Product Management

DiverDash's product management system allows you to maintain a comprehensive catalog of retail products, from diving equipment to accessories and merchandise. This guide covers everything you need to know about adding, managing, and organizing your product inventory.

Accessing Product Management

  1. Go to Retail in the main sidebar

  2. Click on the Products tab in the retail dashboard

  3. Or navigate directly to Retail Products from the main menu

Product Catalog Overview

The product catalog displays all your retail products in a searchable, sortable table with:

  • Product name and description

  • SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) for identification

  • Current stock levels and pricing

  • Category and brand information

  • Active/inactive status

Adding New Products

Step 1: Create a New Product

  1. Click Add Product from the retail dashboard or product catalog

  2. The product form will open with all required fields

Step 2: Basic Product Information

Required Fields:

  • SKU: Unique identifier for the product (must be unique within your company)

  • Name: Product name as it will appear to customers

  • Sale Price: The price customers will pay (required)

Optional Fields:

  • Description: Detailed product description for customer information

  • Brand: Manufacturer or brand name

  • Category: Product type (masks, fins, regulators, wetsuits, etc.)

  • Barcode: For scanning and quick identification

Step 3: Pricing Configuration

Purchase Price (Optional):

  • Your cost for the product from suppliers

  • Used for profit margin calculations

  • Helps track cost of goods sold

Sale Price (Required):

  • The price charged to customers

  • Must be a positive number

  • Can be updated anytime for price changes

Step 4: Inventory Settings

Stock Quantity:

  • Current number of items in inventory

  • Defaults to 0 for new products

  • Updated automatically with sales and manual adjustments

Minimum Stock Level:

  • Threshold for low-stock alerts

  • System will notify when stock falls below this level

  • Helps prevent stockouts

Supplier Information:

  • Supplier ID for reordering purposes

  • Links to supplier contact information

  • Useful for automated reorder processes

Step 5: Tax Configuration

Tax Settings:

  • Is Taxable: Whether the product is subject to sales tax (default: Yes)

  • Tax Rate: Specific tax rate for this product (optional)

  • Default Tax Rate: Uses company default if no specific rate is set

Step 6: Additional Options

Product Image:

  • Upload product photos for easy identification

  • Helps staff and customers identify products

  • Supports common image formats (JPG, PNG, etc.)

Serial Number Tracking:

  • Enable for high-value items that need individual tracking

  • Useful for warranty and service tracking

  • Required for some types of diving equipment

Active Status:

  • Active: Product is available for sale

  • Inactive: Product is hidden but history is preserved

Managing Existing Products

Editing Products

  1. Find the Product: Use search or browse the product catalog

  2. Click Edit: Select the product and click the edit action

  3. Update Information: Modify any field as needed

  4. Save Changes: Click save to update the product

Common Updates

Price Changes:

  • Update sale prices for market changes

  • Adjust purchase prices when supplier costs change

  • Monitor profit margins after price updates

Stock Adjustments:

  • Manually adjust stock levels for physical counts

  • Update minimum stock levels based on sales patterns

  • Add new inventory when shipments arrive

Product Information:

  • Update descriptions for better customer information

  • Add or change product categories

  • Update supplier information

Bulk Operations

Bulk Import:

  • Import multiple products from CSV files

  • Useful for initial catalog setup

  • Supports all product fields

Bulk Updates:

  • Update pricing across multiple products

  • Change categories or suppliers in bulk

  • Adjust stock levels for multiple items

Export Data:

  • Export product catalog to CSV

  • Useful for backup or external analysis

  • Includes all product information and current stock levels

Product Organization

Categories

Organize products into logical categories:

Common Diving Categories:

  • Masks & Snorkels: Diving masks, snorkels, mask accessories

  • Fins: Diving fins, fin straps, fin accessories

  • Regulators: Regulator sets, octopus, gauges

  • BCDs: Buoyancy control devices and accessories

  • Wetsuits: Wetsuits, drysuits, exposure protection

  • Tanks & Valves: Scuba tanks, valves, tank accessories

  • Safety Equipment: SMBs, whistles, safety gear

  • Accessories: Dive lights, knives, bags, logbooks

  • Apparel: T-shirts, hats, branded merchandise

  • Books & Media: Training materials, dive guides

SKU Management

Develop a consistent SKU system:

SKU Best Practices:

  • Use meaningful abbreviations (MASK-001, FIN-002)

  • Include category codes for easy identification

  • Keep SKUs short but descriptive

  • Avoid special characters that might cause issues

  • Ensure uniqueness across all products

Example SKU System:

Brand Management

Track product brands for:

  • Supplier relationship management

  • Customer brand preferences

  • Warranty and service tracking

  • Marketing and promotional activities

Inventory Tracking

Stock Level Monitoring

Keep track of inventory in real-time:

Current Stock:

  • View current quantities for all products

  • Updated automatically with each sale

  • Manual adjustments for physical counts

Low Stock Alerts:

  • Automatic notifications when stock falls below minimum levels

  • Customizable alert thresholds per product

  • Helps prevent stockouts and lost sales

Out of Stock:

  • Clear identification of products with zero inventory

  • Prevents selling items that aren't available

  • Prioritizes reordering needs

Reorder Management

Efficiently manage restocking:

Reorder Points:

  • Set minimum stock levels for automatic alerts

  • Based on sales velocity and lead times

  • Adjustable for seasonal demand changes

Supplier Integration:

  • Track supplier information for each product

  • Quick access to reorder contacts

  • Historical ordering information

Purchase Planning:

  • Identify products that need restocking

  • Calculate reorder quantities based on sales patterns

  • Plan purchases to optimize cash flow

Product Performance Analysis

Sales Analytics

Track how products perform:

Best Sellers:

  • Identify top-performing products by revenue

  • Track units sold over different time periods

  • Compare performance across categories

Slow Movers:

  • Find products that aren't selling well

  • Consider pricing adjustments or promotions

  • Evaluate whether to discontinue items

Profit Analysis:

  • Calculate profit margins for each product

  • Identify most profitable items

  • Optimize pricing for better margins

Inventory Turnover

Monitor how efficiently inventory moves:

Turnover Rates:

  • Calculate how quickly products sell

  • Identify fast and slow-moving inventory

  • Optimize stock levels based on turnover

Seasonal Patterns:

  • Track seasonal demand changes

  • Adjust inventory levels for peak seasons

  • Plan promotions for slow periods

Integration with Sales

Adding Products to Bills

Products integrate seamlessly with the billing system:

  1. Create Client Bill: Start a new bill for a customer

  2. Search Products: Use the product search to find items

  3. Add to Bill: Select products and they're added with current pricing

  4. Tax Calculation: Taxes are calculated automatically based on product settings

  5. Process Payment: Complete the sale through the payment system

Automatic Updates

Sales automatically update inventory:

  • Stock levels decrease with each sale

  • Cost of goods sold is calculated (if purchase price is set)

  • Sales data is recorded for analytics

  • Tax liability is tracked for compliance

Best Practices

Product Information

  • Clear Names: Use descriptive, searchable product names

  • Detailed Descriptions: Provide comprehensive product information

  • Accurate Pricing: Keep prices current and competitive

  • Quality Images: Use clear, professional product photos

Inventory Management

  • Regular Counts: Perform periodic physical inventory counts

  • Accurate Minimums: Set realistic minimum stock levels

  • Timely Updates: Update stock levels promptly

  • Supplier Relationships: Maintain good supplier relationships for reliable restocking

Organization

  • Consistent Categories: Use logical, consistent category names

  • Meaningful SKUs: Develop a clear SKU system

  • Regular Cleanup: Remove discontinued products and update information

  • Staff Training: Ensure staff understand the product catalog system

The product management system in DiverDash provides all the tools you need to maintain an organized, efficient retail operation that integrates seamlessly with your dive center's sales and financial systems.

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