Business planning

Know your shelf-life buckets

Split stock into three buckets — fast (days), medium (weeks) and slow (months). Order little and often in the fast bucket, and keep the slow bucket lean so cash isn't tied up. Most waste comes from over-ordering in the fast bucket during a good week and repeating that order in a quiet one.

Time your markdowns

A markdown that arrives on the final day usually recovers nothing. A simple ladder recovers far more: around 15–20% off with a week of shelf life left, 40–50% at three days, and a free listing on the last day rather than a write-off. Posting each step on centace's Expiring section puts the countdown in front of buyers who are specifically looking for it.

Price so the discount is visible

Always enter the original price alongside the discounted one. Buyers compare against the original, and listings that show the saving and the time remaining get opened far more often than a bare price.

Track what you throw away

Write down every item that expires unsold for one month. That short list is the cheapest inventory report you will ever produce — it tells you exactly which lines to order less of and which to discount earlier next cycle.

Build a repeat audience

Post consistently, keep your pickup window predictable and reply quickly in messages. Buyers who can follow your account come back for the next markdown instead of waiting to stumble on it.