Shop stock location labels give each shelf, rack or bin a stable address so you can find goods and put them back correctly. Pair those labels with a simple product-to-location map and a record of moves. This guide shows a practical shelf numbering system, a copyable location sheet and a small-shop example.
Set up shop stock location labels in one area
Start with the backroom shelf that causes the most searching. Give each fixed position a short code that someone can read aloud without guessing.
For example, B-A-02 can mean backroom, rack A, shelf 02. Number shelves from the bottom upwards and use the same direction everywhere. Put a small key beside the entrance so the code is understandable without the owner’s help.
| Location code | Meaning | Where to attach the label |
|---|---|---|
| B-A-01 | Backroom, rack A, bottom shelf | Front edge of the shelf |
| B-A-02 | Backroom, rack A, second shelf | Front edge of the shelf |
| S-B-01 | Shop floor, rack B, bottom shelf | Front edge facing the aisle |
| B-C-01 | Backroom, rack C, bottom shelf | Beside the marked storage space |
These are suggested codes, not a compulsory format. Large handwritten cards are enough to begin. Keep labels visible when cartons are stacked, and add familiar local-language descriptions if they help your shop.
Attach the location code to the shelf itself. A carton can carry a separate note saying where it belongs, but that note should not become a second address when someone moves the carton.
Keep a product-to-location map
A location answers “where?” The item name answers “what?” Keep both so a shopper asking for a particular pack does not send you to every box on the rack.
Use the same product name and pack size as your billing catalogue. Our shop item naming guide explains how to distinguish similar products. Here, the extra job is connecting each product to its physical position.
| Product | Unit used for counting | Usual position | Overflow position | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel scrubber, single pack | Pack | S-B-01 | B-A-02 | 22/10/2026 |
| Cloth clips, pack of 12 | Pack | S-B-02 | B-C-01 | 22/10/2026 |
Keep one current copy near the counter or on the shop computer. Mark an empty overflow position as empty when the last carton leaves. Otherwise, an old entry can send someone searching for stock that has already been moved.
If several products share a shelf, use dividers or clearly marked spaces. Do not cover product names, barcodes or package information with your location stickers.
Record a move when it happens
For a small shop, a short notebook entry can connect the physical move with the location map:
Date and time → item → quantity and unit → from → to → moved by → checked.
For example: 22/10/2026, 10:15 → steel scrubber, single pack → 12 packs → B-A-02 → S-B-01 → Meena → checked.
Record the destination actually used. If the usual shelf is full and the goods go to B-C-01 instead, update the record before forgetting. A note saying only “shifted to backroom” loses the detail that makes the system useful.
Use one counting unit for the move. If you open a carton containing 12 packs, moving six packs means six packs in the record, not half a carton in one column and six packs in another.
Worked example: replenishing a Pune shop shelf
Imagine Meena’s household-goods shop in Pune. Her location sheet shows 36 scrubber packs in B-A-02 and six packs on S-B-01. There are 42 packs altogether.
She moves 12 packs to the selling shelf, then sells four packs to a local customer.
| Stage | Backroom B-A-02 | Selling shelf S-B-01 | Shop total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before the move | 36 | 6 | 42 |
| After moving 12 packs | 24 | 18 | 42 |
| After selling four packs | 24 | 14 | 38 |
The move changes where the goods are. The sale reduces the total. Recording the move as another purchase would incorrectly increase stock.
Assume the final billed selling amount is ₹60 per pack: 4 × ₹60 = ₹240 collected. This is an illustrative final amount, not a product GST-rate example. For an ordinary taxable sale with both the supplier location and place of supply in Maharashtra, CGST and SGST apply; see CBIC’s supply FAQ, question 85. Confirm the current product classification and rate on gst.gov.in or with your CA.
Keep the shelf map useful after the first week
Choose a few mapped items and ask someone to find them using only the sheet. If they need extra directions, improve the label or description.
When shelves are rearranged, update the labels and map together. Check overflow positions before ordering more of an apparently missing item. If quantities disagree, use a physical stock count to investigate before changing the recorded balance.
A shelf code is an internal finding aid. For registered persons, CGST Rule 56(5)(c) requires records of storage-premises addresses and the stock held there, including storage during transit. A rack label alone does not provide that information. Before using a separate godown or moving goods between premises, confirm the current registration, documentation and tax requirements with your CA.
Use Yojika alongside your physical labels
Yojika has named storage locations and a Transfer stock action. In Settings, find Storage locations and choose Manage locations to add a name. With two or more locations, you can choose Transfer stock, select the item, source, destination and quantity, then record the transfer. The transfer changes the location split while keeping the item’s total stock unchanged.
Choose a level you can keep accurate: broad areas such as “Shop” and “Backroom” may be easier to maintain in software, with detailed shelf positions on your manual map. Physically moving a carton still needs a corresponding record from you.
See the storage-location guide for the workflow, explore Yojika’s inventory and billing features, or download Yojika to try the process. Start with one rack and make its labels, map and recorded movements agree before expanding.
Frequently asked questions
What should shop stock location labels contain?
Use a short code for the area, rack and shelf, plus a plain-language description where useful. Keep the code attached to the place and record which products are currently stored there in a separate map.
Can one product have more than one storage location?
Yes. List its usual shelf and any overflow position under the same product identity. Record quantities in a consistent unit so you do not count a carton and its contents twice.
Should I change total stock when moving goods between shelves?
Moving the same goods between shelves changes their location, not the shop’s total quantity. Update your location record; record any sale, damage or actual shortage separately after checking it.
Does Yojika detect when I move a box?
You must record the move yourself. Yojika provides named storage locations and a Transfer stock action, while physical labels and a shelf map help you find the goods.