OT: knowing what items to stock?

[cgchris99]

I have a problem. For my store, there is too many inventory items to possibly stock everything. At least on my budget.

 

I have a few vendors that drop ship for me and this is great when I don't have the items on hand.

 

I don't sell shirts but for my industry the number of options are the same. How do you know how much of any color, size, brand, etc to buy?

 

I hate the idea of buying the wrong items and then have them not sell or having to sell them for a loss.

 

Do you only buy certain items but show all items in the catalog with some of them not in stock?

 

Any ideas or opinons?

 

thanks