How to Sell Surplus Inventory

Surplus inventory can take away profits from your business.

Surplus inventory could be the result of many things. A product may not have sold as well as anticipated. The buyer for your store's inventory may have overestimated the need for an item. A product line could have undergone significant numbers of returns due to a minor product fault. No matter the reason, surplus inventory takes away profits from your business. Instead of letting the inventory take up more space in the stockroom, selling it in different markets outside of your store can help save your business financially.

Things You'll Need

• Excess inventory list

Instructions

1. Sell your excess stock to a company that handles instant liquidation of assets. Liquidation means turning your physical inventory into cash. Instant liquidation requires that the company buys your stock in bulk, usually for a lump sum, and pays you for it in one transaction. Auctions are not a part of instant liquidation. Companies who handle instant liquidation include Excessi.com and Merchandiseusa.com.

2. List items in bulk with a bulk auction company which facilitates the sale of excess inventory between businesses. These companies usually operate online. Once registered, you can list items to be bought in an online auction by other companies. Liquidation.com is one such company.

3. Use EBay.com or Amazon.com to sell items in online auctions without the help of a facilitating company like Liquidation.com. These sites allow you to control the prices, auction time and other specifications by connecting with buyers directly.

4. Hold a sale or special promotion on items in your excess inventory. Display them in the front of the store on the ends of aisles with clear price markings. Emphasize a no-returns policy on these items.

References

• Work: Guide to Disposing of Excess Inventory

Resources

• Excessi: Instant Liquidation
• Merchandise USA: Instant Liquidation
• Liquidation: Bulk Auctioning