The Retail Trifecta: Inventory, Transactions, Receivables
In the fast-paced world of retail, profitability depends on precision—from warehouse to register. But here’s the sobering reality:
- 8.3% of potential retail sales are lost due to stockouts alone (Financial Times, 2024).
- On the B2B side, it’s no better: 55% of invoices are overdue and 9% go entirely unpaid (Kaplan Collection Agency, 2023).
- Another 4% slips through the cracks due to inventory and fulfillment inefficiencies
- Meanwhile, consumer credit delinquencies are rising, even as card balances remain high (TransUnion Q1 2025).
The Double-Whammy Impact on Retail Margins
Retailers fight tooth and nail to optimize inventory. But what about after the sale?
What’s the thread? Cash leakage—upstream and downstream.
Products move off shelves and into B2B partner pipelines…but payment lags behind, or worse, disappears altogether.
This leaves a dangerous imbalance: operational costs continue, revenue doesn’t.
It’s not just a matter of unpaid invoices—it’s lost opportunity, margin erosion, and a weakened wholesale ecosystem.
Caine & Weiner: Where Inventory Becomes Liquidity
We help retail brands connect what they’ve sold to what they’ve collected.
Our custom-built receivables strategy for retail includes:
- Seamless ERP integration: Linking orders, shipments, and payments for real-time reconciliation.
- Automated reminders: Targeted outreach before payment risk becomes a collections crisis.
- Relationship-first escalations: Designed to protect valuable distribution partnerships and maintain reorder cycles.
Inventory sells. But invoices close the loop.
In retail, every unpaid invoice is the financial equivalent of a shelf with no product. With Caine & Weiner’s strategic approach, companies can reclaim their lost cash, reduce operational drag, and build a smoother, smarter revenue cycle.
It’s not just about collecting payments—it’s about protecting profit.