Inventory Purgatory

I like to think that everything 2JANE sells, from Ghost Candelabras to Innermost lamp shades to Tile Tattoos and Emma Jeffs window film are important, or at least not insignificant, purchases for our customers. I believe these items, once bought, will mean something to their owners and the decor to which they’ll be added. So it’s with the greatest, deepest, sincerest of regret that we occasionally, and much more often of late, fall short in fulfilling our buyers’ needs because we’re “out of stock”.

Although it must look very cold when the little “out of stock” notice pops up after an item is dropped into the 2JANE shopping cart, on our end it feels as heart-rending as if we had to stand face to face with an excited-turned-slightly-miffed customer and say these words aloud. Customer service is key and repeatedly telling customers we will not be able to meet their most basic of service requests is not my idea of a good time! (I won’t even tell you what it does to my business partner, who probably hasn’t slept since, well, since none of us have been able to use our credit cards with the freedom we deserve…)

Yes, I know you’re not surprised I’m blaming it on the current economic climate, but that’s really our only excuse: At this time when money is tight, inventory is tighter. Fronting money to buy inventory and paying storage costs to hold on to it whilst we wait for buyers whose credit has been unapologetically ‘crunched’ is a tough go at the moment.

As I do my own personal shopping, I’m reminded that the doom & gloom of empty shelves is a fate that has befallen many retailers: from home goods to grocery stores (I swear there’s a new level of creativity re: milk expiration dates) to department stores, which are now unable to stock more than a single size of each of the hottest new Spring styles! Trust me, I feel the frustration on both sides of the monetary and inventory road blocks.

But as a business owner it’s truly a visceral annoyance and more than a little embarrassing. For instance, I wish I could explain the dread I’m experiencing in anticipation of an article due out next week in one of the country’s top newspapers, featuring one of our bestselling items. We are so very grateful for all press and praise that I would never dream of saying I don’t welcome the coverage. However, knowing the number of starry-eyed shoppers that will likely visit 2JANE and won’t be able to purchase the delightful product they’ve just read about and already begun salivating over is making me feel decidedly Grinch like.

Yet I tell myself and I’m telling you too to not be dismayed! The very important phrase that follows “out of stock” provides the very real promise of inventory purgatory: “Your item will be available in 4-6 weeks for delivery!” I hope you’ll wait patiently with me…

Roxie Mae