July 11, 2026
Seasonal Business Inventory Management: Open, Peak, Close, and Dormant Cycles
Seasonal Business Inventory Management: Open, Peak, Close, and Dormant Cycles
Seasonal businesses operate in four distinct inventory phases. Most operators open in a rush and close in exhaustion. Inventory gets ignored in both directions. A conservative opening PAR, peak velocity adjustment, controlled close-out, and monthly dormant check prevent the cash waste that compounds season over season.
Phase 1: Opening (Weeks 1-2)
Order conservatively. You can always reorder. You cannot un-spoil. Use the Opening PAR Formula: (Estimated Daily Usage x 14 Days) + 15% Safety Stock. Order this quantity. Not more.
Do a full baseline count on day one before you open. This is your reference point for the entire season. Every variance from this point is measurable.
Build My First Order Plan.
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Automate My Reorder Points →Phase 2: Peak (Weeks 3 through close-minus-3)
Adjust PAR levels every two weeks using rolling averages, not opening guesses. Week 3 PAR = (Week 1 usage + Week 2 usage) / 2 x Lead Time + Safety Stock. Never order based on gut feel during peak. Always order based on actual burn data.
Stop Guessing My Pars.
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Let the App Calculate My Pars →Phase 3: Close-Out (Final 3 weeks)
Stop all new orders 2 weeks before close unless critically low. Mark down perishables with under 30 days of remaining life. Donate anything within 7 days. Run your final full count 3 days before close. This becomes your opening baseline next season for items you plan to carry over.
Stop Doing This Manually.
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Track My First Week Free →Phase 4: Dormant Storage
Check stored inventory monthly during dormant period. Pests. Moisture. Temperature damage. Take photos. Log any losses. Calculate your carryover rate: Usable Closing Inventory / Opening Inventory x 100. Target over 90%.
Stop Counting on Clipboards.
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Track My First Week Free →When Manual Tracking Breaks Down
TrackItWeekly supports multi-season inventory tracking with rolling usage history. Plans start at $19 per month with a 14-day free trial.
Stop Counting on Clipboards.
14-day free trial. No credit card. No POS needed.
Track My First Week Free →FAQ
Q: When should I do my first reorder of the season?
A: When on-hand drops to PAR level. Not before. Resist the temptation to over-order in week one because "the season is starting."
Q: How do I handle items I want to carry over?
A: Non-perishables with over 12 months shelf life are safe to carry. Perishables never carry over. Seasonal equipment (tarps, heaters) checks and stores at close.
Think you know your inventory vocabulary? Prove it.
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