Should I keep stocking up for the holidays while my liquor store is for sale?

A liquor store lives on its seasons. Holiday gifting, summer patios and long weekends all pull stock off the shelves, and empty shelves at those moments cost sales. If you pull back on ordering because a sale is pending, customers notice and your numbers weaken just when a buyer is reading them. The goal is to run the store as you always have and keep the closing clean.

Keep the normal pattern

Look at what you ordered in the same stretch last year and the year before. Use that as your guide, adjusted for anything that has changed in your sales. Keep the popular lines, the gift sets and the dated beer fresh. A buyer who visits the store and sees full, well-kept shelves gets a more accurate picture of what the store does in a busy season.

Avoid the overhang

The risk on the other side is ordering heavily in the hope of a big peak, then closing with a pile of unsold product. A large overhang makes the closing count harder and can lead to a dispute over what is counted. Items close to their date and slow movers are the usual sticking points. If you are unsure, order in steps and check sales against your plan.

Agree how stock is counted

Settle the method with the buyer before the count, not on the day. Who counts, what is included, how damaged or dated product is treated and how stock is paid for all belong in the purchase agreement discussion. Ask your lawyer to put the method in writing, and ask your accountant how the count ties to your financial statements.