"Buying every SKU at the same MOQ—that's not your strategy. That's a vendor constraint." [03:57]

Most product founders think hitting MOQ on every item is the safest path. But Mary Wiegand, who spent 10+ years managing inventory at Target, Tiffany & Co., and Victoria's Secret, reveals why this approach creates lumpy inventory and cash flow problems. In this episode, she breaks down the three lead times you're probably missing, the safety stock formula that prevents panic orders, and why tracking revenue instead of unit velocity is costing you money. If you've ever run out of stock during a promotion or air-freighted inventory because you miscalculated timing, this conversation will change how you plan.

• Why buying every SKU to the same MOQ creates inventory you can't sell [03:57]
• The three lead times you must track: fabric, production, and transit [09:35]
• How to calculate safety stock buffers without over-ordering [20:26]
• Why realistic lead times beat "best case scenario" planning every time [08:03]

• Why unit velocity per SKU matters more than total revenue [10:49]
• How to track trends using the last 2-4 weeks of sales data [10:49]
• The marketing inputs that affect demand: ads, influencers, events [11:59]
• Why carrying promotional spikes forward destroys cash flow [16:50]

• How to adjust size curves based on actual sales (not assumptions) [22:31]
• Why tank tops sold smaller sizes than other styles—and what that reveals [22:31]
• When it's okay to consciously choose an out-of-stock period [08:50]
• The replenishment log that tells you when to reorder before you run out [30:21]

Inventory Planning Starter Kit

Boon’s Inventory Planning Starter Kit is a beginner-friendly toolkit for early-stage retail brands, designed to help founders plan inventory, track cash flow, and place smarter orders — without expensive software or a finance background. Normally $179, Sourcing Gals listeners get $50 off with code SOURCINGGALS.

https://boon-llc.com/starter-kit

02:58 - What inventory management actually means for product founders

03:57 - The biggest mistake: buying every SKU at MOQ

08:03 - The three lead times most founders miss

09:35 - How to calculate realistic reorder timing

10:49 - Why unit velocity beats revenue tracking

11:59 - Marketing inputs that affect your demand forecast

16:50 - Why promotional spikes shouldn't carry forward

20:26 - Safety stock vs. lead time buffers explained

22:31 - Adjusting size curves based on real sales data

24:11 - Inventory management is like going to the gym

30:21 - The five Excel tools in Boon's Starter Kit

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👭 ABOUT THE SOURCING GALS:

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How to Build a Smarter Initial Buy StrategyThe Metrics That Actually Drive Inventory DecisionsMaking Adjustments When Reality Hits Your PlanChapter Timestamps: