Buying with Purpose: Planning Inventory that Actually Sells

A smart buy starts with a clear plan. When every bolt has a role in your shop—whether it’s for a class, a kit, or that seasonal event your customers wait for all year—you’re not just buying fabric, you’re building momentum.

Let’s talk about how to shape your purchasing strategy around what actually moves product, boosts excitement, and builds long-term customer loyalty.

1. Start With the End in Mind

Before you add another SKU to your cart or say yes to a rep’s new line, ask: What’s the plan for this fabric?

Are you building a kit around it? Hosting a class that needs it? Does it pair perfectly with your upcoming seasonal window display or block of the month? Your buys should support what’s already on the calendar—not just what’s pretty.

Pro tip: Plan your big events and classes first each quarter, then reverse-engineer your inventory around them. That’s how you keep every bolt working for you.

2. Take Stock of What Sells

Look at your numbers—what categories are turning fastest? What collections are collecting dust? What colors do your customers reach for every time?

Use that data to guide your baseline restocks (we see you, Confetti Cottons), but leave space to test something new. Your bread-and-butter basics should anchor your shelves, while a few trendier or niche collections keep things fresh and exciting.

3. Make Room for Something New

Yes, tried-and-true works—but innovation is what keeps customers walking through your door. Dabble in Double Lush Velvet, FAIRFAX Linen, or Batik Rayon. Try a smaller batik collection (psst—RBD’s batiks coordinate beautifully with modern quilting cottons). Or experiment with themed kits that mix and match substrates.

Not every new venture will be a slam dunk—and that’s okay. What matters is showing your customers that your shop is always evolving, always inspiring.

4. Align with Your Brand and Your Customer

Smart buying isn’t just about sales—it’s about staying true to your shop’s personality. You don’t need to carry everything. You need to carry the right things.

What’s your shop’s vibe? Who is your core customer? What do they love, and what are they hoping you’ll bring in next? When you buy with those answers in mind, your shelves start to speak your customer’s language.

5. Inventory That Works Hard

The best inventory does more than sit on a shelf. It’s featured in your classes, turned into kits, shown off in your samples, and highlighted on social media.

Before you place an order, consider how you’ll market it:

• Will you sew a shop sample?
• Bundle it into a seasonal gift set?
• Offer a class using those prints?
• Tie it into a promotion or event?

Every bolt should earn its spot—and the more jobs it has, the faster it’ll sell.

Bottom Line:

When you buy with purpose, you sell with confidence. Your shelves look cohesive. Your marketing has direction. And your customers trust that what you carry is worth grabbing. So keep planning, keep experimenting, and keep evolving. A well-curated inventory isn’t about having the most—it’s about having what matters most to your customers.

Industry Insight

Gary Rurup, VP of Sales and Former Shop Owner

“The shops I see thriving aren’t just filling shelves—they’re telling a story with every bolt they bring in. When your fabric has a purpose—a class, a kit, a sample, or an event—it doesn’t sit, it sells. That kind of buying creates energy in your shop and keeps customers coming back to see what’s new.

It’s not about carrying everything—it’s about carrying the right things for your brand and your calendar. The goal isn’t more inventory; it’s smarter inventory that works for you”