What is stock control?
October 30, 2026
Stock control is the process of tracking how much stock you hold, where it is and when to reorder it. Good stock control means you have enough to fulfil orders without overselling, running out, or tying up cash in stock that doesn't sell.
Why it matters for online retailers
When you sell on several channels, every sale has to come off the same stock figure. If one marketplace doesn't hear about a sale on another, you sell stock you no longer have, cancel orders and risk your seller ratings.
Stock control also protects cash. Too much stock sits on shelves; too little means lost sales and unhappy customers.
The main parts of stock control
- Stock levels: an accurate count of what you hold, by product and location.
- Syncing: updating every sales channel when stock changes.
- Goods in: booking deliveries in quickly so new stock can be sold.
- Stock counts: regular checks that the system matches the shelf.
- Reordering: buying more before you run out, based on sales and supplier lead times.
Common stock control mistakes
- Updating stock on each channel by hand.
- Leaving deliveries unbooked for days.
- Only counting stock once a year.
- Reordering on gut feel rather than sales data.
How StoreFeeder handles it
StoreFeeder keeps one stock pool for every channel, including in-store EPOS sales, and updates each channel when stock changes. Barcode scanning keeps picking and stock counts accurate, and basic stock forecasting is included in every plan.
Read more about StoreFeeder inventory management, or read the longer guide: what is stock management?
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between stock control and inventory management?
The terms are often used the same way. Stock control usually means the day-to-day tracking of stock levels; inventory management can also cover forecasting, purchasing and valuation.
How often should I count my stock?
Many retailers count a few product lines every week (cycle counting) rather than closing for a full count once a year.
How do I stop overselling across marketplaces?
Use one system that holds the stock figure and updates every channel automatically when something sells.
