Working capital is not an abstract finance term — it is the cash sitting on your shelves and in your back room while rent still posts on the first.
Right-sizing buys
Start from turns, not from supplier MOQs. Rank SKUs by gross margin and days on hand. If an item is profitable but slow, shrink the facing before you drop it entirely — seasonal demand in Lagos can swing with schools, holidays, and weather.
Shrinkage honesty
Separate known waste (damaged goods) from unknown loss. Unknown loss usually points to process: who opens, who counts, who signs off? A simple daily closing tally beats a dramatic stocktake once a year.
Proof on your listing
Upload current shelf photos, list bundle sizes, and state return policies plainly. Customers who see clarity spend less time haggling and more time buying — which protects your margin.
Note
Composite owner guidance informed by common Lagos retail patterns; adapt to your category.