# Inventory Management 101 - Get your inventory operations fit as a Fiddle

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2022-01-24
- Length: 44m
- Episode: 9
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-24-inventory-management-101-get-your-inventory-operations-fit-as-a-fiddle
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/7a9d8e37

## Summary

Ken Ojuka, CEO of Fiddle, explains that CPG founders must treat inventory as cash, managing finished goods, work-in-progress, and raw materials to avoid cash flow traps. He advises brands to maintain optionality with multiple co-packers and suppliers to mitigate vulnerability, citing Dan Kennedy's rule that having 'one' of anything is risky. Ojuka details how Fiddle centralizes supplier pricing and purchase orders to streamline audits for retailers like Costco and Target, and recommends implementing systems before scaling to avoid spreadsheet chaos.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-24-inventory-management-101-get-your-inventory-operations-fit-as-a-fiddle#t=3) Introduction: Ken Ojuka and Fiddle
- [3:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-24-inventory-management-101-get-your-inventory-operations-fit-as-a-fiddle#t=207) Fiddle Software Overview and CPG Challenges
- [5:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-24-inventory-management-101-get-your-inventory-operations-fit-as-a-fiddle#t=306) Inventory as Cash and Financial Perspective
- [9:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-24-inventory-management-101-get-your-inventory-operations-fit-as-a-fiddle#t=599) Co-packer Relationships and Supplier Optionality
- [14:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-24-inventory-management-101-get-your-inventory-operations-fit-as-a-fiddle#t=881) Sourcing, POs, and Audit Compliance
- [23:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-24-inventory-management-101-get-your-inventory-operations-fit-as-a-fiddle#t=1383) When to Implement Inventory Systems
- [29:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-24-inventory-management-101-get-your-inventory-operations-fit-as-a-fiddle#t=1794) Choosing Inventory Software and Red Flags
- [37:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-01-24-inventory-management-101-get-your-inventory-operations-fit-as-a-fiddle#t=2223) Fiddle Implementation and Onboarding Process

## Topics

- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Fiddle (product)
- Net Suite (tool)
- Shopify (tool)
- Costco (company)
- Target (company)
- Whole Foods (company)
- Brigham Young University (other)
- Liv Bar (company)
- UNFI (company)
- Walmart (company)
- Dan Kennedy (other)
- Facebook (company)
- Apple (company)
- SQF (other)
- GFSI (other)
- Oracle (company)
- SAP (company)
- Instagram (other)
- Pinterest (other)
- YouTube (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [217 - Erica Rankin on her packaging pivot at Bro Dough](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-10-10-217-erica-rankin-on-her-packaging-pivot-at-bro-dough) (People of Packaging)
- [Cash Is King](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-11-26-cash-is-king) (The Amp Hour)
- [79: An Ever-Widening Funnel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-04-21-79-an-ever-widening-funnel) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Family Businesses, Moneyball, and Supply Chain Innovation with ShelfAware CEO Andrew Johnson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2020-10-13-family-businesses-moneyball-and-supply-chain-innovation-with-shelfaware-ceo-andr) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [076: Warehousing, Fulfillment, and Shipping to Customers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-05-19-076-warehousing-fulfillment-and-shipping-to-customers) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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