Running a salon is about more than cuts and colors. You also need to store the products you use and sell – also known as inventory.

Keep what you need in stock and turn essential products into profitable returns with effective inventory management techniques. If you don’t have retail products available when clients want them, you risk losing out on money (and disappointing clients). 

The key to success? Inventory management software that does all the tracking for you.

In a Community Spotlight conversation, hairdresser and salon owner Candice Whitman shared her approach to managing salon inventory while running a successful business:  

"I wanted something that would be easy for me to use because I wanted to keep track of it, know all of my numbers, and grow this thing.  

Being able to put everything into GlossGenius’ salon software and have it keep track of how many products I have on hand, what my cost out of pocket is for those products, how much profit I've made on those products, and what my retail best sellers are when I go to reorder… those were the things I was really looking for." 

Check out the full episode with Candice for a deeper dive into how she chose an inventory management system. And if you're looking for quick tips to keep your spa or hair salon well-stocked, read on. 

What’s Salon Inventory Management? 

Salon inventory management covers both the things you use as a stylist (like shampoo) and the things you sell at the counter (like at-home hair masks). This also includes towels, retail product lines, and cosmetology products, but the list goes on and on.

Inventory management systems tell you precisely what you have in stock and what you need to replenish. This helps you avoid overstocking – ordering more of a product no one’s buying or using – and running out of that leave-in conditioner your stylists can't stop raving about. With these systems, there are no more last-minute orders or desperate attempts to find the last bottle of something in your stockroom. 

3 Benefits of an Efficient Salon Inventory Management  

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Mastering salon inventory management elevates your entire business. Not convinced? Here are three benefits:

1. Reduces Waste and Avoids Overstocking

Nobody likes a cluttered closet. With salon inventory management, you always know what’s available and what’s running low, which means you avoid stocking way too many products at once. This also saves you from spending money on items you won’t end up using.  

For example, the software can tell you exactly how many boxes of gloves you use in a month. That means you can start ordering the exact amount your salon needs (with a little buffer, just in case). Goodbye waste, hello savings.  

2. Enhances the Client Experience  

It’s disappointing for clients to arrive and learn that you don't have the mask needed to complete their favorite treatment. Efficient inventory management avoids this by helping you keep the products on hand at all times. Whether it’s the latest straightening treatment or an innovative new color system, you’ll have it ready for action.

3. Maintains Better Financial Records 

Solid inventory systems give you a clear view of how much money’s coming in. The software does the math for you so you’re never stuck adding up a $15.44 hair mask and $384.82 color job and a $89.25 cut (and calculating taxes on top of all those numbers). 

The system also tells you which products are flying off the shelves and which are collecting dust (and not earning you any money). With that information, you can make better purchasing decisions and sell products with sales and promotions. 

For example, if a specific styling product is becoming a client favorite, you can stock up and offer a 10% discount for a limited time to capitalize on its popularity. 

Try GlossGenius free for 14 days!  

7 Tips To Optimize Your Salon Inventory Management 

Inventory management doesn’t have to be complicated with the right strategies. Add these seven essential tips to your checklist: 

1. Do Periodic Inventory Checks 

No managed inventory system is perfect. There will be discrepancies once in a while, and it’s up to you to spot them when they do happen. Maybe your software says there are eight bottles of conditioner on the shelf when there are only six or that you’re out of gloves when you actually have a box hiding in the back for emergencies. 

Schedule monthly or quarterly inventory checks and count everything by hand to compare it with your records. This helps you identify problems like mismanagement and theft before they get out of hand. It might take time, but it’s worth it to make sure everything in your system is correct.

2. Start With Your Back Bar 

Begin your inventory counts with back bar items – the products you use instead of sell, like shampoos, conditioners, and bleach. Starting here makes sure you always have what you need for daily services, preventing last-minute scrambles that disrupt service quality and cause customer dissatisfaction. 

3. Set Minimum Product Amounts 

Calculate the minimum amount of each product you need to keep in stock. This is known as your reorder point. When your inventory reaches that number, you know it’s time to get more.

To set your reorder point, consider how often you use the product and how long it takes for the supplier to deliver it. For example, if it takes a week to receive a new box of a popular hair serum, reorder when you're down to an eight-day supply. This strategy helps you avoid under- and over-stocking, plus a buffer of one day to account for potential delays.   

4. Track Your Sales and Spending

Monitor your salon's sales and expenses closely. You might spot areas where you’re spending way more than you thought or forgot to adjust something. Some inventory management software can do this work for you, but it can’t know if you decide not to reorder a certain product or realize you need to switch dye brands. Make sure you’re updating the software every time you make a decision it won’t catch on its own. 

5. Avoid Spoilage  

This might be surprising, but the average shelf life of most hair color products is only a few years – and that's unopened. Check the packaging or the brand’s website. You might find you have to use them after a year or two, especially if they’re opened. 

Avoid spoilage by tracking when they expire and how often you’re using them in your system. Rotate products on the shelves so you use or sell the oldest products first. 

6. Go With the Flow

Adjust your salon's stock based on the season and the latest trends. This flexibility helps you cater to a broader range of clients, like people looking for specific bridal hair services in spring and summer. 

If you’re not sure where to keep up with trends, you have a ton of options. Go to industry seminars and workshops, follow innovative stylists on social media, and keep up with what clients are looking for throughout the year. There’s no way to 100% know if balayage or the Scandi hairline will be in style, but the more you research, the closer you’ll get.

7. Implement a Specialized Salon Inventory Management Software 

Old-school spreadsheets can kick it to the curb. Use an all-in-one inventory management software like GlossGenius instead. 

GlossGenius automates inventory tracking, reordering, and reporting to provide real-time information on your salon's current stock. Our all-in-one platform lets you easily manage your bar back items and analyze sales trends to sell more products. And while the heart of your salon is helping clients look and feel their best, becoming more profitable never hurts.

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Streamline Your Salon Inventory With GlossGenius

Looking for smart and stylish inventory management tools? GlossGenius has your back. You can track purchases at your point of sale (POS), automatically updating inventory quantities, sales tax, and client histories – so you barely have to lift a finger. Our system also offers detailed reports on your best and worst retail sellers to help you make informed purchasing decisions and reduce overstock. Plus, you can access your stock levels from anywhere. 

With GlossGenius, you get more than just inventory management tools. We're a comprehensive solution that includes features like Client Management, Scheduling Tools, and Marketing. And along with top-of-the-line software, we offer stunning Card Readers and a Custom Website Builder to help you take payments and get found online. 

Try GlossGenius free for 14 days!  

Ready to see how GlossGenius can help your salon thrive? Sign up for a free 14-day trial.