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.
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:
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.
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:
Vendor integrations give you accurate product info without manual data entry.
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:
Automatic alerts keep your fast-moving materials in rotation without constant oversight.
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:
Barcode tools keep your stock moving while the system keeps up behind the scenes.
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:
This makes it easier to train new staff, keep things where they belong, and maintain accurate inventory.
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:
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 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.