Knowing What Not To Stock Is the Future of E-Commerce | Opinion
Summary
The article argues that e-commerce sellers should base inventory decisions on how steady and predictable demand is, not just on sales totals. It says print-on-demand can reduce upfront costs, while bulk manufacturing offers lower unit prices only if enough stock sells.Key Facts
- U.S. retail e-commerce sales reached $1.23 trillion in 2025, up 5.4% from 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
- Online purchases made up 16.4% of total U.S. retail sales in 2025.
- Amazon’s 2025 Small Business Empowerment Report says more than 75,000 independent sellers had annual marketplace sales above $1 million.
- The article says slow-moving inventory can increase storage costs, tie up cash, and lead to discounting.
- It recommends examining weekly orders, seasonal changes, repeat purchases, and sales across product variations when forecasting demand.
- The article says repeated wholesale orders may be more predictable than consumer purchases driven by changing tastes.
- In the article’s example, bulk production of 500 T-shirts at $10 each requires $5,000 upfront; selling 150 at $30 each brings in $4,500 in revenue before other costs.
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