Craftybase Stocksmith

Why?

Manufacturing

Inventory management, manufacturing, and business strategy for small-batch product businesses.

How to Calculate Your Reorder Point (The Formula That Actually Works for Manufacturers)

inventory management

How to Calculate Your Reorder Point (The Formula That Actually Works for Manufacturers)

The reorder point formula tells you exactly when to place a new purchase order, before you run out mid-production. Here's how to calculate it for raw materials.

· 15 min read
Multi-Channel Inventory Management for Product Businesses

inventory management

Multi-Channel Inventory Management for Product Businesses

Multi-channel inventory management is harder when you manufacture. Here's why, and how product businesses keep raw materials and finished goods in sync across Shopify, Etsy, and wholesale.

· 16 min read
How to Calculate Manufacturing Cost Per Unit (Including the Variables Most Guides Miss)

pricing

How to Calculate Manufacturing Cost Per Unit (Including the Variables Most Guides Miss)

Learn the manufacturing cost per unit formula, including yield loss, batch variance, and overhead allocation: the variables most pricing guides skip entirely.

· 19 min read
How to Track Material Inventory Alongside Shopify (A Guide for Product-Based Sellers)

inventory management

How to Track Material Inventory Alongside Shopify (A Guide for Product-Based Sellers)

Shopify tracks finished products. It doesn't track raw materials, recipes, or what it cost to make each item. Here's how to build the inventory layer Shopify is missing — specifically for Shopify sellers who manufacture what they sell.

· 19 min read
Best MRP Software for Small Manufacturing Businesses in 2026

manufacturing

Best MRP Software for Small Manufacturing Businesses in 2026

MRP software isn't one-size-fits-all. Small-batch manufacturers and product businesses need different things than factories with 200 employees. Here's an honest breakdown of the best options.

· 17 min read
Switching from Katana to Stocksmith — A Migration Guide for Small-Batch Manufacturers

inventory management

Switching from Katana to Stocksmith — A Migration Guide for Small-Batch Manufacturers

You've decided to leave Katana. Good. Here's exactly how to get your data out, get set up in Stocksmith, and what to expect when you make the switch — including the honest bit about what you'll lose.

· 16 min read
Best Inventory Management Systems for Small Manufacturers in 2026

inventory management

Best Inventory Management Systems for Small Manufacturers in 2026

Inventory software built for retail counts widgets. Small manufacturers need something different: raw material tracking, COGS calculation, and production-aware stock. Here are the best options in 2026.

· 17 min read
How to Track Cost of Goods Sold in WooCommerce (Plugins vs. Manufacturing Software)

bookkeeping tax

How to Track Cost of Goods Sold in WooCommerce (Plugins vs. Manufacturing Software)

WooCommerce doesn't track COGS natively. Compare plugin options against dedicated manufacturing software, and see why product businesses producing their own goods need more than a static cost field.

· 19 min read
Shopify Stocky Discontinued — Why Stocky Is Shutting Down and What to Do Next

inventory management

Shopify Stocky Discontinued — Why Stocky Is Shutting Down and What to Do Next

Shopify Stocky is discontinued and shutting down August 31, 2026. Key features like inventory transfers and forecasting are already gone. Here's what happened to Stocky, why it was removed from the Shopify App Store, and the best alternatives for product businesses who manufacture products.

· 18 min read
QuickBooks for Small Manufacturers: What It Does, Where It Falls Short, and What to Use Instead

bookkeeping tax

QuickBooks for Small Manufacturers: What It Does, Where It Falls Short, and What to Use Instead

QuickBooks is excellent accounting software — but it wasn't built for makers who manufacture products. Here's an honest look at what it does well, where it breaks down for small manufacturers, and how to build a system that actually works.

· 27 min read
Cannabis Manufacturing Software — Affordable Alternatives to Industry-Specific Platforms

inventory management

Cannabis Manufacturing Software — Affordable Alternatives to Industry-Specific Platforms

Let's be honest - as a cannabis manufacturer, you're drowning in compliance paperwork, second-guessing your costs, and losing sleep over whether you're tracking things correctly. The $500/month platforms want you to believe that's your only option—but what most small manufacturers actually need is something simpler: cost tracking that's accurate, inventory that's honest, and software that doesn't require a computer science degree.

· 12 min read
What is MRP in Manufacturing? A Guide for Small Manufacturers

inventory management

What is MRP in Manufacturing? A Guide for Small Manufacturers

Material Requirements Planning (MRP) helps small manufacturers know exactly what materials to order, when to order them, and how much to produce. Here's how it works — and why it matters more than most manufacturers realise.

· 16 min read
Planning Software for Manufacturing — What MRP Software Actually Does

inventory management

Planning Software for Manufacturing — What MRP Software Actually Does

If you're running a small manufacturing business, MRP planning software can transform how you manage materials, production, and costs. Here's exactly what it does — and why spreadsheets can't keep up.

· 21 min read
Manufacturing Inventory Management — The Complete Guide for Small Manufacturers

inventory management

Manufacturing Inventory Management — The Complete Guide for Small Manufacturers

What is manufacturing inventory management, and how does it work for small-batch manufacturers? This guide covers key terms, formulas, multi-channel sync, and software options.

· 20 min read
What does GMP stand for in Manufacturing?

compliance

What does GMP stand for in Manufacturing?

GMP stands for Good Manufacturing Practice: guidelines covering documentation, facilities, equipment, and traceability. Here's what it means for small manufacturers.

· 19 min read