Four things you can do in September to prepare for Q4

1. Catching up on admin work

1. • Making sure I have all the previous quarters receipts properly filed away and ready for the end of the year.

   • Making sure my Hurdlr miles are properly categorized.

   • Making sure all supply expenses and software expenses have been entered into Inventory Lab.

   • Go through my repricer and inventory and see if there's any stale inventory that needs adjustments.

2. Organizing office and work space

   • Going through piles of any inventory (returns I haven't processed, tanked items I had returned to me, bundles that for whatever reason I'm missing a part, etc.) and thinking of ways to offload it.

     • Taking the time to actually ship any sellable inventory into Amazon, even if it's no longer at its prime profit point.

     • The goal here is to recover cash flow and there's no better time than during Q4 to sell old inventory that doesn't seem hopeful during the year.

   • Going through emails and cleaning up files on my computer.

     • Cleaning out junk emails and unsubscribing from the things I'm able to.

     • Creating filters and folders for any emails that seem to be carrying too much unnecessary mental load.

3. Loading up on supplies

   • As I'm going through my office, I'll keep a detailed note of supplies so that I can get them ordered and put away during this time. Poly bags, tape, FNSKU labels, bubble wrap, and boxes get ordered.

     • I FBM during Q4 (almost exclusively for 2 weeks in December) so it's important to be well stocked with boxes and poly mailers. I also order any supplies from the USPS to be delivered for free.

4. Start researching for trends and Halloween specific items

   • Halloween is a profitable holiday for me and I actually don't sell candy. I live in too hot of a climate to comfortably FBM meltables (without extra insulation or ice packs) until November, but it's something you should consider doing if that's not the case for you!

   • Getting a large round of OA Halloween items ordered the last week of August and the first week of September.

     • During Q4 I keep eye on how my usual Fulfillment Centers start doing as far as check in times and will adjust dates real time, but the plan based off last year is to keep sending in Halloween inventory via FBA until 10/07/22. After that date, any Halloween specific items I will be merchant fulfilling only.

     • If Halloween isn't for you, start looking for any fall related items. General fall items I will keep sending in until 11/07/22, but fall themed grocery items (I'm looking at you, pumpkin spice) I will send in as long as they continue to be profitable (even in December and beyond.)

       • Always check Keepa, but pumpkin spice items have a loyal fan base and when stores stop carrying their favorite pumpkin spice baking mix because it's January, they'll happily turn to Amazon to order their item.

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