The Retail Stock Mistake Even Veteran Retailers Make

I’ve had retailers with 18 years in business tell me the same thing after just a few months working with us — and it isn’t what you’d expect. **Hi, I’m retail strategist and founder of Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly.** Most of us are convinced we’re on top of our numbers. Shopify pings with every sale, we know our best sellers by heart, and we watch the sales roll in. But in this episode I dig into the uncomfortable gap between looking at your numbers and actually understanding what they’re telling you to do next — the difference that quietly decides whether your stock is working for you or slowly working against you. I walk through the questions most retailers never stop to ask. Is your best seller selling fast enough, or should you be buying twice as many? Are you carrying twice the stock you actually need? Is one category — or even one supplier — secretly funding your whole business, or quietly trapping your cash? If you’ve ever felt like you’re “all over your numbers” but still can’t confidently answer what to buy, what to clear, or what to plan for next, this one is for you. I also share the shift that’s helping retailers get more sales from less stock, free up cash they didn’t know was trapped, and walk into their busiest months without panic-buying — plus how to tell whether you need a Stock Doctor, an accountant, or both. By the end, you’ll know exactly why collecting data isn’t the same as making decisions, and what to do about it. Press play to hear how. ## **In this episode** **00:00:** The confession every experienced retailer makes **02:36:** Rear-view mirror vs sat nav: how to actually read your numbers **04:53:** What we look for when we analyse your stock **07:52:** Stock Doctor vs your accountant — and who this is really for ## **Useful links** - Find out more about Stock Doctor: https://stockdoctor.net - Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/catherineerdly - More episodes & resources: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast/