The STAT column stands for STATUS. The status of an item tells other parts of the system how to process this item. If it's an active item, the register knows its okay to sell it. The purchase order program will tell you when you need to reorder it. You can make an item "inactive" or "discontinued" if you don't want to carry it any longer. Some items are marked as a "kit" item. Gift baskets are a good example. You'll create the kit item and tell the computer what items are contained in the gift basket. When the kit is sold, inventory is deducted from each item in the basket. Some items are flagged as a "transfer" or "linked" item. Beer is a good example. If you make your own six-packs out of thirty-packs, you can link the two items together to help you control inventory. We can make the thirty-pack item the "active" item and the six-pack item the "linked" item. The active item stores all the inventory counts and sales history collectively for the two items. This way when you break up a thirty-pack to turn it into six-packs, you don't have to modify your inventory counts. The computer already knows you have thirty units and it doesn't matter whether they are in the form of five six-packs or one thirty-pack.

If you are using "linked" items, the STOCK SKU is the active item that the linked item is connected to-the item that stores inventory counts and sales history.

WEEKS is a calculated figure. Based upon how much you sold in the past and based upon how much inventory you have left in stock, WEEKS tells you how long inventory will last you. In our example, we have enough inventory to last 4.2 weeks. Depending upon your sales activity, 4.2 weeks may be too much inventory to carry. Perhaps your money is better spent buying other products or paying the utility bill. It helps you know where you are overstocked.