Deguy Shifted from Annual Stock Counting to Daily Inventory Control
In the fashion and textile industry, maintaining accurate stock levels is an ongoing challenge. Scanning errors, picking mistakes and stock loss can cause inventory records to gradually drift away from reality. An item may still be listed in the system, even though it can no longer be found in the store.
In an omnichannel environment, these discrepancies have consequences that extend far beyond inventory management. Customers expect online stock availability and Click & Collect orders to reflect what is actually available in store. When they don't, the result can be disappointed customers, cancelled orders and employees spending valuable time searching for items or contacting other stores to check stock availability.
The solution is to move away from annual stocktakes towards continuous inventory control. This is exactly the transition Deguy has begun with the Genie Stock Count Agent.
From Jeans Brand to Fashion Retail Chain
Deguy’s story began in Bergen in 1974, when Ole Morten’s grandfather opened a store called Amanda. Among other brands, the store sold Deguy jeans, which later became the name of both the retail chain and its online store.
Today, Deguy operates seven stores across Bergen, Rogaland and Oslo, alongside its online store and in-house production.
From One Big Stock Count to a Daily Routine
Two years ago, Deguy switched to Front Systems, a POS system tailored to the fashion industry, and the team has been very happy with it. So when the opportunity arose to test the Genie Stock Count Agent, Deguy was quick to sign up as a pilot customer.
Previously, Deguy carried out one major stock count each year, usually just after Black Friday. The entire store was counted in one day, discrepancy reports were printed out, and many items had to be counted again. Meanwhile, inventory discrepancies could accumulate throughout the year, creating challenges in day-to-day operations.
Sometimes, an item would show as available in stock in Oslo, only for the customer to find that it wasn't there when they arrived. This caused frustration for both customers and employees.
«Our main priority is to advise customers and sell clothes, so having accurate stock levels is essential.»
With the Genie Stock Count Agent, Deguy has moved to a more continuous approach to stock counting. Instead of waiting until the annual stock count to identify discrepancies, the stores receive recommended stock counting lists that help them monitor inventory levels throughout the week.
«We’re always looking for better ways to do things. When we heard about the Genie Stock Count Agent, we were curious to see what it could do. We’re already seeing how stock accuracy improves over time.»
Today, Deguy’s stores and online warehouse carry out stock counting every weekday, based on recommendations from the Genie Stock Count Agent. The store manager or deputy manager is responsible for carrying out the counts. On busy days, they can prioritise other tasks, as the recommended stock count list is a helpful tool rather than a requirement.
On quieter days, stock counting typically takes around 10–20 minutes. This allows discrepancies to be identified and corrected as they arise, before they have a chance to build up.
Better Inventory Control, One Day at a Time
Deguy is already seeing tangible results from its new daily routine. When we spoke with Ole Morten, inventory accuracy had increased by 5%. So far, 19 stock counts had been completed, resulting in a total of 2,389 units being corrected.
These figures demonstrate how a continuous stock counting process helps identify and correct inventory discrepancies. Rather than allowing errors to accumulate over an entire year, the stores can work systematically to maintain inventory accuracy as part of their daily operations.
More reliable inventory records also help deliver a smoother customer experience. When stock availability more accurately reflects what's actually on hand, it's easier to find the items customers want, fulfil online orders and reduce the need for staff to call other stores to check stock levels.
Deguy is keen to continue building on these results.
A Solution Worth Trying
Deguy is always looking for smarter ways to run its business. Their experience with the Genie Stock Count Agent shows how a recommended daily stock counting process can make inventory control a natural part of everyday operations, rather than a major annual task.
When asked whether he would recommend that other retail chains try the solution, Ole Morten is clear:
«I would strongly recommend giving it a try.»
For Deguy, it’s about improving stock accuracy day by day and spending less time searching for items the system says are in stock.