In this guide
When should you reorder from 1688 for UK stock?
Review replenishment when a SKU’s available UK stock approaches the demand expected during the full replenishment lead time, plus your chosen buffer. Check dated incoming orders before deciding what to buy. Record the assumptions and review them as demand or timings change. The threshold starts a purchasing review; quantities and approvals need separate decisions.
Plan one SKU in one unit
Identify the exact SKU, variant and counting unit. Use the same unit for sales, stock and incoming orders. Convert cartons to individual units before comparing them with a daily forecast in units. Keep colours or sizes separate when customers cannot substitute them. WorldFirst’s New Zealand inventory guide connects SKU-level demand with replenishment timing; use that principle to prepare the next purchasing brief.
Make the stock identifiable
Keep supplier order references, SKUs and expected carton counts together. The receiving team needs a record it can compare with the goods when they arrive.
Separate historical sales from the forecast
Record the sales period, units sold and days counted. If forecasting per calendar day, use calendar days throughout the calculation. Sales during a stockout can understate demand, while a promotion can temporarily increase it. Record those events and planned changes. State the daily demand you expect over the replenishment period separately from the historical average. Review both when conditions change.
Save a dated stock and planning record
Ask the warehouse what its Available figure includes. Some systems already deduct committed orders or held quantities; record the definition before making further deductions. Keep unfilled demand visible and check whether it is already reflected. China-held goods and unreceived purchases belong in a separate incoming record. Retain earlier versions.
Scroll sideways if needed. Keyboard: focus the table area and use the left and right arrow keys.
| Field | Record for this SKU |
|---|---|
| Identity and review | SKU, variant, base unit, review date and owner |
| UK available stock | Balance, location, evidence and definition of Available |
| Commitments and holds | Quantities, status and whether already deducted |
| Demand assumption | Historical period, forecast units per day and reasons for adjustments |
| Replenishment timeline | Order-to-UK-saleable dates, stage dependencies and evidence |
| Chosen buffer | Units, reason and next review date |
| Existing supply and decision | Each PO’s remaining units, UK saleable date, evidence and buyer action |
Measure the whole replenishment timeline
Start at order placement and finish when stock has completed the required UK receiving work and is available for sale or fulfilment. Include production, China receipt and agreed checks, packing, international transport, applicable import steps and UK handling. Build dates around actual dependencies: stages that overlap should not be added twice. Keep historical elapsed time separate from current confirmations. Recheck holidays, capacity and unresolved work before relying on the dates.
Calculate a review point with stated assumptions
For a simplified constant-demand case, multiply forecast units per day by full replenishment days, then add a chosen buffer in units. Oracle describes this demand-plus-safety-stock principle. Our invented example below assumes one SKU and no allocations, backorders or open purchase orders. Confirm the assumed 35 days. The 40-unit buffer is illustrative; it has not been optimised or recommended for other products.
Scroll sideways if needed. Keyboard: focus the table area and use the left and right arrow keys.
| Input or result | Invented value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Forecast demand | 6 units per calendar day | Steady demand assumed |
| Full replenishment lead time | 35 calendar days | Order placed to UK saleable stock |
| Chosen buffer | 40 units | Illustrative buyer allowance |
| Reorder review point | 250 units | 6 × 35 + 40 |
| Current UK saleable stock | 220 units | Below the 250-unit review point |
Prepare for the final handover
Confirm the delivery address, receiving hours and booking instructions before dispatch. Add any pallet, label or unloading requirements to the same shipment brief.
Check when existing orders become usable
For each open purchase order, record the exact SKU, remaining unreceived quantity, expected UK saleable date and evidence behind that date. Keep enquiries and unapproved orders separately identified. Compare expected demand and arrivals in date order. Goods arriving after a projected shortage cannot cover the earlier gap. Update the remaining quantity after partial receipt so the same units do not stay in both stock and incoming supply. Resolve uncertain dates before using them to justify another purchase.
Turn the trigger into a purchasing review
In the example, 220 units is below 250, so review replenishment now. The 250-unit threshold is not the quantity to order. Decide quantities using expected demand, existing supply, supplier minimums, storage and available funds. Obtain the required purchasing approval before ordering; payment and freight decisions have their own approval points. After UK receipt, save the actual saleable date and review the demand and lead-time assumptions. Set the next review date.
Prepare the next stock enquiry
Send a dated SKU brief with requested quantities and the date stock is needed for UK sale. Include your current stock and incoming-order notes so we can discuss supplier enquiries and purchasing steps for the next batch.
Questions before you order
Is the reorder point the quantity I should buy?
It is the stock threshold for reviewing replenishment. Choose the purchase quantity separately after checking existing supply, expected demand, supplier minimums, storage and funding. Reaching the threshold does not approve an order.
Can I count stock already ordered in China as available in the UK?
Record it separately with the remaining quantity, expected UK saleable date and supporting evidence. It is not available in the UK today. A late arrival may leave a gap before the goods can be sold.
How much buffer stock should I hold?
Choose and document an allowance for the SKU’s demand and timing uncertainty. Review it as those conditions change. The 40 units in our invented example are illustrative and carry no stockout or service-level guarantee.
Related visual references
Look more closely at the storage, handling and transport settings that inform an order plan. Each photograph links to its original source.
Sources & further guidance
- WorldFirst New Zealand: Amazon inventory management (demand and replenishment timing)
- Oracle NetSuite: Assessing Stock Levels (system quantity definitions)
- Oracle Inventory: Planning and Replenishment (reorder-point principle)
WorldFirst’s source addresses Amazon sellers in New Zealand; we use its general demand and full replenishment timing principles. Oracle’s global product documentation supports the reorder-point principle and illustrates system stock definitions. It does not establish every warehouse system’s behaviour. Neither source establishes UK legal requirements. Our worksheet, assumptions and calculation are original; the formula is not attributed to WorldFirst.
Product acceptance, inspection scope, charges and delivery arrangements need to be agreed for your order.
