Framing Shop Inventory Control: 6 Best Practices and Tools

Have you ever run out of moulding or matboard before a job is due? Even a minor stock issue can cause delays, extra costs, or missed sales for small frame shops.

Solid framing shop inventory control helps you manage materials, avoid waste, and keep jobs running on time. With the right tools, even a small team can track supply levels, set reorder points, and link materials to each work order — without adding to the workload.

This blog walks you through six inventory management practices and point of sale (POS) integrations to keep your stock accurate, your shelves ready, and every job on track.

1. Tie Inventory Directly To Work Orders

Your POS should turn each custom frame order into a material list that updates inventory in real time. Build a flow that connects jobs to materials:

• Assign materials by job line: Tag every moulding, backing board, and glazing selection in the POS so they’re linked to specific framing orders.
• Trigger pulls by workstation: Display the needed items by role or task, showing each team member exactly what to grab and from which zone.
• Log usage automatically: Deduct items from inventory when pulled, using barcode scans or digital check-offs inside the POS.

Work orders become a built-in checklist for framing shop inventory control, tracking material usage, and keeping supply counts up to date as each job moves through the shop.

2. Sync Vendor Catalogs With Your POS

Manually adding mouldings or matboards wastes time and causes mistakes. Many suppliers now offer digital catalogs that plug directly into your POS, so item codes, pricing, and product names always match.

Use supplier sync to simplify sourcing:

• Import vendor catalogs: Pull in full product lines from Larson-Juhl, Don Mar, or Nielsen.
• Auto-populate stock keeping units (SKUs): Select mouldings and materials by name while the system fills in the details.
• Track availability live: See what’s in stock at the supplier level before submitting a special order.

Vendor integrations give you accurate product info without manual data entry.

3. Set Stock Minimums With Reorder Triggers

Running low on a high-use item can throw off your whole week. Use your POS software to set minimums for must-have materials and receive instant alerts when it’s time to reorder for better framing shop inventory control.

Let the system help you keep ahead:

• Define shelf minimums: Choose trigger levels for wire, points, glass, and other essentials.
• Turn on reorder alerts: Receive prompts inside the POS when an item dips below your threshold.
• Batch reorder efficiently: Combine alerts into one weekly restock order to save on shipping and admin time.

Automatic alerts keep your fast-moving materials in rotation without constant oversight.

4. Track Inventory With Barcodes at Every Station

Barcode scanning makes inventory tracking faster and more accurate, especially when materials move through different stages. Use your POS with barcode tools to update counts when an item is pulled.

Add scanning to daily routines:

• Label most-used items: Tag hardware, matboard bins, and precut glass sheets.
• Scan on pull and return: Track what gets used and what goes back into stock.
• Sync with the POS live: Let the system update inventory automatically; no spreadsheets necessary. 

Barcode tools keep your stock moving while the system keeps up behind the scenes.

5. Organize Stock Around Workflow, Not Categories

The layout of your shop affects how quickly materials get pulled and tracked. Instead of sorting supplies by type, set up storage based on your work order flow — and mirror those zones in your POS.

Try these framing shop inventory control tips: 

• Group supplies by task area: Store mats near the mount table, glass near the cutting station, and hangers near the fitting bench.
• List storage locations on work orders: Add shelf or bin locations to each material line so staff know exactly where to get what they need, without guessing or searching.
• Set stock levels based on station use: Adjust minimum quantities and reorder points in your POS according to how much each work area uses regularly.

This makes it easier to train new staff, keep things where they belong, and maintain accurate inventory.

6. Use Sales Data To Guide Stocking Decisions

Your POS tracks every moulding ordered, mat pulled, and glazing type selected — so you have the data you need to improve restocking. Rather than guessing what to reorder, let the numbers tell you what’s worth keeping and what’s just taking up space.

Use the built-in reports to zero in on what matters:

• Run material usage reports: Find out which items are actually getting used. Are certain moulding profiles consistently showing up on completed jobs? Do specific mat colors or glazing types show up again and again? That tells you what your customers consistently choose, and what should stay in stock.
• Identify slow movers: Filter for SKUs that haven’t been pulled or ordered in the last 60 or 90 days. These might be worth phasing out, discounting, or skipping your next restock.
• Sort inventory by margin: Look for items that sell often and well. If two mats move at the same pace but one brings in a bigger profit per job, that’s the one to prioritize.

When you make stocking decisions based on raw data — not a gut feeling — you free up shelf space and make room for what your customers are paying for.

Framing Shop Inventory Control That Fits the Way You Work

Framing shop inventory control keeps projects on deadline, protects profit margins, and allows you to take on more work without rushed supply runs or job delays because of missing materials. 

LifeSaver POS simplifies daily tasks without adding more to your plate. You can check stock from your front counter, phone, or the back room — wherever you work. Set your markup, track what’s been pulled for each job, and get quotes out quickly without second-guessing your numbers.

The system has built-in integrations with top frame suppliers, so you can restock with just a few clicks. Since your reports are tied to real sales data, you can stop ordering what you think sells and start stocking what actually does.

Try LifeSaver free and see how much easier your week runs with complete control over inventory, faster job completion, and easier restocks.