What Is Dead Stock?
Dead stock (also called dormant stock, slow-moving stock or unsold inventory) refers to all the items in your store that haven't generated any sales over a given period, typically between 3 and 6 months, depending on your sector.
In other words: it's merchandise you've already paid for, taking up space in your shop or warehouse, but generating zero revenue.
The most common causes are:
• Overestimated purchases at the start of the season
• Trends that evolved faster than expected
• End-of-range or end-of-collection products
• Customer returns that were never put back on sale
• Ordering or cataloguing errors
In the clothing and sports sector, this phenomenon is particularly pronounced: collections change two to four times a year, systematically leaving retailers stuck with unsold stock.
How to Calculate Your Dead Stock?
Before making decisions, you need to measure. Here's the simple method to identify and quantify your dead stock in just a few minutes.
Step 1 — Define your dormancy threshold
Choose a reference period: 90 days is the standard in fashion and sport. Any item with no sale in that period is considered dead stock.
Step 2 — Export your inventory
From your POS software, export the list of your items with their last sale date (or their stock entry date if they've never been sold).
Step 3 — Calculate the tied-up value
Apply this simple formula:
Dead Stock Value = Stock Quantity × Unit Purchase Price
Concrete example: if you have 200 unsold sportswear items purchased at an average of €25, your dead stock represents €5,000 of tied-up capital — not counting storage costs.
Calculate how much you're losing
Why Does Dead Stock Cost You Money?
Many retailers think dead stock is a passive problem — it's there, it does nothing, it doesn't get worse. That's a mistake. Every day that passes, your dead stock costs you money in multiple ways.
1. The cost of tied-up capital
Money invested in this stock cannot be reinvested in new collections, marketing, or your working capital. It's a direct opportunity cost.
2. Storage costs
Every square metre occupied by an item that doesn't sell has a cost: rent, electricity, insurance. In a physical store, this cost is particularly high.
3. Depreciation
In textile and sport, items lose value over time. A winter jacket sold in March is already worth less than in November. The longer you wait, the less you'll get.
4. Lost floor space
A rack cluttered with unsold goods is a rack that can't accommodate new arrivals. You're losing potential sales on your new collections.
How to Get Rid of It with Ekwip?
Ekwip is the all-in-one solution specifically designed for physical retailers who want to sell their unsold stock on major marketplaces — with no online shop, no technical skills, and no time investment required.
How does it work?
• You scan the EAN barcode of your unsold items
• Ekwip automatically retrieves all product information (photos, descriptions, specifications)
• Your items are listed for sale on Amazon, Vinted, Decathlon Marketplace and many more
• Ekwip handles orders, shipments, and customer service
• You receive your revenue directly
Result: your dead stock becomes revenue, with no effort on your part. You recover cash flow, free up space in your shop, and make room for your new collections.