Big versus efficient.

Because of my experience with debt in the first half of my career, I now deduct what I spend from the budget when I order it, rather than when it comes due. This keeps me in check. Sometimes it doesn't come due until much later, but I can always be assured that it's covered in the budget. 

Throwing the door open to Simon & Shuster, Harper Collins, and Scholastic has complicated things immensely. This on top of already ordering from Ingram and Penguin Random House. 

When I first started ordering, it was strictly from Ingram. I knew exactly what I was spending and when it was due. But the profit margin was frozen at about 10 to 15% less than I could get from the publishers. 

Now I'm juggling multiple invoices, arrivals times, and due dates. Each of these publishers have their own accounting methods and procedures. It's taking time to learn the quirks, but it should get easier.

The thing is: I know I have the money. Because I spent it when I ordered. So however confusing it all is,  we're fine. I just like knowing where I'm at.

What's happening is that I'm relinquishing the fine tuning that I'm used to doing. Instead of constantly monitoring the inventory level, I moving to keeping track of the budget. A constant flow of books is replacing specific orders. Because there are more books coming in, I'm not worrying as much whether I have a particular book.

I think this is the direction the store has to go, if I'm not involved. I'm a bit obsessive about having every single title I think we should have as quickly as possible. Because of that I'm willing to spend hours and hours checking, ordering, and putting out everything as early as possible. 

But I don't think other people can be expected to be this way. 

I've always said, the big chains stores aren't efficient--they're big. They compensate by not have specific items by having tons of items. 

In a minor way, this is where we are transitioning. A constant flow of good material will have to work to replace a fine turned monitoring of each title. Anything else will burn out anyone who doesn't enjoy the process as much as I do.