Short answer: Track each product line with four figures: bought, sold, left and reserved. Classify lines by speed, reorder from that data, store boxes upright in a dry, stable place and review slow lines on a fixed rhythm so dead stock never builds up.
Sealed product is the engine of many card shops and also the easiest place to lose money quietly. A box that sold well last month can sit untouched next month. Good stock management is mostly discipline, not software.
What should you track for each product?
| Field | Why |
|---|---|
| Product line and edition | Language and set change demand |
| Quantity bought | What you committed |
| Quantity sold | What the market took |
| Quantity left | What is tied up |
| Quantity reserved | What is already spoken for |
Review the sheet at a fixed rhythm that suits you, and write one line of notes per product: why you bought it and what you expect.
How do you classify products by rotation?
Group every line into three classes.
- Fast: sells out or nearly. Candidates for deeper restocking.
- Steady: sells at a regular pace. Reorder in small steps.
- Slow: sits on the shelf. Stop reordering and decide what to do.
This classification is based on your own data, not on a rule from someone else's shop. Sets age: a fast line can become slow after the next release.
What is dead stock and how do you spot it?
It is product that has stopped selling. The signs are a long time on the shelf, repeated ignoring by customers and a quantity that does not shrink. The earlier you act, the more options you have: place it in a visible spot, bundle it with an event, offer it to regulars or stop further purchases. Prevention is cheaper than cure: buy new sets against reservations and in steps.
How should you store sealed boxes?
Upright, like books, in a dry and stable place, away from direct sunlight, without stacking them too high and without opening the shrink-wrap. Condition of the packaging is a large part of the value of sealed product. Keep stock off the floor and away from water pipes.
How do you check deliveries?
Count against the invoice, inspect for damage, sample a few items, photograph anything doubtful and log the supplier. The routine is detailed in how to avoid fakes in your store.
How do you plan the next order?
Use the sheet. Which fast lines are low? Which reservations are open? Which slow lines should be skipped? Then order. This links directly to your margins: cash freed from slow lines goes to fast lines.
What about different editions?
Japanese, Korean and Chinese editions have more specific audiences, so track them as their own lines. See which Japanese cards to stock and choosing between editions.
Where does TCG Bestia fit?
TCG Bestia supplies independent stores with Pokémon in Japanese, Korean and Chinese editions, plus One Piece and Dragon Ball from Japan, to VIES-verified B2B customers with intra-community invoicing, shipped across Europe. See the wholesale page or contact us.
