Why Use a Stocktaker?
In the modern commercial world of today, the small business needs all the guidance and help it can get. In the licensed trade the stocktaker can often provide valuable and vital information for the licensee. They can answer that all important question “Is someone stealing from me?” as well as provide you with the answers to all the following questions you probably frequently ask yourself:-
• How much stock are we carrying?
• Are we overstocked or are we likely to run out of certain things?
• Are we using the correct measures and charging the correct amount?
• What about the allowances, are they reasonable or could we be saving money?
• Are we achieving the maximum gross profit?
• Are we purchasing our stock from the best source?
• What are the implications of changing from 25ml to 35ml spirit measures?
• When we do “Promotions” how much do they cost us?
• Is the surplus we are / should be achieving satisfactory, should it be more?
• How much do we add to each product line after a cost price increase?
• How does the actual gross profit we make equate to our estimated gross profit? To a trained eye this can often trigger early warning signs of potential problems.
It is often the case that the busy licensee does not know the answer to the above questions. Only if a major problem occurred would a stocktaker be called in. In a vast number of cases this may well be far too late. We would always recommend that you use a stocktaker, but remember any stocktaker is only as good as the information he or she has to work with. It is imperative that all relevant information is made available to them on the day they carry out the stocktake. They will require:-
