Furniture Inventory Management
Furniture inventory is uniquely complex. A single sofa might come in 47 fabric options, 3 sizes, and 2 arm styles—that's 282 SKUs from one product. Add showroom displays, warehouse stock, and custom orders, and inventory management becomes a serious challenge.
Why Furniture Inventory Is Different
| Challenge | Regular Retail | Furniture Retail |
|---|---|---|
| Variants | Simple (S/M/L) | Complex (fabric × color × size × options) |
| Display vs sellable | Same thing | Floor models aren't for sale |
| Order type | In-stock | Often custom/made-to-order |
| Lead time | Days | Weeks to months |
| Delivery | Ship/pickup | White-glove, scheduled |
| Returns | Easy | Complicated (custom items) |
Key Inventory States for Furniture
Furniture exists in multiple states that general software doesn't track:
| State | Description | Sellable? |
|---|---|---|
| Available | In warehouse, ready to sell | Yes |
| On Display | Showroom floor model | Maybe (clearance) |
| Reserved | Held for customer | No |
| On Order | Custom, in production | No (committed) |
| In Transit | En route from manufacturer | No |
| Staged | Ready for delivery | No |
| Delivered | With customer | No |
Your software must distinguish these states or you'll sell what you don't have.
Top Furniture Inventory Management Software
Cin7
Best for: Multi-channel furniture retailers
Comprehensive inventory management with furniture-friendly features.
Furniture Features:
- Complex variant management
- Multi-location inventory
- B2B and B2C channels
- EDI integration with suppliers
- Warehouse management
Pricing: Starting at $349/month
Katana
Best for: Furniture manufacturers
Manufacturing-focused with strong inventory control.
Furniture Features:
- Bill of materials for custom builds
- Production scheduling
- Raw material tracking
- Variant configuration
- Manufacturing integration
Pricing: Starting at $179/month
STORIS
Best for: Traditional furniture retail
Purpose-built for the furniture industry.
Furniture Features:
- Furniture-specific workflows
- Special order management
- Delivery scheduling
- Sales floor integration
- Industry expertise
Pricing: Custom (contact for quote)
Furniture Wizard
Best for: Small furniture retailers
Affordable, furniture-focused solution.
Furniture Features:
- Customer order tracking
- Simple variant management
- Delivery scheduling
- Basic POS integration
- Easy implementation
Pricing: Starting around $100/month
Sortly
Best for: Furniture rental and staging
Visual inventory management with photos.
Furniture Features:
- Photo-based inventory
- QR code tracking
- Rental/checkout support
- Location tracking
- Simple interface
Pricing: Starting at $49/month
Essential Features for Furniture
1. Variant Management
Handle complex product configurations:
- Fabric/material options
- Color selections
- Size variations
- Arm/leg styles
- Custom dimensions
Example: One sofa × 15 fabrics × 4 colors × 3 sizes = 180 variants
2. Showroom Inventory
Separate floor models from sellable stock:
- Mark items as "display"
- Track condition over time
- Manage clearance pricing
- Prevent accidental sales
3. Custom Order Tracking
Manage made-to-order items:
- Specification capture
- Lead time management
- Production status
- Customer communication
- Delivery scheduling
4. Multi-Location Visibility
See inventory across:
- Multiple showrooms
- Warehouse locations
- In-transit items
- Customer homes (delivered)
5. Delivery Integration
Furniture delivery is complex:
- White-glove scheduling
- Route optimization
- Delivery windows
- Assembly requirements
- Customer notifications
Managing Showroom vs Warehouse
The Floor Model Problem
Showroom displays create inventory confusion:
- Customers want the floor model (it's not for sale)
- Sales staff doesn't know what's in warehouse
- Floor model sold accidentally
- Clearance timing is unclear
Solution: Inventory States
Product: Leather Sectional - Charcoal
├── Warehouse: 3 available
├── Showroom A: 1 display (not for sale)
├── Showroom B: 1 display (clearance OK)
├── Reserved: 2 (customer deposits)
└── On Order: 4 (arriving in 6 weeks)
Your system should show this at a glance.
Tracking Furniture Assets
For furniture rental, staging, or high-value inventory:
When GPS Tracking Helps
| Use Case | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Rental furniture | Track items across customer locations |
| Staging inventory | Know which properties have what |
| Delivery verification | Confirm arrival at customer |
| Theft prevention | Locate stolen high-value pieces |
| Returns | Track items returning to warehouse |
AirPinpoint for Furniture
Discreet tracking for high-value furniture:
- Hide tracker inside furniture
- Monitor location in real-time
- Alert if furniture leaves property
- Manage rental/staging inventory
Implementation Roadmap
Week 1-2: Data Cleanup
Before new software:
- Audit all inventory locations
- Document variants per product
- Identify showroom vs sellable
- Clean up duplicate SKUs
Week 3-4: System Setup
Configure your software:
- Import product catalog
- Set up locations
- Configure variants
- Define inventory states
- Create user roles
Week 5-6: Integration
Connect to other systems:
- POS integration
- E-commerce sync
- Accounting connection
- Delivery scheduling
Week 7+: Training & Go-Live
Roll out to team:
- Sales staff training
- Warehouse procedures
- Management reporting
- Ongoing optimization
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Ignoring Variants
Don't try to track "Sofa - Blue" as one SKU when you have 20 blue options. Set up variants properly from the start.
2. Not Separating Display
Floor models need their own inventory state. Selling display items accidentally destroys customer trust.
3. Overselling Custom Orders
Custom orders aren't inventory—they're commitments. Track them separately with realistic lead times.
4. Manual Multi-Location
Spreadsheets for multiple locations leads to chaos. Use software that handles multi-location natively.
5. Skipping Delivery Integration
Furniture delivery is part of inventory management. Items aren't "sold" until successfully delivered.
ROI for Furniture Inventory Software
For a furniture retailer with $2M annual revenue:
| Improvement | Annual Value |
|---|---|
| Reduce oversells by 80% | $40,000 (lost sales/refunds) |
| Inventory accuracy +15% | $30,000 (better purchasing) |
| Staff time savings | $20,000 |
| Reduced display sale errors | $10,000 |
| Delivery efficiency | $15,000 |
| Total Annual Benefit | $115,000 |
Software cost: $5,000-15,000/year ROI: 7-20x
Getting Started
- Audit current inventory: Count everything, document variants
- Define your states: What inventory stages do you need?
- Choose software: Match features to your business type
- Clean your data: Fix issues before migration
- Train your team: Everyone uses the same system
- Add tracking: GPS for rentals/high-value items
Furniture inventory management done right eliminates oversells, reduces customer complaints, and saves thousands annually. The investment pays back quickly.
Our Solution
