Why do business owners keep buying stock that nobody wants?

Picture Kamau. He runs a hardware shop.

One day, a supplier offers him a good deal on a particular type of tile.

Kamau buys 100 boxes because the price is attractive.

Three months later, most of the tiles are still sitting in his store.

Meanwhile, customers keep asking for a different type of tile that he rarely stocks.

Kamau has money tied up in products that aren't selling, yet he's missing sales on products customers actually want.

The problem?

He bought stock based on the deal, not on what his customers were buying.

Three lessons for Kamau:

1. Know what sells. Check your sales records before placing your next order.

2. Watch your dead stock. Identify products that have stayed on the shelves for too long.

3. Let demand guide your purchases. A cheap product isn't a good deal if nobody wants to buy it.

Remember, stock sitting in your store is money you cannot easily use elsewhere.

The goal isn't to fill your shelves.

It's to stock what your customers actually need.