Do You Regularly Carry a Lot of Inventory for Signmaking?

DO YOU OR DON’T YOU: Also, philosophies on inventory levels and the hardest items to keep in stock.

Published

2 months ago

February 19, 2024

Signs of the Times Staff Signs of the Times February 2024 Issue

QUESTION:

Do you regularly carry what you consider to be a lot of inventory?

Yes: 32%

I will buy enough inventory so I never worry about running short. I buy in quantities that will give me a discounted price. — Louis Pascuzzi, Economy Sign Co., Danbury, CT
We believe a healthy inventory allows us to produce most efficiently. We try not to live out of our suppliers’ warehouses. — Harold Pedley, Sign Engineering, San Juan, PR
We don’t like to say no, so we keep enough materials on hand to produce large rush orders. — Melvin La Pan, Fastsigns of Augusta, Augusta, GA

No: 68%

I keep only 15 days of inventory. I have too much scrap material. — Marco Milliotti, Image360 South Orlando, Orlando, FL
It is easy for us to order in a very short time, so no need to stock so much. — Louise Fischer, Trimline Signs & Graphics, Rocky Mountain House, AB, Canada
Sometimes it builds up a bit, but if we focus on using the same core materials and not straying into too many ‘one-off’ products, we’re able to stay pretty lean. — Kelley Campbell, Specialty Graphic Solutions, Vancouver, WA
We practice just in time ordering of readily available inventory and have multiple suppliers in our area to shop for needs. — Larry Mitchell, SignChef, El Dorado Hills, CA
I suspect this may change in the future, but most typical inventoried items are available from several suppliers with same day or next day delivery. — Edward DeZuzio, Butler Sign Co., Wayne, NJ
Inventory costs money and resources to manage. Logistics allows for very quick deliveries and in many cases same day. — Adam Brown, Sign Effectz, Milwaukee
Cash in hand is better than cash on the shop floor — especially when vendors deliver weekly to us. — Greg Abbott, Abbott Image Solutions, Wilmington, OH

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