Your first stock order is the biggest single bet most new phone shops make. Buy the right mix and the money comes back quickly so you can reorder. Buy the wrong mix and your capital sits on the shelf for months. Here’s a step-by-step way to get it right.
Step 1: Set your stock budget first
Work out your full startup budget before you think about models: rent, fit-out, registration, and a reserve for running costs. What’s left is your stock budget. Never borrow from the reserve to buy more stock. See how much capital you need.
Step 2: Split between phones and accessories
Phones bring customers in; accessories bring the margin and the repeat visits. Many new shops put most of their stock money into phones and too little into accessories. Make sure you have a full accessories range from day one: chargers, cables, earphones, cases and screen guards for the models you sell. Read why accessories make more profit than phones.
Step 3: Find out what your area buys
- Ask nearby shop owners and repairers which models customers ask for
- Look at what people around you actually carry
- Ask your distributor which models move fastest this month
In most Ghanaian towns, budget and mid-range phones sell fastest. See which Tecno and Infinix phones a new shop should stock.
Step 4: How many phones to start with
There’s no magic number, but there is a rule: go deep on a few fast sellers, not wide on many models.
- Pick 4 to 6 fast-moving models across your main price bands
- Buy a few units of each, more of the cheapest and fastest
- Keep only one or two higher-priced phones on display, if any
- Plan to reorder within two to four weeks based on what actually sold
One unit each of 20 models looks impressive but ties up cash in phones that may never sell. Several units of a few proven models sell, come back as cash, and let you reorder.
Step 5: Place the order properly
- Get the latest price list in writing
- Send your order by WhatsApp: model, colour, storage, quantity and agreed price
- Ask the distributor to confirm the order and total in writing
- Pay by MoMo or bank and keep the reference
- On delivery, count everything against the invoice, check boxes are sealed with warranty cards, and report problems the same day
Not sure about your supplier yet? Start with 12 questions to ask a phone wholesaler before you pay.
Get your first order right
How to Start a Phone & Accessories Business in Ghana walks you through choosing your stock, suppliers and prices, with a 90-day launch plan.
Launch price: GHC 69 (regular GHC 150). Instant PDF download.
Want your first order checked before you pay? We plan and review it with you in the Phone Shop Launchpad 1-on-1 mentorship.
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