Practical guides for running a small shop
Plain advice on stock, selling and money, with worked examples you can try with a pen and paper.
Distributor, wholesaler or direct: where should you buy your stock?
Compare buying from a distributor's rep, a wholesaler or cash-and-carry, and direct from the producer. A worked landed-cost comparison with transport, time and credit.
9 min read
InventoryHow to order from a route sales rep without over-buying
Route and van sales reps visit your shop to take orders. Learn how to prepare before the visit, check their suggested quantities and keep a record of what you ordered.
8 min read
InventoryHow to plan your stock around delivery days
If your distributor delivers once a week, your lead time is the gap between visits. See a worked reorder point and order quantity for a weekly run, and how to juggle suppliers.
8 min read
InventoryWhat to do when a delivery is short, damaged or substituted
Handle shortages, breakages, substitutions and wrong prices from your distributor. Learn what to note, how to ask for a credit, and how to keep a log by supplier.
8 min read
MoneyHow to work with your distributor rep: credit, deals and when to push back
Build a good relationship with your distributor rep, use credit terms wisely, judge case deals and display offers, and know when to push back. A practical guide for shops.
8 min read
InventoryABC analysis: find the products that matter most
ABC analysis sorts your products by how much they bring in, so you know where to focus counting, ordering and shelf space. A simple step-by-step method for small shops.
10 min read
SellingAccepting digital payments in a Jamaican shop: Lynk, cards and what each costs
Compare cash, Lynk, DimePay, bank card terminals, WiPay and HandyPay for a Jamaican shop: what each is, known fees, and how to record and reconcile them at cash-up.
9 min read
InventoryBarcodes for small shops: what they are and how to use them
How barcodes work in a small shop: UPC and EAN, using the manufacturer's code, labelling items without one, choosing a scanner, and handling multipacks.
7 min read
MoneyBreak-even for shop owners: how much must you sell?
Work out how much your shop must sell each month to cover its costs. Fixed costs, gross margin and the break-even formula, with a worked example you can copy.
5 min read
MoneyCash flow for shop owners: why profit is not the same as cash
Why a profitable shop can still run out of cash, how stock ties up money, and a simple weekly cash plan with worked numbers you can copy for your own shop.
7 min read
Getting startedA daily routine for running a small shop
A simple opening, during-the-day and closing checklist for small shop owners, plus weekly and monthly tasks that keep stock, cash and records in order.
8 min read
SellingDigital receipts without a printer: what your shop needs
Give customers receipts on screen or by link instead of buying a printer. See what a receipt must show, when paper still matters and how to handle tax receipts.
6 min read
MoneyHow to find your best-selling products (and what to do about them)
Best sellers by units, revenue and profit are three different lists. Learn to read them, spot slow movers and make better ordering and shelf decisions.
8 min read
MoneyGCT for small shops in Jamaica: what it is and when you must register
A plain guide to General Consumption Tax for Jamaican shop owners: the 15% rate, the J$15M threshold, exempt goods, registering with TAJ, records and monthly returns.
9 min read
MoneyHow to calculate the value of your shop's inventory
Work out what your stock is worth: units times cost, with a worked table. See why inventory value matters for insurance, loans and turnover, and how to keep it accurate.
7 min read
SellingHow to cash up at the end of the day
A step-by-step end-of-day cash up for small shops: count the drawer, match it to the day's sales, explain any difference and set the float for tomorrow.
9 min read
Getting startedHow to choose a POS system for a small shop
A practical checklist for choosing a POS system for a small shop: hardware, offline use, local tax and currency, payments, stock depth, staff access and cost.
9 min read
InventoryHow to handle expired stock in a small shop
Cut waste from expired products: first in, first out shelving, date checks, markdowns, supplier returns and how to record write-offs so your numbers stay honest.
7 min read
SellingHow to handle refunds and returns in a small shop
Write a simple returns policy, record every refund properly, and decide what happens to returned stock. A practical guide for small shops with examples.
8 min read
InventoryHow to make a weekly restock list for your shop
A simple weekly routine for working out what to order: check low stock, calculate order quantities, group by supplier and keep cash tied up in stock under control.
8 min read
InventoryHow to stock up for a busy season without overbuying
Plan stock for holidays, back-to-school and other busy seasons in a small shop: use last year's sales, adjust reorder points early and avoid being left with extra stock.
9 min read
MoneyHow to price products in a small shop
A simple method for pricing products in a small retail shop: start from cost, choose a margin, check the street price, then round. Worked examples with plain numbers.
10 min read
MoneyHow to read a sales report in a small shop
Learn to read a shop sales report: daily, weekly and monthly sales, average sale, best sellers, slow movers and gross profit, with a worked example table.
6 min read
InventoryHow to check in a stock delivery properly
A simple routine for receiving stock deliveries in a small shop: check against your order, count before signing, record damages and get stock onto the shelf.
9 min read
SellingHow to speed up checkout in a small shop
Cut seconds off every sale with favourites, categories, scanning and a clear queue routine. Includes a worked example of the time saved across a busy day.
7 min read
Getting startedHow to start a mini-mart in Jamaica: registration, permits, stock and systems
Starting a mini-mart in Jamaica: register your business name with the Companies Office, get a TRN, check GCT and health permits, plan your first order and set up records.
9 min read
InventoryHow to track inventory in a small shop
A simple method for tracking inventory in a small shop: what to record, how to count, common mistakes, and a worked example with plain numbers you can copy today.
11 min read
SellingHow to train a new cashier in a small shop
A practical first-week plan for training a new cashier: the till, payments, refunds, cash handling and what they should and should not have access to.
9 min read
InventoryA hurricane season checklist for Caribbean shop owners
Plan for the June 1 to November 30 hurricane season: what to stock, how to protect stock and cash, back up your records, and how to write off storm damage properly.
8 min read
Getting startedHow to import your products from a notebook or Excel sheet
Turn your notebook or Excel product list into clean data you can load in bulk. Fix columns, save as CSV, check a preview and avoid duplicate products.
8 min read
SellingHow to increase your average sale in a small shop
Practical ways to raise what each customer spends: product placement, bundles, counter items and polite suggestions, with worked numbers for a small shop.
6 min read
MoneyInventory turnover for small shops, explained
What inventory turnover means for a small retail shop, how to calculate it and days on hand with a worked example, and practical ways to turn stock faster.
10 min read
MoneyInventory valuation methods for small shops, compared
How to put a dollar value on your stock: latest cost, FIFO, weighted average and the retail method, with one worked example that compares them side by side.
6 min read
SellingHow to manage your shop when you are not there
Step away from the shop without losing control. Set staff routines, check sales and stock from your phone, run cash-up checks and keep refunds on record.
8 min read
Getting startedHow to name and organise products in your shop
Clear product names, simple categories and barcodes make inventory and checkout faster. A practical naming pattern for small shops, with examples and mistakes to avoid.
9 min read
MoneyNegotiating with suppliers: a guide for small shops
How a small shop can negotiate with suppliers: payment terms, case sizes, price breaks, delivery days and damaged-goods credit, with worked examples.
7 min read
SellingPower cuts at the till: how to keep selling and keep your records straight
What to do when the lights go out in your shop: a paper backup for sales, charging and lighting, cash safety, and how to reconcile everything once power returns.
7 min read
MoneyPricing with GCT: shelf prices, working backwards and real margin
How to set GCT-inclusive shelf prices, take GCT back out of a price, and see your real margin after tax. Worked JMD examples for registered and unregistered shops.
8 min read
Getting startedHow to run your shop from your phone
A phone-first setup for a small shop: what a phone can do, when a tablet or computer helps, which roles each device plays and how to keep your data safe.
8 min read
SellingShop cash security: float limits, drops and a banking routine
Keep the cash in your shop safe: till float limits, cash drops, using a safe, a simple banking routine, two-person counts and how to record it all.
7 min read
SellingStaff permissions for small shops: who should see and do what
Decide what cashiers should and should not see or do. A practical guide to separating duties, protecting costs and profit, and keeping honest staff out of trouble.
7 min read
InventoryStock adjustments and write-offs: how to record damaged, expired and lost stock
Record damaged, expired, stolen and miscounted stock properly. Learn the adjustment reasons, why a movement log beats overwriting numbers, and a worked example.
8 min read
MoneyHow to track sales by payment type: cash, card, transfer and wallet
Record whether each sale was cash, card, bank transfer or wallet. See why it matters for cash-up, bank checks and spotting mistakes, with a worked example.
7 min read
InventoryHow to use your phone as a barcode scanner in your shop
Your phone camera can scan barcodes at the till and during stock counts. Learn setup, lighting tips, what to do with damaged codes and when to buy a scanner.
7 min read
MoneyVAT for small shops in Guyana: 14%, the G$15 million line and zero-rated goods
A plain guide to VAT for Guyanese shop owners: the 14% rate, the G$15M registration threshold, which foods and household goods are zero-rated, GRA filing and records.
9 min read
MoneyVAT for small shops in Trinidad and Tobago: rate, threshold and returns
A plain guide to VAT for Trinidad and Tobago shop owners: the 12.5% rate, the TT$600,000 registration threshold, zero-rated food, registering with the IRD and keeping records.
8 min read
MoneyGross profit for shop owners, explained simply
Understand revenue, cost of goods, gross profit and gross margin for a small shop, with a worked example and how a price change after you bought stock affects profit.
11 min read
InventoryWhat to do about slow-moving and dead stock
How to spot slow-moving and dead stock in a small shop, measure sell-through, see the cash it ties up, clear it sensibly and buy less of it next time.
11 min read
InventoryHow to do a stock count without closing the shop
A practical guide to stock counts for small shops: full counts versus cycle counts, how to count while you are open, how to handle differences, and a worked example.
11 min read
InventoryWhere your stock goes: cutting loss, damage and theft
Why stock goes missing in a small shop and what to do about it: damage, expiry, theft, admin errors and short deliveries, plus a worked example and a checklist.
11 min read
InventoryHow to set reorder points so you never run out
Learn the reorder point formula for a small shop: average daily sales times lead time, plus safety stock. A worked example with plain numbers and a checklist.
11 min read
Getting startedSpreadsheet or inventory app: which fits your shop?
An honest comparison of an inventory spreadsheet and an inventory app for a small shop: when a spreadsheet is enough, where it breaks, and how to decide.
10 min read
Getting startedMoving your shop from a notebook to software
How to move a small shop from a paper notebook to inventory software without losing a week of sales: what to prepare, how to switch over, and the mistakes to avoid.
11 min read