Inventory Nation with Nicole Clausen - All Things Inventory Management for Veterinary Professionals

Here’s a scenario you may have experienced (and stressed over): Your DVMs seem to want ALL the options on the shelves and right NOW! On this episode of Inventory Nation our host, Nicole Clausen, shares a systematic framework to help you navigate what’s already in stock, massage the flow of products and create ordering procedures to accommodate (but not over-provide for) the demands of your practice. For many care providers, an understandable (but unnecessary and unhelpful) scarcity mindset can overwhelm good planning. That’s where our job as analytical, well-informed inventory managers comes into play. We are able to explain the implications of carrying unpaid goods over long periods of time, the risks of expirations and tying up money that could better be used elsewhere. You’ll learn about steps to take and processes to put in place that will provide guardrails (and boundaries!) when you’re feeling pressured to make decisions that aren’t documented, data-backed or fully informed by the kinds of financial realities they don’t teach in vet school! If you’d like to learn more, Nicole offers an entire module to help inventory managers keep that delicate balance – between satisfying what the team wants with what the practice truly needs and can manage effectively – to the good of all, patients included!

It’s not too late to nominate yourself or someone you want to honor for Inventory Manager of the Year 2023! Just visit this link to find out lots more about how to submit your candidate (self-nominations welcome!) for well-deserved recognition as well as great gifts courtesy of our sponsors, Epicur Pharma and VetCove, and unlimited access to all of Nicole’s classes!

And stay tuned for Nicole’s upcoming July webinars, including content focused on keeping your inventory management system accurate and how to lower your COGs.

Would you like to learn more about Inventory 911 Toolkit, our step-by-step blueprint to help inventory managers optimize knowledge, strategy, and confidence? Click here!

You can also join the Inventory Strategy Network – our free virtual neighborhood for inventory managers and other veterinary professionals – by visiting this link.

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We’ve all experienced it – those unpredictable surges in demand that come out of nowhere and throw us totally off our game. On this episode of Inventory Nation, Host Nicole Clausen walks us through this unsettling scenario. More importantly, she’s giving us a methodical approach to figuring out why these spikes happen and how (with a little planning) we can stay ahead of the curve. Given how hard we work to keep our systems running smoothly and everything readily available for our teams – whenever and in whatever quantity they need – it can be very frustrating when a totally unforeseen, seemingly random run occurs. Suddenly a certain medication or critical supply has been completely depleted. The cupboard is bare. Talk about a stressful situation – one we all want to avoid! You’ll learn on this episode about three key questions to ask when navigating those big spikes and how to get buy-in from your team to help keep things on track. With just a little bit of detective work, some good communication and a flexible plan, your practice can adapt quickly and ride out the inevitable fluctuations in demand that can stress even the most organized and on-top-of-it inventory management systems. And remember: Grace is an important component of even the most “perfect” of office protocols and procedures. You can’t plan for everything, but you can at least learn some great strategies to help anticipate and manage through the storm!

It’s here! Inventory Manager Appreciation Day is on June 7th, so take a moment to celebrate you and all you do for the community! Please also visit this link to find out lots more about nominations (including self-nominations, which are encouraged) for our Inventory Manager of the Year Award. There will be not only well-deserved recognition but also great gifts courtesy our sponsors, Epicur Pharma and VetCove, and unlimited access to all of Nicole’s classes!

Have a funny story about a random demand surge that caught you off guard? Please share your experiences and top tips with Vet Care Logistics @Instagram, @Facebook or via our email.

Would you like to learn more about Inventory 911 Toolkit, our step-by-step blueprint to help inventory managers optimize knowledge, strategy and confidence? Click here!

You can also join the Inventory Strategy Network – our free virtual neighborhood for inventory managers and other veterinary professionals – by visiting this link.

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Do you have an inventory management hero? Or maybe you’re the unsung hero? This episode of Inventory Nation introduces something brand new from Vet Care Logistics: Inventory Manager Appreciation Day, which this year takes place on June 7th and will also mark the opening of nominations for Inventory Manager of the Year! So stay tuned for accolades as well as exciting gifts for our honorees! Host Nicole Clausen is also giving us the run-down on her Top Tips for keeping your inventory systems running smoothly (and accurately). You’ll learn about simple, but powerful ways in which to work more effectively with your team to enable, monitor, assess and backstop data related to ordering, tracking and sharing. The savings to your practice can be significant and it’s great for team morale since – to paraphrase the bestselling self-help author Brene Brown – clear is kind! 

Hope these 11 strategies for bundling, recording and selling inventory inspire you to up your data accuracy game and if you put any of Nicole’s tips into practice, please let us know! We’re always tweaking systems and community feedback is a big part of evolving the methodology!

Don’t forget to visit Vet Care Logistics at this link for more information about upcoming events, like our new June 7th Inventory Manager Appreciation Day and award nominations!

Would you like to learn more about Inventory 911 Toolkit, our step-by-step blueprint to help inventory managers optimize knowledge, strategy and confidence? Click here!

You can also join the Inventory Strategy Network – our free virtual neighborhood for inventory managers and other veterinary professionals – by visiting this link.

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Overwhelmed? Confused?  Sometimes even waking up at night with inventory anxiety? Nicole Clausen, host of the Inventory Nation Podcast, well remembers having exactly those feelings when she was just starting out – and wishing she had a comprehensive resource.

That’s why she has created a new inventory ecosystem methodology – the program she wishes she’d had access to back in the day! This episode introduces the Inventory System Deep Dive, a lifetime playbook for you and your inventory. Engaging and fun, it’s a three-phased online program with evergreen resources, a community of support and all the tools you’ll need to bring real, sustainable order to your practice’s inventory.

You’ll learn about how to set up software support, create management systems and put in place all the necessary guardrails to ensure smooth sailing through all kinds of inevitable growth, change and unexpected hurdles. The veterinary profession has been waiting for exactly this kind of foundational 101 course – and Nicole has set it up in a way that’s user-friendly, self-paced, affordable and accessible whenever you need it for as long as you need it.

Most gratifying of all? You’ll come away with newfound confidence and the glow of camaraderie available to everyone who joins the unique network that is Veterinary Care Logistics. 

Ready to start sleeping like a baby? Click here to join the Inventory System Deep Dive, Nicole’s latest exclusive offering for the inventory management community. Enrollment is open with a special $200 discount available until registration closes at midnight on April 28th.

You can also join the Inventory Strategy Network – our free virtual neighborhood for inventory managers and other veterinary professionals – by visiting this link.

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Time flies! On this special episode of Inventory Nation, Host Nicole Clausen is celebrating six years of serving her favorite people – us! When she started Veterinary Care Logistics in 2017, it was out of a strong desire to help the many inventory managers who feel overwhelmed or beaten down by their job descriptions. Having once been there herself, Nicole knows well the behaviors and assumptions that have been normalized when it comes to inventory managers and what their jobs entail. And she also knows how we can push back, creating systems and processes that benefit us and our entire practice! You’ll learn on this episode about nine of the biggest myths Nicole has encountered over her years of working with a huge variety of clients across the U.S. and beyond. She’s giving us permission to question business as usual and practical tips designed to set our practices up with protocols that work. If you’re feeling confused, lost, devalued or burdened by unrealistic expectations (your own as well as those imposed by others) then this episode will serve as an important reminder that you’re not alone. Far from it – and stay tuned! Because things can (and will) get better. You can join a community of inventory managers who feel mastery on the job and peace of mind – even on their days off! 

Ready to get optimized? Don’t miss Nicole’s latest FREE workshop, available here! This three-day class (April 18-20) will teach you how to effortlessly craft an inventory action plan, including helpful insights into how to consolidate orders and navigate everything from new vendors to shipping costs. We’ll be teaming up, winning prizes and having lots of fun!

Would you like to learn more about Inventory 911 Toolkit, our step-by-step blueprint to help inventory managers optimize knowledge, strategy and confidence? Click here!

You can also join the Inventory Strategy Network – our free virtual neighborhood for inventory managers and other veterinary professionals – by visiting this link.

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Change is never easy and – especially in a fast-paced clinic environment where so many variables pop up every single day – it can even be destabilizing. That’s why Host Nicole Clausen is devoting this episode of The Inventory Nation Podcast to Five Simple Steps to reduce the fear factor when it comes to adopting new systems or processes. 

She walks us through practical approaches that will smooth transitions and promote buy-in from team members all along the way. So grab a notepad and hear how you can take the guesswork out of implementing change with some basic strategies (like clear communications, training and positive reinforcement). It’s all about setting your practice up for seamless, successful adoption over the long haul. 

And you might even find your team getting excited because – when executed properly – new SOPs, methods and platforms improve everyone’s quality of life! “As people who are leading, changing and growing our practices, we have the opportunity to do better than what we had or were given in the past,” says Nicole. And how cool is that?

Ready to build confidence and fast-track change at your clinic? Join Nicole for her free three-day workshop series from April 18th-20th, My Roadmap for Effortlessly Crafting an Inventory Action Plan. Grab your complimentary seat now at this link!

You can also join our virtual neighborhood for inventory managers and other veterinary professionals for free by visiting this link.

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An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Penny-wise and pound-foolish. Either of these adages apply perfectly to the topic at hand on this episode of Inventory Nation. Dr. Lauren Forsythe – a controlled substances expert and Pharmacy Service Head at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital – highlights for Host Nicole Clausen how risk mitigation can prevent costly regulatory compliance issues before they start. Their conversation focuses on why it’s important to establish dispensary protocols as well as concrete strategies to get the job done at your particular practice. You’ll learn about common mistakes and how to get around the reflexively fearful response many of us have when it comes to taking on the management of controlled substances.
 

Ready to fall in love with your inventory? Check out Nicole’s new (and totally free) mini-course at this link. And stay tuned for more fun mini-courses and events upcoming this spring!

Would you like to learn more about Inventory 911 Toolkit, our step-by-step blueprint to help inventory managers optimize knowledge, strategy and confidence? Click here! 

You can also join our virtual neighborhood for inventory managers and other veterinary professionals for free by visiting this link. Or follow what we’re up to @Instagram.

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Help! Have you ever gone from feeling in total command of your inventory to … what?? The wheels suddenly seem to have come off the bus, thanks to an unexpected rush or a crush of back orders. Don’t worry! Host Nicole Clausen has your back and is devoting this episode of The Inventory Nation Podcast to managing through – practically and emotionally – when things start to fall apart. And, by the way, inventory snafus happen to everyone – so no beating yourself up! You’ll come away from this show with three Top Tips for getting through the bumps, plus bonus ideas sure to make you feel less alone. The biggest takeaway? Don’t be afraid of vulnerability (with thanks to Brené Brown)! Creating inventory systems can be a thankless job fraught with inevitable mistakes, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t doing a fantastic job. This episode provides you tools to perform a reality check when it feels like the rock is rolling back down the hill! In addition to mindset coaching, Nicole is sharing other ideas for self-care that will help you navigate on even the toughest days. Taking on the task of managing operations and supplies for your practice is huge. You are, in the words of Theodore Roosevelt, “daring greatly.” So stand proud and try some of these strategies for keeping yourself together in the face of whatever challenge. Finally, remember: Things always change and the inroads you’re making are no doubt appreciated even more than you realize!

Ready to fall in love with your inventory? Check out Nicole’s new (and totally free) mini-course at this link. And stay tuned for more fun mini-courses and events upcoming this spring!

Would you like to learn more about Inventory 911 Toolkit, our step-by-step blueprint to help inventory managers optimize knowledge, strategy and confidence? Click here! 

You can also join our virtual neighborhood for inventory managers and other veterinary professionals for free by visiting this link. Or follow what we’re up to @Instagram.

FOLLOW OR CONTACT US:

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Ever wondered how to showcase the value you bring as an inventory manager? Or wanted to truly shine during a salary negotiation or on your latest resume? Host Nicole Clausen devotes this episode of The Inventory Nation Podcast to giving you strategies to demonstrate – in very concrete ways – the huge benefits this work bring to to veterinary practices. And there’s nothing squishy about it since metrics are of course at the heart of great inventory management! You’ll learn how to quantify clearly for clinic owners (or perhaps prospective employers in other industries) the impacts you make in reducing expenses, saving time and boosting efficiencies throughout the operation. To put it another way: If you’re saving a $1.5 million practice just 2% annually on cost of goods, that represents a savings of $30,000. Add in all the other reductions in waste, inefficiency and over-stocking and a skilled inventory manager’s impacts to the business’s bottom line are easily in the tens of thousands of dollars. In fact, what you’re running is a business within a business! So, Nicole reminds us, never doubt the valuable role you’re playing and skill set you bring! Whether you’re negotiating a raise or looking to move into an entirely different line of work, the ROI you represent is demonstrable and real! 

In the mood for love? Nicole has just released a new five-day minicourse – Falling in Love with Your Inventory – that you can find for free at this link.

Would you like to learn more about Inventory 911 Toolkit, our step-by-step blueprint to help inventory managers optimize knowledge, strategy and confidence? Click here!

You can also join the Inventory Strategy Network – our free virtual neighborhood for inventory managers and other veterinary professionals – by visiting this link.

FOLLOW OR CONTACT US:

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

SUMMARY: 

Passion is at the heart of every great romance and it’s no different went it comes to Host Nicole Clausen’s ongoing affair with all things inventory management! This episode of The Inventory Nation Podcast offers you a front-row seat on what it feels like to Fall In Love With Your Inventory! Returning with her first podcast of 2023 (and since the loss of her beloved Tank), Nicole jumps right into the nuts and bolts of putting systems in place – not just in order to get a handle on things like ordering, pricing and performance indicators but also to make life more pleasant and manageable for everyone on your team. Even on the best of days our practices can be swamped by all kinds of variables, so why not put in place SOPs that are about more than show? Nicole is spelling out the components of a healthy inventory ecosystem and how they all work together to ease everyday operational flow. You’ll also hear about Emma and the real-world results she reaped after taking control of her multi-practice inventory management system. With a little help from Nicole and her toolkit, Emma discovered how to make her multiple vet practices hum – and in the process of doing so also uncovered the fact that this kind of work – spreadsheets and all – is actually in her zone of genius! Maybe it’s in yours, too? 

Ready to Fall In Love With Your Inventory? Click here to find out all about Nicole’s upcoming free five-day mini-course, a proven process for taking back control of your inventory – without adding a million things to your to-do list!

And if you would like to learn more about Inventory 911 Toolkit, the systematic roadmap developed by Veterinary Care Logistics to help inventory managers optimize knowledge, strategy and confidence, click here!

You can also join our virtual neighborhood for inventory managers and other veterinary professionals for free by visiting this link.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Website for Cornerstone Veterinary Software.
• Veterinary Care Logistics: @Instagram
• Veterinary Care Logistics: Certified Veterinary Inventory Professional Program
• Veterinary Care Logistics: Consulting Services

ABOUT VCL:

Veterinary Care Logistics serves veterinarians and their teams who are frustrated that their current inventory system is not functioning correctly and are facing out of control inventory costs and improperly stocked hospitals. VCL helps veterinarians through inventory analysis, comprehensive step-by-step action plans, and thorough team member training. My clients experience great success and rave about my work because I roll up my sleeves and get dirty working with your hospital to improve your inventory as if it was my own hospital.

FOLLOW OR CONTACT US:

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FOLLOW OR CONTACT US:

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram