Quick answer: Yes, if you give it clean numbers. Export 90 days of sales and your current stock into a simple spreadsheet, add a reorder-point formula, then ask a free AI chat tool to flag what's about to run out and what isn't moving. It takes about 30 minutes and no new software, though the AI's suggestions are a starting point for your judgement, not an order.
Whether you sell mattresses, appliances, sofas, TVs or flooring, your money sits in two places it shouldn't: products you ran out of (lost sales) and products nobody wants (dead stock). Big retailers have planners for this. Independent dealers and local retailers have a gut feel and a Friday-afternoon walk through the warehouse. A spreadsheet plus AI closes much of that gap.
Try it in 30 minutes
Export from your POS: item, SKU, units sold in the last 90 days, units on hand, units on order, supplier lead time in days. (10 min)
Paste into the sheet template below and add the formulas. (10 min)
Run the AI prompt and pick 3 reorders and 3 slow movers to act on. (10 min)
What to measure (60 days): - Stockouts on your top 20 items (times a customer wanted it and you didn't have it). - Dollars tied up in items with no sales in 90+ days. - Time spent on reordering each week.
The sheet template
Set up these columns in Google Sheets or Excel:
Column | What goes in it | Formula (row 2) |
|---|---|---|
A | Item / SKU | — |
B | Units sold, last 90 days | from export |
C | On hand | from export |
D | On order | from export |
E | Lead time (days) | from supplier |
F | Safety days | your choice, e.g., 14 |
G | Daily sales rate |
|
H | Reorder point |
|
I | Reorder now? |
|
J | Days of stock left |
|
Sort by column I, then by column J. Anything showing "No sales" or more than 180 days of stock is a slow mover worth a look.
Safety days cover surprises: a late truck or a busy long weekend. Start at 14 and adjust by category. A long-lead special-order line needs more than a fast-turning accessory.
Prompt: reorder and slow-mover review
You're helping [Store], an independent [type] store. I'm pasting an inventory sheet with columns:
SKU, units sold last 90 days, on hand, on order, lead time, safety days, daily rate,
reorder point, reorder flag, days of stock left.
[paste data or upload the file]
1) List items flagged REORDER, sorted by daily rate, with a suggested order quantity to cover
[60] days plus lead time. Show your math.
2) List items with no sales or more than 180 days of stock. For each, suggest one action:
bundle, floor-model sale, return to vendor (if allowed), or move to a better display spot.
3) Point out anything that looks like a data error (negative stock, odd numbers).
Don't invent figures. If something's missing, say so. Remind me of upcoming seasons that might
change demand for [category] in [region], but label those as general assumptions.
Remove costs and supplier pricing if you'd rather not paste them into a public AI tool. The prompt works on units alone.
Which AI tool to use
Option | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Free plan with limited file uploads and data analysis; Plus US$20/month (OpenAI) | Paste a few hundred rows, or upload the sheet on paid plans for heavier use | |
Free plan available | Works well if you already live in Google | |
Gemini in Sheets | Included from Google Workspace Business Standard, US$14/user/month (intro offers vary) | Ask questions right inside the sheet |
Microsoft 365 Copilot in Excel | Business Premium with Copilot, US$32/user/month paid yearly | For Excel-based stores |
Some dealer software has this built in. For example, RetailGenie lists auto-reorder and slow-mover detection, but it's a new platform with no pilot stores yet, so test the spreadsheet version first. It also shows you what "good" looks like before you buy anything.
Turning slow movers into sales
Once you have the list, AI can help move it:
Write a "floor model clearance" post: How can AI write your Facebook, Marketplace and Google posts?
Refresh a tired listing: How can a local store use AI to write product descriptions that sell?
If you advertise a "was" price, make sure it's a genuine regular price. Canada's Competition Bureau explains the tests for ordinary price claims (Competition Bureau). This isn't legal advice. If you send clearance offers by text or email, CASL (Canada) and TCPA (US) consent rules apply. More quick wins: Start here: 10 AI quick wins.
FAQ
Is 90 days of sales enough? It's a good start for most items. For seasonal products (air conditioners, patio sets, outdoor TVs), compare the same months last year too.
What about special-order items? Leave them out of the reorder sheet. They're ordered per sale. Track only what you stock.
How often should I run this? Weekly for fast movers, monthly for the rest. Updating the export takes minutes once the sheet is set up.
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AI Tips for Dealers is written by Al Ruttan in Winkler, Manitoba, for independent dealers and local retailers.