Why stock control matters in a boutique
Fabric and trims are where a boutique’s money quietly sits. Rolls of lining in the back room, boxes of buttons, zari lace bought for a bride who changed her mind. Without a record, you buy what you already have, run out of the lining you need on a Saturday, or never notice how much gets wasted. Boutique inventory management keeps it all visible.
What you can track
| Material type | Example units |
|---|---|
| Fabric | metres, rolls |
| Lining | metres |
| Thread | pieces, dozens, packs |
| Buttons | pieces, dozens |
| Zips | pieces, dozens |
| Trims, laces, borders | metres, packs |
| Other | kg, pieces |
Each material keeps its current stock and an optional minimum level.
Every movement recorded
Stock changes for a reason, and VogueDesk records each one:
- Purchase receipt: new stock arrives from a vendor.
- Issue to order: material goes to a specific order for cutting.
- Return: unused material comes back.
- Wastage: cut pieces or damaged fabric written off.
- Adjustment: fixing the count after a physical check.
Over time this tells you how much lining a blouse really takes and how much you lose to wastage.
Low-stock list
Set a minimum stock level on materials you always need, like standard lining, canvas or common thread colours. When stock drops below it, the material appears in the low-stock list so you can reorder before the wedding season rush.
Vendors and purchase orders
Keep your suppliers as vendors, grouped by category, and raise purchase orders to them. When goods arrive, record them as a purchase receipt and the stock goes up. Material costs then flow into your profit and expense reports.
Delivery challans
Goods leaving your shop without a sale still need paperwork. VogueDesk raises four kinds of challans:
| Challan | When |
|---|---|
| Job work out | Sending garments or fabric to an outside unit |
| Job work in | Receiving them back |
| Inter-location | Moving stock between your own locations |
| Client delivery | Sending finished garments to a client |
Job-work challans link to the job work tracker, and client delivery challans are raised automatically when you ship with Shiprocket or Porter.
How it works in VogueDesk
- Add your materials with their type, unit and minimum level.
- Record purchases as they arrive, or through a purchase order.
- Issue material to orders as cutting starts.
- Record returns and wastage.
- Check the low-stock list each week and reorder.
Who it is for
- Boutiques that supply fabric rather than only stitching the client’s own cloth.
- Designer studios buying trims, laces and embellishments in bulk.
- Boutiques with more than one location moving stock between them.
For a visual book of fabrics to show clients, see the fabric and design catalog. Plans are on the pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of materials can I track?
Fabric, lining, thread, buttons, zips, trims and other materials, each with its own unit such as metres, pieces, rolls, packs, kg or dozens.
Can I see which order used which fabric?
Yes. When you issue material to an order, it is recorded as a stock movement against that order, so you can see what went into it.
Will VogueDesk tell me when stock is low?
Yes. Set a minimum stock level for each material. Anything below that level appears in the low-stock list so you can reorder in time.
Can I raise purchase orders to my suppliers?
Yes. You can keep a list of vendors by category and raise purchase orders to them. Received stock is recorded as a purchase receipt.
What delivery challans does VogueDesk support?
Job work out, job work in, inter-location and client delivery challans.
Last updated 31 October 2026.