“We’re Dangerously Overstocked”: Why Retailers Are Sitting on a Stock Time Bomb And what to do about it before margin disappears.

Written By Han Pinkerton

Why This Is Hitting Aussie Retailers Hard

“We’re dangerously overstocked.”
That’s the line I keep hearing from Australian retailers right now.

Whether it’s a founder-led fashion label or a scaling beauty brand, they’re stuck.
Cash is tied up in slow sellers. Warehouses are full. Margins are getting squeezed.

📦 In fact, the average Australian clothing retailer is sitting on over $240,000 in excess inventory.
That’s money not spent on growth, innovation, or even paying the bills.

So what’s going wrong?

Post-COVID, many retailers overbought to “protect” sales – and now the consumer has shifted.
Suddenly, what you thought would fly is moving slow. You’re left with:

  • Too much of the wrong styles” → “Too much stuck in the wrong styles

  • Not enough in your bestsellers

  • Warehouse shelves full and team morale low

  • Margin disappearing in markdowns

Here’s the good news:

You can fix this.
And you don’t have to do it alone.

At The Inventory Edit, I help brands take back control of stock.
We find the leaks, fix the gaps, and free up cash – without the guesswork.

From range architecture and OTB clarity to margin planning and slow-seller strategy, this is about:

✅ Buying with confidence
✅ Protecting your cash
✅ Getting your inventory working for you again

💬 Let’s talk.

If you’re feeling the weight of bloated stock or planning chaos, I’d love to hear from you.
Book a free consult or get in touch here to chat about what’s really going on behind the scenes.

Let in Touch


P.S. Not ready just yet? That’s okay.
But if you could wave a magic wand and fix one stock challenge in your business – what would it be?

(Seriously – hit reply and tell me. I read every one.)

Han Pinkerton