THE BOON BLOG
Practical insights to help you scale sustainably & sleep easy.
Software and Strategy: How They Work Together to Improve Inventory Planning
Inventory planning software can surface data, automate calculations, and model scenarios — but it can’t decide how much risk a business should take or where capital should be invested in inventory by itself. As brands scale, the real advantage comes from pairing software with strategy: using systems to see clearly, and leadership judgment to make intentional, informed inventory decisions.
How to Forecast Inventory for New Products When You Have No Sales History
Forecasting inventory for a new product can feel impossible when you don’t have sales history to rely on. This guide breaks down practical ways to forecast demand using comparables, operational constraints, and cash-flow realities — so you can make confident inventory decisions without overextending the business.
How to Plan Seasonal Inventory Without Overbuying or Selling Out Too Early
Seasonal inventory planning is one of the hardest parts of running a product-based business. Demand is time-bound, inventory commitments happen early, and the cost of being wrong shows up fast — in cash flow, markdowns, or missed sales. This guide walks through how to plan seasonal inventory intentionally, reduce risk, and build flexibility into your buys so you can learn and adjust as the season unfolds
Core vs. Fashion Inventory: How to Plan the Right Mix as Your Brand Scales
Most inventory problems aren’t caused by how much you buy — they’re caused by what kind you buy. As product-based brands scale, planning core and fashion inventory the same way can quietly increase risk. This guide breaks down how to plan the right mix for predictable sales, healthier inventory turnover, and calmer decision-making.
How Much Inventory Should You Really Hold? A Practical Guide for Scaling Consumer Brands
Inventory decisions aren’t just operational — they’re financial.
If you’re struggling to balance growth, cash flow, and stockouts, this practical guide walks through the four planning inputs that determine how much inventory your brand should really carry as it scales.
When to Hire a Fractional Inventory Manager: How Embedded Planning Support Helps Scaling Brands Grow
Fractional retail leadership and planning support give growing brands access to experienced retail experts — from executive-level strategy to hands-on inventory and demand planning. It’s a flexible way to strengthen your systems, improve cash flow, and scale sustainably without the cost of full-time hires.
How to Improve Retail Cash Flow After the Holidays: Avoiding a Q1 Inventory Cash Crunch
The holidays bring a sales rush — and often a financial hangover that follows. Learn how to protect your margins and keep your cash flow steady after Q4 with Boon’s practical, data-driven post-holiday planning strategies.
The Hidden Cost of Not Having a Planner (and How One Brand Fixed It)
Many founders assume that inventory planning is just a numbers game. But the truth is, good planners don’t just crunch numbers in spreadsheets. They bring structure, foresight, and clarity to your entire product lifecycle.
Retail & Inventory Planning Terminology: Essential Definitions for Growing Brands
Learn retail industry terminology every retailer should know in our comprehensive guide. From sales to inventory, stay up-to-date on the latest terminology.
How SMS Marketing Can Drive Sales and Strengthen Branding
What if you could bypass social media algorithms and cluttered inboxes to reach customers instantly? SMS marketing does exactly that. With an open rate of nearly 98%, compared to the 20% average for emails, SMS is one of the most effective tools to increase sales and strengthen brand loyalty.
This is a guest post written by Amy Hage from Strategy Maven. Check her out!
How to Navigate Difficult Clients as a Startup: Lessons in Boundaries, Leadership & Growth
We learned the hard way that bullies aren’t just on the playground—they sometimes pop up in professional settings, too. We were able to put this client bully in our rearview mirror. Looking back on the lessons we learned, we want to share them with you. We're here to support you, fellow small business owners!
How Strategic Partnerships Strengthen Inventory, Operations, and Retail Growth
Partnerships come in all sorts of shapes and sizes—in today’s post, we’re sharing some key lessons from Boon’s experience and how different types of collaborations have helped us get our start, resulting in Boon’s expansion from a solopreneurship to a team of 17!
10 Inventory Planning Mistakes to Stop Making in 2025 (and What to Do Instead)
2025 is just around the corner, and a new year can bring new opportunities for your business.
We can't help but share some of the practices we’ve seen through the years and how they can be a hindrance to a retail business’ growth.
Read on to see some of the things we recommend leaving behind in 2024.
How Assortment Planning Increases Sales: A Practical Guide for Retail & DTC Brands
Reviewing your assortment (prior to actually committing to inventory) yields valuable insight into what your customers will experience when shopping both in-store or online, and empower you to plan achievable sales goals. But HOW you look at your inventory can depend on your product, storefront, and sakes goals. Here are some standard practices for reviewing your SKU assortment.
7 Lessons From 7 Years of Supporting Growing Retail Brands
Starting a business comes with a particular set of challenges. Boon is celebrating it’s 7th anniversary this year, and we’re sharing the top 7 lessons we’ve learned in that time. Cheers to our fellow entrepreneurs and startups - this one is for you!
6 Signs You Need Inventory Planning Support: How to Know When It's Time to Get Help
Waffling on if it’s worth it to bring in professional help to support your sales and inventory planning? We’re sharing six early warning signs the Boon team has experienced first-hand in an effort to save you the headache and encourage you to reach out for help.