8 Steps for Taking Inventory at Your Nail Salon

Nail artist Mallory Mazer shares eight steps to follow for taking inventory at your nail salon.
Nail artist Mallory Mazer shares eight steps to follow for taking inventory at your nail salon.

Taking inventory of your nail products is an essential part of running a successful nail salon. By keeping track of your products, you can ensure that you always have what you need on hand, avoid running out of stock, and minimize waste. Here’s how to take inventory of your nail products:

1. Make a list: Start by making a list of all the nail products you have in stock. This list should include the name of each product, the brand, the size, when you bought it (if known) and the quantity you have on hand. You can use past receipts to help with this. Pro tip: if you do online orders, pop those right in your document.

2. Use a spreadsheet: To keep track of your inventory, consider using a spreadsheet program like Excel or Google Sheets. This will make it easier to update your inventory as you add or remove items.

3. Take physical inventory: Go through each item in your nail product collection and count the quantity of each item you have. Make sure to check both your shelves and any storage areas to ensure that your inventory is complete.

4. Check expiration dates: While taking inventory, check the expiration dates and inspect your products. Do they mell, become separated, or are just not in style anymore? Remove and discard these products from your inventory. Keep track of what you discarded as it may be a write off (consult your tax professional).

5. Record the results of your inventory in your spreadsheet or on your list: This will give you an accurate picture of what you have in stock and what needs to be restocked.

6. Regular updates: Make sure to regularly update your inventory so that you always have an accurate picture of what you have on hand. This can be done monthly, quarterly, or as needed. You may want to do an essentials inventory check every week for basics like alcohol, acetone, wipes, sanitizer, base coats and other high use items.

7. Plan for restocking: Based on your inventory, plan for restocking of the products that you regularly use (I like to have at least 2 backups of my most used items). Make a note of the items you need to order and set a reminder to order them before you run out.

8. Predicting the future: Going forward, mark when you bought supplies and when you ran out in your inventory tracking. This way you can more accurately predict when and how much to buy in the future to help you save! This can also help you when reviewing your profitability to determine if you are charging appropriately.

By taking inventory of your nail products and supplies, you can stay on top of your stock levels and avoid running out of the products you need. With a little effort and a well-organized system, you can keep your inventory under control and ensure that you always have what you need to provide excellent service to your clients.

About the Author:

Mallory Mazer (@_mkmnails) is a Los Angeles-based nail artist with a passion for creating modern gel nail designs. With a private studio located in Santa Monica, Mazer has been beautifying the nails of celebrities and clients alike. Mazer’s specialty lies in Japanese and Korean gel, nail art, airbrush, set work and education.

More in Business