Start at variant level
A collection can sell well while one colour ties up cash and a popular size is unavailable. For a Shopify or TikTok Shop clothing brand, the next manufacturing order should reflect those differences rather than repeat the launch size curve automatically.
Pick one reporting window and a common date for the stock snapshot. Record units sold, cancellations and returns separately so you can explain how demand was measured. Use the same unit and variant identifier across sales, stock and incoming orders.
Shopify's inventory reports include variant sales, sell-through and estimated inventory coverage. Their definitions matter: reported quantity sold does not itself reflect every inventory adjustment. Check the report period and its stock definition before combining figures.
A small reorder worksheet
This is an illustrative scenario, not a recommended size curve. “Usable available units” below excludes units already committed to existing orders. Returns are not added back unless they have been checked and returned to usable stock.
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| Variant | Units sold in the chosen window | Days actually available to buy | Usable available units now | Confirmed incoming units | What to investigate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navy / S | 12 | 28 | 25 | 0 | Stock remains; check whether a lower reorder is appropriate |
| Navy / M | 30 | 14 | 0 | 40 | The stockout means sales do not describe the whole window's demand |
| Navy / L | 24 | 28 | 8 | 0 | Compare available stock with the time until replenishment |
| Ecru / M | 20 | 28 | 18 | 0 | Identify orders associated with a one-off promotion |
Views and likes can help explain interest, but they are not units to manufacture. Record a livestream or promotion separately, then check what happened in ordinary selling periods before extrapolating it.
Compare scenarios before choosing quantities
A useful planning worksheet can compare estimated demand until replenishment plus a deliberate buffer with usable available stock and confirmed incoming stock arriving in time. Keep the buffer visible as an assumption, not a fixed percentage for every brand.
For an illustrative variant, assume 45 units of demand before replenishment, a 10-unit buffer, 8 usable available units and 20 incoming units that will arrive in time. The gap is 45 + 10 − 8 − 20 = 27 units. This is scenario arithmetic, not a demand forecast or an instruction to order 27.
Change the demand assumption and incoming date to see what happens. If incoming goods arrive after the selling window, they do not solve that window's shortage. If those 8 units already exclude existing commitments, do not subtract the commitments again.
Apply supplier minimums and cash together
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| Constraint | Decision to make |
|---|---|
| Minimum per style, colour or size | Ask whether the proposed split is manufacturable before treating the total as an order |
| Material minimum | Check whether the same fabric can support the intended colours and run |
| Cash at deposit and balance | Compare the payment dates with what the business can fund |
| Uncertain lead time | Keep the expected replenishment date conditional until the supplier confirms dependencies |
| Weak sales history | Compare a smaller test, a later decision or no reorder rather than presenting one confident forecast |
A better unit price can still commit more cash to slow stock. Use fabric and garment minimums and landed cost and margin to compare the whole commitment.
Know what the reports cannot tell you
An average sales rate is descriptive. It does not establish how many people would have bought an unavailable size or what a future promotion will sell. Shopify's product analytics can provide product-level context; confirm the reporting features and definitions available in your store.
For TikTok Shop, use the order and stock records actually available to your business and separate creator or campaign periods. This worksheet does not assume a Frenzee integration, automated stock sync or a universal forecasting model.
Keep the next run connected
A reorder changes your assortment, cost and cash plan.
Frenzee is a personal assistant for clothing brands, being built to connect sourcing, merchandising intelligence and production with a workspace. The assistant and workspace are coming soon.