(This feature is available in BCSS Deluxe, Diamond and Virtual.)

Inventory Categories

It would be helpful to know about 'User-Defined Groups, before adding items to Inventory. User-Defined Groups make inventory categorization more exact and inventory entry more efficient.

Categorize Inventory

Keeping inventory well-organized avoids confusion, mistakes and frustration. Each item's 'identity' distinguishes it from all other items. What is it? Whose is it? What is the Consignor %? When and how much are discounts? How many are in stock?

Each inventory item may be identified by Item ID, Description, Details, Bar Code, Price, (store) Location, Owner (consignor), Seller (resales), Picture, In Date, Date Discounted, Date Sold and by User-Defined Groups.

In turn, item identification allows 'grouping' (categorization): To what group or groups does an item belong (for special sales, for discounting, for labels, etc.)? Where should it be located in the store? Is it seasonal?

Structured categorization also allows store owners to provide employees with guidelines for accurately describing (categorizing) each item, lending uniformity and reducing the potential for confusion.

A basic software program allows for a limited 'description' (which might be printed on price labels) and a detailed description (a longer description which might appear on 'detailed price labels' and 'detailed reports').

Category Configuration in BCSS

Defining Categories is one of the first steps in configuring BCSS for your business. This must be done before a default Category may be designated in Program Setup and it is necessary before items can be added to Inventory (so that items may be properly categorized).

Defining Categories

Select Categories from the Inventory Menu:

Add a Category

To add a New Category, enter the name of the Category in the box at the bottom:

and press 'Create New Category'.

Repeat for other Categories and  click 'Save Changes':

Type or copy/paste a list of Categories (separated by commas - no space after the commas - example: beds,chairs,sofas - Enter up to 500 characters). Press Create New Category to enter all Categories at once.

The Default Discount Schedule (set in Program Setup, Consignors) will apply to each category entered and items in the Category will be taxable unless the 'Tax-Free' box is checked. (Sales Taxes are set in Program Setup, Sales.)

A dollar amount may be entered in the 'Tax Above' column. Any item sold below that amount would not be subject to sales tax. The Tax-Free box must remain unchecked. (One application of this feature is that clothing is not taxable below stipulated amounts in some jurisdictions.

Edit a Category Name

To change the name of a Category, select the Category by clicking on it. Its name will appear in the Name Box.

Make desired changes to the name and select Save Edited Category.

When finished editing or adding Categories, select Saves Changes and Exit.

User-Defined Groups

Please see User-Defined Groups.

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