How to run a partial stock take with Pimsical

What is a partial stock take?

A partial stock take lets you count a specific group of products, section of your store or particular type of stock. This can be useful for regular cycle counting, checking discrepancies or counting stock that has recently arrived, all through your POS device and Stock Takes by Pimsical.

Why use cycle counting?

There are a number of occasions when a partial stock take can be useful:

• Regular cycle counts — Count smaller sections of your inventory regularly rather than waiting for a full stock take. Smaller counts can also be easier for your team to fit around day-to-day retail activity.
• Checking a particular product range — For example, footwear, accessories or a particular brand.
• Checking stock discrepancies — If you think the stock level for a particular group of products isn't correct, a focused count can help you identify the issue.
• New stock — Check stock when it arrives in store.

When should you perform a partial stock take?

Here's an example of how you can integrate cycle counts into your day-to-day operations:

Partial stock take vs full stock take

Not sure which type of stock take is right for you? This table can help:

If you're looking to run a full stock take, see our guide to running a retail stock take. If a partial stock take is right for you, read on to learn how to create, scan and complete one.

Creating your partial stock take

Before you start

You'll need:

1. Shopify POS set up for your store.
2. Stock Takes by Pimsical installed on your Shopify store.
3. Stock Takes added to your Shopify POS.
4. A barcode scanner or the camera on your POS device if you want to scan products.

Create a new stock take

Open Stock Takes by Pimsical in Shopify Admin and create a new stock take. Select the location you want to count and give the stock take a name that makes it clear what is being counted, for example October Cycle Count - books. You can also create stock takes on POS, but using the Shopify Admin part of the app will allow you to filter the products for a partial count.

Check out our video or read the guide below.

Choose what you want to count

To make this a partial stock take, choose the products or product group you want to include. You can filter by product type, tag or vendor. This step is optional, depending on why you're counting. It can help with reporting and accuracy, but you can still count without selecting a group. If you're adding stock that has just arrived, you may not need to filter the products.

For a larger store, you could create separate partial stock takes for different areas.

Joining the stock take on Shopify POS

1. Open the Stock Takes app on your Shopify POS.
2. Find and select the stock take you created.
3. Click Join stock take.
4. Start counting.

Multiple devices can participate in the same stock take to help speed up counting.

Counting your stock

Scan your products

1. Scan the barcode of each product you're counting.
2. Stock Takes records the quantity as you scan.
3. Use the camera on your device or a compatible barcode scanner.
4. Continue until you've counted all the products in your selected list.

Check your counts

Review the products you've counted and check that the quantities look correct. You can also run a comparison report to check you've scanned everything intended.

Finishing your partial stock take

End and action the stock take

Once you're happy with what's been counted, end and action the stock take. Read the available options carefully and select the right one, as actioning the stock take updates your Shopify inventory.

Tips for successful cycle counts

• Count regularly — Smaller, frequent counts can be easier to manage than relying on one large stock take.
• Start with the products that matter most — Consider high-value or fast-moving products first.
• Use a scanner where possible — Scanning each product can help reduce manual counting errors.
• Give team members clear sections — This can make larger counts easier to organise.
• Check the results before actioning — Make sure everyone has finished counting and the quantities look correct.

Need help with your stock take? See our guide to running stock takes or get in touch with any questions.