Van Stock Management: What Every UK Tradesman Should Carry
The average UK tradesman loses 12 hours per month driving back to merchants. That's £3,600 in lost earnings.
Lost annually from merchant runs during jobs
Every trip back to Screwfix is money lost. Time wasted. Customer frustrated.
After analyzing 500 UK trade vans, we've created the perfect stock list. Not too much (dead money). Not too little (wasted trips).
Print this. Check weekly. Never run back mid-job again.
The 80/20 Rule of Van Stock
20% of parts solve 80% of problems. Stock those. Leave the rest at the merchants.
The Economics:
Average van stock value: £2,500
Monthly stock turnover: £600 (24%)
Dead stock after 1 year: £400 (16%)
Sweet spot: £1,800-2,200 total stock value
Plumber Van Stock List
Essential Fittings
Consumables & Spares
Electrician Van Stock List
Cable & Wiring
The Cost of Getting It Wrong
| Scenario | Time Lost | Cost Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Trip to merchants (average) | 45 minutes | £48.75 lost revenue |
| Customer waiting | - | Reputation damage |
| Buying retail (not trade) | - | 40% higher cost |
| Monthly total (12 trips) | 9 hours | £585 lost |
Stock Rotation Strategy
Weekly Check (5 minutes):
- Count fast-moving items (fittings, screws)
- Check expiry dates (silicone, adhesives)
- Note what's running low
Monthly Audit (30 minutes):
- Full stock count
- Remove damaged/old stock
- Reorder to minimum levels
- Check for dead stock
Security Alert: £2,000+ of stock makes your van a target. Park secure, remove valuable items overnight, use additional locks.
The Stock Investment Formula
Your Ideal Stock Level:
Monthly revenue ÷ 10 = Maximum stock value
Example: £15,000 monthly revenue = £1,500 stock
Too much stock = Dead money
Too little stock = Lost time
Just right = Maximum profit
The Bottom Line
Perfect van stock management adds £3,600 to your bottom line.
Not from selling more. From wasting less time.
12 fewer merchant trips per month = 9 hours saved = 2 extra jobs completed = £540 extra revenue.
Plus customer satisfaction. Plus your sanity.
Start Today: Print this list. Do a stock audit. Order what's missing. Set a weekly check reminder. Watch your efficiency soar.
Track Stock Properly with Toolfy
Digital stock tracking, auto-reorder alerts, and link stock to jobs. See what's profitable and never run out of essentials.
Start Tracking Stock →* Stock recommendations based on survey of 500 UK tradesmen, December 2024. Actual needs vary by trade specialty, location, and customer base. Keep receipts for tax purposes.