear available twice.
Review each product reference
- Record the units received and the dates of receipt.
- Subtract actual sales and other documented stock movements.
- Compare the recorded balance with a physical count.
- Note customer requests, seasonality and remaining shelf space.
- Ask for current availability, reorder quantities, prices and timing.
A quick sale at one event may not predict steady shop demand. Likewise, a slow design may have been poorly positioned or briefly unavailable. Keep observations alongside the numbers instead of treating a small sample as certainty.
For several locations, count and allocate stock by location before placing a central order. Confirm who approves the combined quantities and where deliveries should go. Reordering does not automatically preserve an earlier price or delivery window. Request a current reorder quote using the original product references and your updated quantities.
Build an assortment budget from quoted costs
Use confirmed costs to compare a proposed order. Keep quantities, currency and the treatment of taxes explicit so the worksheet does not mix unlike figures. A budget is not a sales forecast.
A copyable buying worksheet
| Column | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Reference, theme and dimensions | The exact item and space it needs. |
| Quantity and quoted unit cost | Inputs from the supplier’s current quote. |
| Line cost | Quantity × unit cost. |
| Allocated freight and other costs | A stated allocation method; include each cost once. |
| Packaging, shelf position and required date | Your handling and delivery needs. |
| Units received, sold and remaining | Actual records after the order. |
Hypothetical arithmetic only: 10 items at an invented unit cost of $8 give an $80 line cost. If $12 of freight is allocated to that line, the total is $92, or $9.20 per item before any other applicable costs. These are not 3DCentral prices, minimums or terms.
Allocate shared costs by a consistent method appropriate to the order, and check that the allocated amounts add back to the invoice. Do not divide by zero when a line has no units. Keep damaged or unsold stock visible; a purchase cost does not become profit merely because you set a retail price.
Request the quote needed to complete your worksheet, then use actual sales records for reordering.
