As a business owner, managing your stock is critical to your success. Insufficient stock levels can lead to lost sales, dissatisfied customers, and missed opportunities. On the other hand, maintaining sufficient inventory can be expensive, tying up your working capital and leaving you with limited funds for other business needs.
In this blog, we will explore the risks associated with not having enough stock, how working capital constraints can hinder stock purchases and bulk discounts, how supply chain and logistic issues can further impact your ability to get your stock, and how you can go about navigating these current challenges to help the sustainability of your business.
The Risks of Not Having Enough Stock
One of the biggest risks businesses face is not having enough stock to meet customer demand. When your store runs out of popular products, it can lead to dissatisfied customers who may turn to your competitors instead. According to a Consumer Intelligence report by PwC, 32% of customers will stop doing business with a brand they love after just one bad experience, such as finding their desired product out of stock. The negative impact on customer loyalty and brand reputation can be significant, and the cost of acquiring new customers is usually higher than retaining existing ones. So, maintaining optimal stock levels is crucial to keeping your customers happy and coming back for more.
Supply-Chain and Logistic Challenges
The success of any business relies heavily on a smooth supply chain. However, factors beyond your control, like disruptions and logistic issues, can impact stock availability. For example, recent truck sabotage in South Africa raises concerns about the security and reliability of road transportation. The railway industry also faces challenges, with significant setbacks discussed in a 2022 Freight Railway report. Cable theft incidents have increased over the past five years, leading to tonnage and revenue losses of R4.1 billion due to the theft of over 1,500 km of cable.
These issues add complexity to logistics and may affect your business. In addition to supply-chain issues, market volatility can also affect your stock management and pricing strategies. Recent reports from the South African Association of Freight Forwarders say that such incidents have led to significant disruptions in the flow of goods, resulting in delays in receiving stock and even loss of inventory for some businesses.
The Economic Landscape
Currency fluctuations, interest rates, and geopolitical events significantly influence a business's resilience. As an entrepreneur, it's important to monitor international events and local economic issues that directly affect your business. Locally, fluctuations in interest rates can have significant effects. Higher rates make borrowing more expensive, potentially slowing down business expansion. However, lower rates can potentially drive growth by making borrowing more accessible.
Credit hikes, implemented to stabilise the economy, can challenge businesses with higher borrowing costs, affecting profitability and financial health. At the time of publishing, South Africa’s repo rate is 8.25% and the prime rate is 11.75%. Load shedding is another critical factor that is impacting business growth. Periodic power outages disrupt operations, cause productivity losses, and increase expenses for backup power sources, which can deter investors and affect business confidence.
Global events like China's COVID policies and Russia's grain deal cancellation can impact the supply of essential goods, raw materials, and food staples, directly affecting local businesses.
Reduced demand from China can harm South African commodity exports, leading to revenue declines. Disruptions in grain imports from Russia and Ukraine increase the costs of essential food products locally, straining businesses reliant on affordable materials. Fluctuations in commodity prices, especially for items like grain, create additional challenges. Conflicts and export bans can disrupt grain supplies, leading to price volatility in the market and affecting business owners and consumers alike.
Given these challenges, it's important for business owners to have easy access to working capital to navigate the consequences of these economic events.
The Benefits of Bulk Purchases
One way for business owners to optimise their stock management is by making bulk purchases. Bulk buying allows businesses to enjoy significant discounts from suppliers, reducing the overall cost of inventory. This cost-saving advantage can boost profit margins and create a competitive edge in the market. However, bulk purchasing requires substantial upfront capital, which may be beyond the means of many businesses, especially smaller ones.
Working Capital Constraints and Stock Purchases
Having enough working capital is vital for purchasing stock. However, many business owners face cash flow challenges. According to an Inaugural South African SMME Access to Finance Report by Finfind, 67% of small businesses in South Africa experience cash flow gaps.
This is especially true for smaller businesses that may not have access to substantial financial resources. When working capital is limited, it becomes challenging to invest in the stock needed to keep your shelves well-stocked and cater to customer demand effectively. As a result, the growth of the business may stagnate, and opportunities to capitalise on market trends or seasonal demands could be missed.
The Merchant Capital Funding Solution
As a business owner, maintaining optimal stock levels is crucial for meeting customer demands and driving growth. However, fluctuating cash flow and unforeseen challenges can make it difficult to achieve this goal. That is why having easy access to working capital, like through a funding partner like Merchant Capital, can greatly help your business. Designed as a short-term financing solution, our working capital can align perfectly with your purchasing cycles, offering a wide range of benefits that will revolutionise the way you manage your stock.
When unforeseen events disrupt the flow of goods, securing additional funding becomes critical to maintain business continuity and secure alternative sources of stock. With Merchant Capital, you can ensure you navigate challenging times and remain resilient in the face of uncertainties. So, don’t hesitate; you can apply today to see what you qualify for and keep your business thriving.
When unforeseen events disrupt the flow of goods, securing additional funding becomes critical to maintain business continuity and secure alternative sources of stock. With Merchant Capital, you can ensure you navigate challenging times and remain resilient in the face of uncertainties. So don’t hesitate, you can still achieve your business goals; apply for funding today to see what you qualify for.
Why choose Merchant Capital?
Unsecured
Unlike bank loans, we won’t ask you to pledge any collateral with us. This reduces your risk when taking out funding for your business.
Flexible repayments
We don’t debit a fixed amount every month, instead, we give you the options of daily debit orders, weekly debit orders and split processing.
Use the funding as you see fit
Because you understand your business requirements better than anyone else, you can make use of the funding in whatever way you see fit. Whether it be for expansion, equipment or renovations etc., the choice is entirely up to you.
No Pledging of Assets or Proof of Stock Purchase
We do not require you to pledge assets or provide proof of stock purchase. This means that the funds are readily available to you without any collateral requirements, making the process hassle-free.
High-speed funding
Our application process has been designed with your time in mind to be as seamless as possible. If you have the necessary information on hand, you could be funded within 48 hours of your application.
The Bottom Line
Effective stock management is the cornerstone of a successful business. Entrepreneurs must be prepared to tackle the risks of insufficient stock, overcome working capital constraints, take advantage of bulk purchase opportunities, and navigate supply-chain and logistic issues. With funding from Merchant Capital, you can proactively address these challenges and ensure your business thrives even in uncertain times. By using the power of accessible working capital, you can boost stock levels, meet customer demands, and ultimately achieve long-term success in the competitive business landscape.