Why I Use SKUs — And Why You Should Too

Back when I was in the Marines, I worked in supply administration. Everything we managed — from basic supplies to specialized gear — had a SKU or an NSN (National Stock Number). Those codes weren’t just random numbers; they told you what the item was, how many you had, and where it was going. It created order in the chaos, and I learned early on how important that was.

Later, while working at Home Depot, SKUs came into play again. Every product — carpet, bolts, tools — had a unique SKU tied to pricing, inventory, and identification.

So when I started selling cards and comics, I knew right away that I needed a system — and SKUs became that system.

How I Use SKUs to Organize My Inventory

Here’s a look at how I organize my card inventory using SKUs and team dividers:

Cards organized by Team and SKU

SKU Number stickers I use

I separate cards by team, using labeled index tabs in long boxes. Each card has a SKU sticker. When a card sells, I go straight to the team section and pull the exact card using the SKU. This avoids confusion — especially when I have multiple versions of the same player or parallel.

Why SKUs Matter — Even for Small Sellers

• Avoids shipping the wrong item

• Helps distinguish condition variants (NM vs EX, etc.)

• Speeds up order pulling and relisting

• Links your spreadsheet to real inventory

• Makes it easy to grow and bring in help later

• Lets you track trends and spot your best sellers

You don’t need a warehouse or expensive software to start using SKUs. Something as simple as TC001 for trading cards or ASM300-NM for comics can keep your business sharp and organized.

Whether you’re just listing casually or trying to build something bigger, a good SKU system saves time, reduces mistakes, and helps you think like a real seller.

Got a system that works for you? Drop a comment or shoot me a message — I’m always open to learning how others in the hobby do it.