Inventory how-to
How to manage packaging and shipping supplies inventory
Treat boxes, mailers, tape, and labels like any other SKU: track how fast you use them, set a reorder point based on lead time, and order before you run out.
Short answer: Treat boxes, mailers, tape, and labels like any other SKU: track how fast you use them, set a reorder point based on lead time, and order before you run out. The hard part is linking usage to orders shipped rather than units sold, since one order can use several supplies.
Why packaging supplies are different
Product SKUs sell at their own pace. Packaging supplies get consumed per order or per shipment, not per product unit. A single order might use one box, one roll of tape worth, and two inches of a label. This means you need a separate usage rate for each supply item, tied to your order volume rather than to any one product's sales.
Set up each supply as its own SKU
Create a simple SKU for each packaging item: small box, medium box, poly mailer, tape roll, shipping label roll. Track them the same way you would track a physical product, with a running count of what you have on hand. If a supplier sells in cases, record the case pack size so your counts match what actually arrives.
Calculate usage and reorder points manually
Work out a rough daily usage rate for each item based on your average orders per day and how many of that item each order consumes. Multiply that daily usage by the supplier's lead time plus a safety buffer to get your reorder point. When your count drops to that point, place an order.
Step by step
- List every packaging and shipping supply you use as a separate line item
- Record how many of each item a typical order consumes
- Calculate daily usage: average orders per day x units used per order
- Multiply daily usage by supplier lead time plus safety days to get your reorder point
- Check stock counts weekly against that reorder point
- Order in case pack quantities to match supplier minimums
- Update your usage rate if order volume or packaging changes
Worked example
A store ships 40 orders a day and uses one medium box per order. The box supplier has a 10-day lead time and the store keeps 4 safety days. Reorder point = 40 x (10 + 4) = 560 boxes. If boxes come in cases of 200, the store orders in multiples of 200, placing an order once stock drops to 560 so the next case pack arrives before boxes run out.
How SteadyShelf helps
SteadyShelf forecasts and reorders product variants you sell, not consumable supplies like boxes or tape, since those aren't store SKUs tied to product sales. For packaging supplies, track usage and reorder points manually using the approach above, perhaps in a simple spreadsheet, separate from your SteadyShelf product reordering.
$29/month flat, unlimited products and suppliers, 30-day free trial. Run the numbers now with the free reorder point calculator.
SteadyShelf is launching on the Shopify App Store. Join early access to get the install link first.
Related guides
- How to manage returned inventory
- How to measure forecast accuracy
- How to measure supplier lead time variability
- How to manage multiple suppliers for the same product
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FAQ
Can I track packaging supplies as a bundle linked to a product SKU?
Not in SteadyShelf. It does not support bundles or BOM-style links between a product and its packaging components. You would need to manage packaging counts separately.
What if different products use different box sizes?
Group your products by the box size they typically ship in, then calculate a separate daily usage rate and reorder point for each box size based on the combined order volume of that group.
Let SteadyShelf do this math for every SKU
Order-by dates per supplier, seasonal forecasts and draft POs for your Shopify store. $29/month after a 30-day free trial.
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