Room for Thought – Chapter 2: Why I Gave Every Product a Number

We sell our crystal hangings both online and in our physical shop.

My husband mainly looks after the shop.

I mainly look after the website.

Every now and then, he calls me and says:

“I sold one of the blue moon crystal dream catchers. Can you update the stock online?”

“Sure. Which blue one?”

“The blue one.”

“Dark blue or light blue? And which size?”

“I don’t know what size. The more expensive one.”

“Dark blue or light blue?”

“The blue one!”

“What does it look like? What colour are the stones hanging underneath it?”

“I don’t remember. I think it’s the one with five stones at the bottom, a moon on the left, and some other thing on the right.”

“Oh, for goodness’ sake. Go and look at the website.”

A few moments later:

“Oh! It’s this one.”

Then:

“Wait. Actually, I don’t think it’s exactly the same. Give me a minute.”

Me:

“???”

Updating the inventory became a battle every single time.

If we hadn’t already been married for ten years, I would have suspected that he was inventing excuses just to talk to me.

So, for the sake of clearer communication, lower operating costs and our continued marital harmony, I spent an entire day assigning a SKU to every product.

Then I attached a small tag to every piece in the shop.

Now, whenever something sells, he simply tells me the SKU.

I update the inventory.

Done.

And just like that, peace returned to the world.

The sold BLUE one is this: