Stocky Is Being Sunset: How Retailers Are Managing Inventory and Orders Without It
Shopify has announced that Stocky is being sunset, and many boutique retailers are now re-evaluating how they manage inventory planning, orders, and receiving.
For years, Stocky helped stores understand when products were created and how inventory moved through their system. With Stocky going away, retailers are asking important questions:
How do I manage incoming inventory without Stocky?
How can I plan buys and budgets before products arrive?
What’s the best Shopify Stocky alternative for boutiques?
The good news: many retailers have already transitioned to a better, more flexible workflow.
Separating Inventory Planning from Selling
One of the biggest changes boutiques are making is separating inventory planning and ordering from selling and fulfillment.
Instead of trying to manage everything inside Shopify, retailers are using FAVES to plan orders, track budgets, and manage incoming inventory — while continuing to use Shopify as their selling platform.
This approach gives stores visibility earlier in the buying process and reduces the chaos that often happens at receiving.
How Retailers Use FAVES to Manage Orders and Inventory
Boutiques are using FAVES in different ways depending on how they operate — and that flexibility is intentional.
1. Planning Buys at Market or Online
Retailers enter products into FAVES at market or when placing online orders, including images, styles, pricing, categories, and expected delivery windows. Inventory is organized by month, season, and category, making it easy to see what’s coming and when.
2. Tracking Budgets in Real Time
Because orders live in FAVES before inventory arrives, retailers can track budgets by category, brand, or season as they buy — not after the fact. This helps prevent overbuying and highlights gaps early.
3. Preparing Shopify Ahead of Receiving (Optional)
Some boutiques choose to push products from FAVES to Shopify before inventory is received. This allows them to:
See product images in Shopify
Build collections and merchandising in advance
Prepare their online store before deliveries arrive
4. Receiving Inventory with Clarity
Other retailers wait to upload products to Shopify until inventory is physically received. When items arrive, they are marked as received in FAVES and pushed to Shopify only when they’re sell-ready.
Because receiving and uploading to Shopify are disconnected in FAVES, retailers can choose — or combine — the workflow that best fits their business.
“We put everything into FAVES at market, clean it up when we get home, and push it to Shopify when we’re ready. It keeps our budget in check and helps us see gaps before inventory arrives.” — Brianne Howard, Owner of Stella Ivy
Why This Flexible Workflow Replaces Stocky More Effectively
Rather than forcing a single process, FAVES gives boutiques control over how inventory moves from planning to selling.
Retailers gain:
Visibility into future inventory and delivery timing
Real-time budget tracking before products arrive
The ability to prep Shopify in advance or keep it clean until receiving
Fewer surprises and less last-minute work
This flexibility is especially valuable as boutiques grow, add channels, or change how they buy.
Learning from Real Boutiques
Many of these workflows are coming directly from boutique owners who previously relied on Stocky and are now managing inventory more intentionally.
Hearing how real retailers plan, budget, and receive inventory has proven far more helpful than simply replacing one app with another.
As Stocky sunsets, the opportunity isn’t just to find a replacement, it’s to build a smarter, calmer inventory process that supports the way your business actually runs.
If you’re navigating the transition away from Stocky and want to see how other boutiques are managing planning, budgets, and receiving, learning from real workflows can be incredibly helpful.
We regularly host short, informal intros where retailers share how they use FAVES in their day-to-day buying process.
Is Shopify Stocky being sunset?
Yes. Shopify has announced that Stocky is being sunset and will be discontinued. New installs are no longer available, and retailers are encouraged to transition to alternative inventory planning workflows.
What is a good Shopify Stocky alternative for boutiques?
Many boutiques are using FAVES as a Stocky alternative to manage inventory planning, budgets, and incoming orders before products are sold in Shopify.
Can FAVES replace Stocky?
FAVES does not replicate Stocky feature-for-feature. Instead, it replaces the planning, ordering, and visibility that retailers used Stocky for, while offering more flexibility in how and when products are uploaded to Shopify.
Do I have to wait until inventory is received to upload products to Shopify?
No. With FAVES, uploading products to Shopify and receiving inventory are separate actions. Some retailers upload products early to prepare their store, while others wait until inventory arrives. FAVES supports both workflows.
How do boutiques use FAVES for inventory planning?
Boutiques use FAVES to plan buys at market or online, track budgets by category or season, organize incoming inventory, and manage receiving - all before products are live in Shopify.
Is FAVES only for large retailers?
No. FAVES is used by independent boutiques of all sizes, especially those looking for a clearer, calmer way to manage inventory without relying on spreadsheets or complex ERP systems.