Every wine shop owner knows both problems. On a busy weekend a popular brand runs out and customers walk to the next shop. Meanwhile, slow brands sit on the shelf for weeks and lock up money you could have used elsewhere.
Both problems usually come from the same place: the indent. When the order you place with the state corporation is based on memory or a rough count, you end up ordering too little of what sells and too much of what doesn’t. This guide explains how to plan your liquor indent from real stock and sales data, and how Liquor Counter makes that faster.
What Is a Liquor Indent?
An indent is the stock order a wine shop places with its state beverages corporation. Depending on where you operate, that is:
- TGBCL in Telangana
- APSBCL in Andhra Pradesh
- OSBCL in Odisha
Because you order from the corporation rather than from many distributors, each indent matters. What you order now decides what you can sell over the coming days.
Why Indents Go Wrong
Most indent mistakes are not about carelessness. They happen because the shop doesn’t have clear numbers in front of it when the order is made.
Ordering from memory
The owner or manager remembers that a brand “sells well” and orders a round number. But demand changes week to week, and memory doesn’t keep up.
Stock counts that are out of date
If the closing stock wasn’t entered properly, the indent starts from the wrong number. You may think you have ten cases of a brand when you actually have four.
No link between sales and stock
When billing and stock live in different places, nobody can quickly see which brands are moving fast and which are not moving at all.
The Cost of Getting It Wrong
| Problem | What happens in the shop |
|---|---|
| Stock-out | Customers ask for a brand you don’t have, and many leave for another shop |
| Overstock | Slow-moving stock occupies shelf and storeroom space and ties up cash |
| Wrong mix | You have plenty of stock overall, but not of the brands and sizes people ask for |
| Last-minute indents | Orders are rushed and errors creep in |
The goal of indent planning is simple: order enough of what sells, and less of what doesn’t.
How to Plan an Indent: A Simple Method
You can follow these steps with or without software, but each one depends on accurate data.
Step 1: Start with today’s real stock
Begin with what is actually in hand, brand by brand and size by size. This is why a correct daily closing stock is so important. Every indent is built on top of it.
Step 2: Look at recent sales, not last year’s
Check how much of each brand you sold recently. Recent sales tell you far more about next week than a feeling about what “usually” sells.
Step 3: Separate fast movers from slow movers
Fast movers need regular, steady indents so they never run out. Slow movers should be ordered carefully, in smaller quantities, until they start moving.
Step 4: Watch for unusual movement
A sudden jump or drop in a brand’s sales is a signal. It may mean you should order more, or hold back.
Step 5: Check schemes before you order
Major liquor companies run schemes from time to time. Knowing which schemes are active helps you decide what to stock up on.
Step 6: Review the estimate, then place the order
Use the numbers as your starting point, adjust for anything you know locally, such as a festival or a local event, and then place the indent.
How Liquor Counter Helps With Indent Planning
Liquor Counter is the POS at your billing counter, so every sale is recorded as it happens. That sales data feeds directly into stock and indent planning.
Stock position tracking in real time
The stock position view shows what is in hand for each brand. Because billing and stock are in the same system, the numbers update as you sell, with real-time tracking.
Auto indent suggestions based on recent sales
Liquor Counter suggests indent quantities based on your recent sales. Instead of starting from a blank page, you start from a suggestion and adjust it.
Indent estimate report
The indent estimate report brings stock and sales together so you can see what to order before you contact the corporation. It turns Steps 1 to 3 above into a single report.
Reorder suggestions and stock movement alerts
Reorder suggestions flag brands that are running low. Stock movement alerts tell you when a brand’s movement changes, so you notice fast and slow movers early (Step 4).
Scheme tracking
Liquor Counter tracks schemes from major companies, so you can check active schemes while planning your order (Step 5).
Works offline
Liquor Counter is offline-ready and works without internet, so billing and stock records continue even when the connection drops. Your indent data stays complete.
Manual Indent vs Indent With Liquor Counter
| Task | Manual method | With Liquor Counter |
|---|---|---|
| Know current stock | Count shelves or check a register | Stock position tracking, updated in real time |
| Know recent sales | Add up bills or guess | Sales recorded at billing on the POS |
| Decide quantities | Experience and round numbers | Auto indent suggestions based on recent sales |
| Spot low stock | Notice when a shelf is empty | Reorder suggestions |
| Spot changes in demand | Often missed | Stock movement alerts |
| Check schemes | Ask around | Scheme tracking from major companies |
Indent Planning Tips for Wine Shop Owners
- Close stock every day. A good indent starts with a correct closing stock.
- Plan before the order day. Look at the indent estimate a little ahead, not at the last minute.
- Keep fast movers covered. Running out of a popular brand costs more than holding a little extra of it.
- Be careful with slow movers. Order smaller quantities and review again next time.
- Share the numbers. Easy reports let you share stock and sales with partners and keep records ready for excise audits.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is an indent estimate?
It is a report that combines your current stock and recent sales to help you work out what to order next. In Liquor Counter, the indent estimate report and auto indent suggestions give you a starting quantity for each brand.
2. Does Liquor Counter place the indent with TGBCL, APSBCL or OSBCL for me?
No. Liquor Counter helps you plan the indent with suggestions and reports. You still place the order with your state corporation as you do today.
3. How are the indent suggestions calculated?
They are based on your recent sales and your current stock position, which Liquor Counter already records because it is your billing POS.
4. Will it work if the internet goes down?
Yes. Liquor Counter is offline-ready and works without internet, so sales and stock keep being recorded.
Plan Your Next Indent With Confidence
Stop guessing what to order. Book a free demo and we’ll show you how Liquor Counter’s stock position, auto indent suggestions and indent estimate report help your wine shop avoid stock-outs and overstock.