What Happened When I Switched To Inventora For My Candle Business?
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 лип 2024
- As some of you know a while back I made the switch from Craftybase Inventory Management software to Inventora Software and I shared a bit about that experience with you in a previous video (linked below). A few of you have been asking for an update on where things are now since I made the video comparing the two and my reasons behind giving Inventora a go and here it finally is! I'm sharing a bit about how the last few months have been using the system, my brutally honest review of some things that I love, like and dislike and my opinion as it stands today on whether I think making the switch or trying Inventora out at all is worth it whether you are a new maker, or making the switch from Craftybase to Inventora.
Want to sign up for inventora? Use my link!
inventora.com/?via=ashley
Videos to watch:
START HERE: My honest review of crafty base: • How To Keep Track Of I...
A LIL UPDATE: How to find the right system Craftybase vs Inventora: • How To Find The Right ...
00:00 Welcome
02:20 True Pro's and Con's
10:55 My favorite PRO
13:30 Welcoming interface
14:45 My honest opinion for my business and yours!
Shop My Candle Making Store:
www.amazon.com/shop/upsidegoo...
*Shopping Makesy? Use my 10% off code on your next order - AshleyFathergill10
// $30 for 30 // Want to run some roadblocks by me? Let's figure them out together. In these sessions over zoom we can discuss whatever is keeping you and your small business up at night!
*Sign up here: mailchi.mp/upsidegoodsco/ment...
- Join the Candle Collective for candle makers and entrepreneurs: mailchi.mp/upsidegoodsco/thec...
- Join our Facebook Group to discuss business, marketing and strategy tips for your business:
/ thecandlecollective
// CONTACT ME //
For all subscribers, please use this email: ashley@hellomintmarketing.com
For business inquires only, please use this email: hello@upsidegoodsco.com
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting my channel!
Ashley, thank you!! Been looking forward to this. Very helpful. 🙌🏻Have a terrific Wednesday! 🩷
So glad! Thanks for watching!
I just love your whole channel. Your energy, honesty etc. I am literally just starting out. Like I bought a bunch of jars, wax and all the fun stuff and I'm staring at it knowing I have to actually start testing. Listening to your ups and downs are going to save me so many headaches like you referred to in your biggest mistakes video. I know I'm still going to have to figure out so many things (especially keeping costs down) but you are doing gods work with helping all of us out here. Thank you!!
Thanks so much for watching and sharing! I’m glad we’re all in this together! 🤍
First of all thanks for making me smile and prompting a few laughs. I needed that. As for Inventora, I did choose them when establishing the candle portion of my business. You can edit the predesignated batch #s by clicking the edit button. I maintain par levels for supplies and haven’t needed to run a par report so it’s nice to know Inventora doesn’t have a straight forward report to run. At the end of the day thanks for reaffirming the choice I made. I love the idea of growing with them. High Five Inventore 🙌🏻
Thanks so much for watching and the insight!
First of all, LOVE your videos and upbeat personality. You always make me laugh at some point 😆 I’m not a new maker, but new into starting a business. You mentioned batch numbers! That’s a great idea and might be good content for a video! I would definitely like to know how you go about it and what info you keep track of!
Thanks for sharing and I will make note of that!
I absolutely love and appreciate this video!!!! I have a big issue with Inventora, I emailed Inventora several times since 8/11/23 and haven't heard anything from the person who can take care of my issues. I even emailed Delmith and she is great with getting back to you, however, no call or email since. One of my issue is that my inventory numbers have been changed once I integrated Square. I SPOKE, yes spoke on the phone with a Square rep and I was told they have nothing to do with my inventory number change. So here I am still waiting. SMH. To top things off I'm supposed to launch this Sunday 8/27/23. Thank you for your transparency. I just love your videos.
Thanks for watching and I'm so sorry you've been having these issues! I hope they have been resolved or at least are on the right track to being resolved by now!
😂 totally agree with you on the batch numbers on production runs AND the super funky glitches (and snail speed) on sales! So glad to know I'm not the only one feeling frustrations!
Totally!
Love the honest review!
Thank you!
I agree with the materials hyping to red( low stock) I need an alarm also!!😂😂😂
AMEN!
You made me laugh! I believe you mentioned MS DOS. That probably flew over a lot of people of a certain age. Lol. I’ve tried to explain to my kids what all we had to do to just get into the computers when they first came out. I eventually memorized it (I think), but we had a cheat sheet typed up and taped to the side of the computer. Anyway. I have inventora. I generally appreciate it. But, it might have been perfect if I hadn’t been making candles, soap and everything else for years. It kind of hurts me to put in all the info, even though it’s the right thing to do. Great video!
I definitely time stamped myself! Thanks for watching!
Oh how nice to be the first watcher. Hello Ashley 👋
Welcome!!
I'm excited to see your video.
Hope you like it!
It was a great video as usual!
Having said all of that, I love Inventora. It made me possible to open my business from an idea into a reality.
I'm glad to hear that!
I agree with everything you said. I am not using Inventora 100% yet but really do love the tool. They definitely need more reporting options - and how great would it be if it reported some data from Shopify too? Great video!
Absolutely wonderful if they did!
This was very timely for me and I appreciate your perspective. One question...you mentioned that Inventora syncs with QB...Are you us8ng Desktop or Online? Do you track inventory in QB too?
I use online. QB doesn't track inventory... It only tracks finances/accounting/expenses. etc.
You can change the batch number format its under your company/settings/numbers
Yes, I noticed that change, however, I still want the freedom to assign a batch number on each individual batch based on the records I've been keeping, custom orders, etc. And that feature just further complicates it for me unfortunately.
I'm considering inventora but very curious how it works with QuickBook? Do you have to manually input data from inventora to quickbooks and what?
So I don’t connect mine. I’m not even sure if you can so I’m not a good source of info on that one!
The batch number is also an issue for me . I add it on the notes.
And I have a lab batch book and an excel spread sheet
It grinds my gears and feels like it would be a very simple fix within accounts.
Many of my materials are perishable-not imminently perishable, but still needs to be used by a certain time. I wish Inventora had a Best Buy/use by box and would allow me to switch to a first expiring first out system instead of fifo. I could order a material today and it’s best by July 2024, then order the same thing from a different supplier and it’s best by march 2024. Obviously I want to use up the stuff with the earlier expiration first, but I also want a way to see what I have that’s getting close so I can run a sale on those items to move product.
I also have lot numbers (batch numbers) that I keep in an excel spreadsheet along with the expiration, but I wish I could have all of that in Inventora too.
I feel this, immensely! We shall be patient!
When I enter a batch it shows up in the ‘planned’ column. Once I click on that, but before clicking ‘Start Production’ I can scroll down and enter my own batch number. Hope this can help! Always enjoy your videos. ❤
Yes! I saw that change but I think (and correct me if I’m wrong) it still doesn’t change the main batch/production number and only does in notes, right?
I actually use their generated batch numbers, so I’m not sure. I just happened to be playing around with it after I saw your video and was hoping that it would work for you.
I also don’t understand the fulfilled and then what shipping company was used to fulfill the order. I thought it was me doing something wrong! My sales currently are all in person, so I can fulfill but not ship if that makes sense! 😂😂
Yes! Especially since you can say in the screen prior it's local pick up!
As a cosmetic Business , for me , not being able to add a percentage of wasted materials is a problem. I waste 5tp 10 percent during the manufacturing process. It would be nice to just be able to add a percentage
AMEN! That's great feedback I didn't even think about! I know there is a Product Testing option for stock levels but I'm not sure if that would work the same as wasted materials for you?
@@UpsideGoodsCo no, it is not the same. You would have to input two batches to get the result you need. What I currently do is if my batch is 1 kg, I decrease the number of finished products I can make by 10% to account for waste. It is not ideal but it is the best I could come up with.
I have this same issue that’s why I don’t use it. Also I need to be able to add labor and overhead cost
@@Jessicaakathesoapladycan’t you add a “made by me” material for your hourly rate and add that to your production run? And the same with overhead-add a material as a fixed amount for every item (not available with the free version).
@@LifeMoreColorful that’s a good idea I’ll look into it
The inventory issue isn’t due to user error. I regularly find incorrect numbers in Inventora. I’ve resorted to disconnecting it from my Wix and managing it manually. Otherwise, I’ve faced issues with selling inventory that I don’t actually have.
For your batch number issue: I put my batch number in the title of the production run. So for example “Scent Name 7oz (1503)”. Just a suggestion. 💡
Yes, I've tried that but I"m a pain and I want it on the title!
I've been using Inventory for around a year and a half and it's really come a long way from where it started. I remember how minimal the reports and everything was. I really like what they've done though. One thing I'd really like to be able to do is change materials in production without it affecting any previous batches.That's a huge pain point for me. But I agree, Inventora is much more user friendly than CraftyBase.
I'm happy to hear this!
from what I remember, prior to me switching to crafty base, Inventora should have a way to set a "minimum stock level" amount of a material and then it turns red after that 🤔
im still hoping and waiting for them to update inventora to make it more efficient for someone like me with 5 million variants.. its the only reason i switched to crafty base..... crafty base has added some updates that were CLOSE to what i asked for when i emailed support about features i missed from inventora
Yes, they do have a way, for some reason I just need to receive the info a different way so I realize I'm climbing up a different tree :)
Ashley, I love this video and without fail you always make me laugh! My question is does Inventora have price guidance like Craftybase? I am currently on the "Pro" plan while I get ready to launch and am looking into the free verson of Inventora but don't see pricing guidance. I'm also very analytical and love the reporting and profit breakdown.
Last, I noticed that the tiers for Craftybase are based on how many "order lines" you have coming in through your sales. If it exceeds an average they automatically bump you to the more expensive plan. That can add up quick, whereas Inventora is just one set price it appears. I haven't heard anyone talk about that part of craftybase. Do you have any feedback on whether the plans had you up and down regarding the different pricing tiers because of that average when you were with Craftybase? Thanks in advance : )
I’m so glad this was helpful! I have not witnessed any price guidance from Ventura, but I will say that it keeps track of the margins quite well and as long as you know your business and where you need to go, I feel like it’s pretty plugged and play. Also, as far as the tears, I do not think you will be going anywhere up or down you just pick which level you want to be at for the access that you need and that is where you stay!
Quick question - why do you need/ have batch numbers?
I keep any notes with the specific batches then if a customer has an issue with a candle I can keep track of it based on the batch, refer to my notes and then if another problem occurs and it’s one that I need to track down all of those in that batch, it’s easier to do so
I’ve had inventora since day one
That’s awesome!
I noticed they fixed the batch number thing - you can give it your own number.
Thanks!
Can you do recipes and print them out in Inventora?
I’m sure you could print the screen, yes
Can't you just leave your batch number in the "comments" on that production?
Yes you definitely can. However it kind of is a needle in a haystack to cross reference the assigned production title and then the batch number and is just unnecessary steps in my opinion.
Very good information. However, you're the face of your business and you're online swearing - over software. This is my first time watching your video(s)/channel and I'm going to associate your business with this first impression. The jury is still out on whether or not your just high energy or high anxiety. My intention is not to criticize...I'm just being observant. Again, very good information. Thank you.
I realize you said your intention is not to criticize but that’s all I’m hearing unfortunately. I am high energy and high anxiety but that doesn’t make me swear. It’s simply how I evoke my feelings and emotions both behind the scenes and in front of my business and that’s okay if it’s not for you. I’m glad you got some good information.
@@UpsideGoodsCo I wanted to let you know that I feel the exact opposite of this comment :) I've watched my fair share of candle maker videos in the past, and this is my first one of yours that I've seen. I think you're hilarious, and I love the vibe! You seem very down to earth and honest while also being fun, so I am VERY interested in your channel now and can't wait to watch more videos