Good inventory management will lead to better overall performance and profitability. The Edge software will measure and clearly report inventory performance. By setting up categories, items, and vendors before launching The Edge, you will maximize these management features.
A category is a collection of items having like characteristics (e.g., colored stone rings set in precious metals, strands of pearls, diamond bracelets, and diamond engagement rings). However, some categories may consist of odds and ends and have little in common (e.g., all men’s miscellaneous jewelry). It is by the categories you setup that sales performance will be measured.
Categorizing inventory is the first and most important step in setting up The Edge software. With that in mind, take ample time to consider the categories that will provide you with the most benefit. Up to 999 categories can be created, but you should avoid numbers 1–99. The Edge software will provide detailed reporting by subcategories such as stone or metal type from the information provided when entering items. It is not necessary to define a category of ladies’ ruby rings or ladies’ sapphire rings to be able to measure the performance of these product types. A colored stone ring category will provide the management information needed to make better buying decisions. You can run a report showing what percentage of business was done by stone type when needed.
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The Edge comes with a default list of categories that we strongly urge you to consider as the core of your inventory categorization. Slight modifications are expected. If you are considering a major overhaul, contact The Edge Support Team for direction. |
As a matter of category structure, we recommend the following strategy:
1. Start with default categories provided with The Edge.
2. Delete those that you don’t need. You can always add them back if you add that product. Keep in mind, however, that you cannot delete a category that has items.
3. Add any categories that are required but that weren’t included with The Edge.
4. Modify each category, both new and existing, to meet your needs.
Details for accomplishing these steps are described in the section entitled Categories.
