My question is this.....How do you determine the quantity of your inventory? 

I am starting an internet business with some friends, consisting of clothing and jewelry, and they would like to try the craft fairs as well.  I am having an issue with inventory.  How do you determine the quantity of each piece that you make?   Do you just sell one of each?  OR Do you have a certain amount and just leave that style available until you sell out?  OR Do you just make them as they sell?   I do not want an abundance of beads sitting around (tho I LOVE beads!) but I do not want to order too little of  my supplies either.

Any help would be so greatly appreciated~thanks! 

beadr2,

 I would say that depends on your target audience.  Will you be selling jewelry to match the clothes and who do you expect to buy the clothes.  People who are willing to spend more usually want somthing that is unique and teenagers will just go for what is popular at the time.  For me, I find that people don't usually want to spend a lot at the craft shows so I make more fun less expensive jewelry for them.  I also sell in a bead store where the pieces have to be unique and high quality. 

Once you decide your audience, you could buy a few strands in the same color group that you could use together in different styles. 

Hope this helps,

stlmaj

Thank you so much for the response.  We know our target audience and all, but it is still so hard to decide if we need only 5 of this and 50 of that....But as for anything new, it is a trial and error.  I just made what I had and will have to wait and see.  I am not very patient with making the same design so many times.  I get bored with it fast and want to do something else.  But I did it, I think I have to get used to it.