How to Optimize your inventory planning for Black Friday Cyber Monday period?

Introduction to Inventory Planning for Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Planning your inventory for major shopping events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday is crucial for ensuring your Shopify store runs smoothly. Without a solid inventory management strategy, ecommerce stores risk missing out on revenue or losing customers to stockouts. In this podcast, Bahadir Efeoğlu, Co-founder of Fabrikatör, shares expert tips on how to optimize inventory planning for the busiest retail season of the year.

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Podcast Overview: Bahadir Efeoğlu on Inventory Management for Black Friday

In this podcast episode, Bahadir, discusses his experience managing inventory for hundreds of brands across 46 countries. As an expert in Shopify inventory management, he walks us through his proven strategies for preparing, managing, and optimizing inventory before, during, and after the Black Friday Cyber Monday period.

Bahadir breaks the planning process into three key phases:

1. Before Black Friday: Demand forecasting and inventory planning.
2. During Black Friday: Real-time tracking of stock and sales.
3. After Black Friday: Post-sale analysis and backorder management.

He also emphasizes the importance of demand forecasting and creating an agile supply chain to ensure products are available when customers need them most. Whether you're a seasoned store owner or new to Shopify, Bahadir’s insights are designed to help you maximize profits and minimize stockouts during the busiest ecommerce season of the year.

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What You’ll Learn

- The "Inventory Planning Cake"

– Breaking inventory management into easy-to-understand layers.

- How to match your inventory planning with your marketing campaigns and growth goals.

- Black Friday inventory management strategies that will help you stay in stock and maximize sales.

- Real-world success stories from brands that have used Fabrikatör to supercharge their inventory planning.

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Why Black Friday and Cyber Monday are Critical for Ecommerce

The Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM) period is a high-stakes time for ecommerce businesses. For many, this quarter represents a significant portion of their annual revenue. Effective Black Friday inventory management can help you meet demand without overspending on stock.

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Key Challenges in Shopify Inventory Management

During this season, Shopify merchants face various challenges, including:

• Ensuring real-time stock updates
• Managing inventory across multiple warehouses
• Avoiding costly stockouts

A well-thought-out Shopify inventory management strategy is key to navigating these challenges.

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The Three Phases of Inventory Planning: Before, During, and After Black Friday

Phase 1: Before Black Friday – Demand and Supply Forecasting

Before the BFCM period begins, it's crucial to focus on demand forecasting. This step involves analyzing past sales data and predicting how much stock you'll need for the upcoming season. By leveraging tools like inventory management software for Shopify, businesses can forecast accurately and ensure their stock levels align with customer demand.

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Key Takeaways:

• Use historical data to drive your demand forecasting.
• Consider external factors, such as marketing campaigns, when making stock decisions.

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Phase 2: During Black Friday – Real-Time Inventory Tracking

While the event is live, real-time inventory tracking becomes essential. Monitoring what’s selling well and which items are close to running out helps you stay agile. For example, if certain products are flying off the shelves, you can decide whether to reorder or extend promotions.

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Important Steps:

• Use inventory management tools to update stock levels in real-time.
• Set up alerts for low-stock items to avoid stockouts.

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Phase 3: After Black Friday – Backorders and Post-Sale Analysis

Once Black Friday ends, the focus shifts to post-sale analysis and handling backorders. Backordering can soften the blow of stockouts, ensuring you don’t lose potential sales. Fabrikatör automates the entire backorder process, making it easier for Shopify merchants to manage.

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Actions to Take:

• Analyze sales data to adjust future inventory plans.
• Use the data to better plan for future events like Chinese New Year or next year’s Black Friday.

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How Fabrikatör Can Help with Shopify Inventory Management

At Fabrikatör, we offer advanced tools for inventory management that simplify the processes of demand forecasting, stock replenishment, and handling Black Friday ecommerce demands. Whether you're dealing with stockouts, managing large-scale inventory, or planning purchase orders, our platform is designed to make your life easier during busy periods like BFCM.

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Why Choose Fabrikatör?

• Accurate demand forecasting tailored for Shopify Black Friday needs.
• Real-time inventory tracking to avoid stockouts during critical sales periods.
• Automated backordering systems to handle surges in demand without losing customers.

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Elevate Your Inventory Strategy for BFCM with Fabrikatör!

In the high-stakes world of eCommerce, particularly during special promotion periods like BFCM, precision in inventory planning is not just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Fabrikatör’s “Plan” feature provides the tools you need to:

✅ Forecast demand accurately,

✅ Align your inventory with your marketing efforts,

✅ Make real-time adjustments to stay ahead of the competition!

By leveraging growth scenarios and automating purchase orders, you can turn your demand plans into actionable, profitable strategies that drive success during the most critical shopping seasons of the year. 🚀 Don’t leave your inventory to guesswork—let Fabrikatör give you the upper hand in your planning and execution.

If you have 30 minutes, dive deeper into the ‘’Plan’’ feature to see how it enhances your inventory management during BFCM—see it in action now! ✨

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📌 Check the BFCM checklist to ensure your operations are fully prepared for a successful BFCM!