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The Working Pantry — Part 4 Setting Reorder Levels
One of the best things about having a stockpile is that you shouldn't need to wait until something runs out before you buy it again.
That's where a reorder level comes in.
A reorder level is simply the point at which you decide: it's time to start looking for a replacement.
Not necessarily buying it that minute.
Just watching for a good price.
Don't Wait Until You're Down to Nothing
Let's say your normal pantry level is 12 packets of pasta.
You might decide:
Fully stocked: 12 packets
Reorder level: 8 packets
Amount to buy: 4 packets
When you get down to eight, pasta goes onto your shopping or Price Book watch list.
You still have plenty.
There's no rush.
And that's the beauty of it.
You can wait for a half-price special, a catalogue sale or your normal Buy Price rather than paying whatever the supermarket happens to be charging because you've completely run out.
How Do You Choose Your Reorder Level?
Think about three things:
How quickly do you use it?
If you use two tins of tomatoes every week, your reorder level needs to be higher than something you use once every three months.
How often does it go on sale?
Something regularly discounted may only need a small buffer.
Something that's difficult to find or rarely discounted may justify a larger one.
How important is it to your household?
Bread flour, milk, coffee, medications, pet food or other household essentials may deserve a more generous reorder level because running out would be inconvenient.
Keep It Simple
You don't need reorder levels for everything in the pantry.
Start with the things you use constantly.
Perhaps:
• flour
• rice
• pasta
• canned tomatoes
• milk
• coffee or tea
• cooking oil
• breakfast foods
• pet food
• Toiletries
Once you know how much you normally keep and when you want to start replacing it, the pantry almost starts managing itself.
Reorder Doesn't Mean Buy Immediately
This is important.
Reaching the reorder level doesn't mean go out today and buy it. It means start watching.
You've deliberately left yourself enough stock to wait.
That's one of the reasons we build a pantry in the first place.
We're buying ourselves time.
Time to wait for a better price.
Time to combine the purchase with another shopping trip.
Time to avoid an emergency dash to the supermarket.
Find Your Household's Numbers
Your numbers won't necessarily be the same as mine.
A household that eats pasta once a fortnight doesn't need the same quantity as a household that eats it three times a week.
Your pantry should reflect your household, your meals and your usage.
Start noticing how quickly things disappear.
Then set a comfortable stock level and a reorder level below it.
It doesn't need to be complicated.
Know what “full” looks like.
Know when it's getting low.
Replace it before you run out.
That's how a working pantry stays stocked.
That's where a reorder level comes in.
A reorder level is simply the point at which you decide: it's time to start looking for a replacement.
Not necessarily buying it that minute.
Just watching for a good price.
Don't Wait Until You're Down to Nothing
Let's say your normal pantry level is 12 packets of pasta.
You might decide:
Fully stocked: 12 packets
Reorder level: 8 packets
Amount to buy: 4 packets
When you get down to eight, pasta goes onto your shopping or Price Book watch list.
You still have plenty.
There's no rush.
And that's the beauty of it.
You can wait for a half-price special, a catalogue sale or your normal Buy Price rather than paying whatever the supermarket happens to be charging because you've completely run out.
How Do You Choose Your Reorder Level?
Think about three things:
How quickly do you use it?
If you use two tins of tomatoes every week, your reorder level needs to be higher than something you use once every three months.
How often does it go on sale?
Something regularly discounted may only need a small buffer.
Something that's difficult to find or rarely discounted may justify a larger one.
How important is it to your household?
Bread flour, milk, coffee, medications, pet food or other household essentials may deserve a more generous reorder level because running out would be inconvenient.
Keep It Simple
You don't need reorder levels for everything in the pantry.
Start with the things you use constantly.
Perhaps:
• flour
• rice
• pasta
• canned tomatoes
• milk
• coffee or tea
• cooking oil
• breakfast foods
• pet food
• Toiletries
Once you know how much you normally keep and when you want to start replacing it, the pantry almost starts managing itself.
Reorder Doesn't Mean Buy Immediately
This is important.
Reaching the reorder level doesn't mean go out today and buy it. It means start watching.
You've deliberately left yourself enough stock to wait.
That's one of the reasons we build a pantry in the first place.
We're buying ourselves time.
Time to wait for a better price.
Time to combine the purchase with another shopping trip.
Time to avoid an emergency dash to the supermarket.
Find Your Household's Numbers
Your numbers won't necessarily be the same as mine.
A household that eats pasta once a fortnight doesn't need the same quantity as a household that eats it three times a week.
Your pantry should reflect your household, your meals and your usage.
Start noticing how quickly things disappear.
Then set a comfortable stock level and a reorder level below it.
It doesn't need to be complicated.
Know what “full” looks like.
Know when it's getting low.
Replace it before you run out.
That's how a working pantry stays stocked.