Managing stock is pretty crucial for any online store owner out there, however, when it comes to custom-measured products, things can get real tricky (Speaking from experience). I also had my fair share of challenges products that require specific measurements, regardless of whether they are fabric, wood, or furniture.
Eventually, after some trial and error, I learned how to make the stock management process much easier. So just like me, if you are also dealing with custom-measured products within WooCommerce, follow these tips to save yourself a ton of time and a load of migraines!
The Challenge of Custom-Measured Products
Custom-measured products are unique because, unlike regular products, the quantity isn’t always straightforward. You’re not just selling “5 shirts” or “10 widgets” – you’re selling something that depends on customer input, like how much fabric they need or the dimensions of a custom-built table. This makes stock management a little more complex.
I remember when I first started selling custom-measured items. I never even realized at first when my stock was running low, and sometimes even worse, I had too much of a specific size of a product that wasn’t even selling. Clearly, I needed to make changes when it came to tracking and managing my inventory.
The First Step: Choosing the Right WooCommerce Tools
When dealing with custom measurements, having the right tools to track the stock becomes essential. One tool that I kinda owe my success to is the WooCommerce Measurement Price Calculator. With this plugin, I didn’t even need to worry about entering the custom measurements of the customers, instead, they could do it themselves. After that, the price would be calculated based on the details they would input. This was too good for managing custom products, since it was way more personalized and ensured that each thing was priced accordingly.
This tool works wonders because it lets you set the price based on weight, area, volume, or any other dimension that’s relevant to your product. But beyond that, it also helps track the stock based on the measurements customers choose, so you’re never caught off guard with an empty inventory.
How I Streamlined My Stock Management Process
Once I implemented the measurement price calculator, I realized how much more manageable stock tracking became. Here’s what I did:
1. Integrated Custom Fields for Stock Tracking
I set up custom fields for my products that allowed me to track the raw materials, based on customer-selected measurements. This way, if a customer orders custom fabric by the meter, I know exactly how much I have left. I also used the stock management feature in WooCommerce to update quantities automatically whenever a customer places an order. This saved me from manually updating my stock levels every time a sale went through.
It is of peak importance that you know what goes and into which order for custom products. So when I am selling custom furniture, I made sure to track the wood, paint, screws, and all other needed parts. If a customer chose a larger table, it would deduct more from the stock automatically, keeping everything accurate.
2. Set Up Low Stock Notifications
This was a lifesaver. I made sure to set up low stock notifications within WooCommerce. When stock of any custom raw material dropped below a certain level, I’d get an email alert. This way, I could restock materials before I ran out and had to delay any orders. With custom-measured products, the last thing you want is to be caught unprepared when demand spikes. Getting those notifications helped me stay ahead of the game.
3. Implement Bulk Stock Updates with CSV Files
If you’re dealing with a lot of custom-measured items or large quantities, manually updating your stock can be tedious. For me, using bulk stock updates via CSV files was a game-changer. Whenever I received a new shipment or made changes to stock levels, I would simply upload the updated CSV, and all my product stock levels would update automatically in one go.
Handling Variations: A Big Piece of the Puzzle
With custom-measured products, you often deal with product variations, and keeping track of those variations is key. For example, a customer may want a fabric in three different colors or a piece of wood in different lengths. I found that managing stock with product variations in WooCommerce made life so much easier.
I used the variation stock management feature to keep tabs on each variant separately. So, if I sold a custom rug, I could track the stock based on the size (e.g., 5×7, 8×10, etc.) or color. This helped me prevent overselling or running out of stock for one particular variation.
Another thing that helped was making sure each variation’s price and stock were properly set up in the product’s attributes. This way, if a customer selected a different size or color, it updated the stock automatically, keeping everything accurate and reducing the chances of over-promising and under-delivering.
Automation and Tracking for Efficiency
I also started using a stock management plugin that allows me to automate some of the stock updates. With tools like WooCommerce Stock Manager, I could quickly bulk edit my inventory, making it easier to adjust for custom-measured items. Whether it was for a product with variable sizes or one with a complex material breakdown, I could quickly adjust everything in one go.
Other than that, I was also able to track the products that were moving faster, as well as those that were slow. How’d this help? Well, I was able to quickly plan and stock my purchases accordingly. It became a rare thing that I would run out of something and have to wait till it was restocked. I was proactively managing my inventory based on delivery and sales trends.
Preventing Stockouts and Overstocks
Overstocking and stockouts were a few problems I did use to face often. When it came to unique items, I was never fully sure how much was to be ordered, especially when sales would fluctuate. Eventually, I realized that setting up the automatic stock replenishment made things way better. If any of my products were selling out faster than expected, my supplier would be triggered with an order automatically as long as the threshold was applied.
I also started using backorder options in times when the demand was high for a product. This would allow my customers to place orders even if the stock was low, in turn, saving sales while we wait for restocks!
The Final Piece: Constant Monitoring and Adjustment
Managing stock for custom-measured products is an ongoing process. Even with all the tools in place, I found that monitoring stock levels regularly was important. I made sure to always check on my raw materials and finished products, and I adjusted my stock levels based on customer demand and sales patterns.
This is an area where I learned through trial and error, but now it’s much easier to predict my stock needs and ensure that I’m never in the dark about what’s available.
Conclusion
Stock management for custom-measured products doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right tools, including the WooCommerce measurement price calculator, and a solid system in place, it’s possible to streamline the entire process. By tracking raw materials, using variations, setting up automation, and staying ahead of demand, you can make sure your stock levels are always accurate, and your customers are happy.
It’s not always easy, but trust me, once you get the hang of it, stock management for custom products can run smoothly, and your business will be in a much better position to thrive.