Why Your Branded Merchandise Inventory Should Be Audited Before the New Year

Start the New Year Smarter

As another busy year draws to a close, many UK brands are already planning how to make 2026 their most successful year yet. But before investing in new merchandise or campaign materials, it is worth taking a step back to review what you already have in place.

A merchandise and POS audit gives your brand a clear, data driven view of what is performing, what is consistent and cost effective, and what is no longer delivering results. By reviewing your current marketing assets, you can plan 2026 with a stronger, more sustainable and more efficient merchandise strategy that boosts return on investment.

Why a Merchandise Audit Matters

Over time, merchandise collections and point of sale materials can become outdated, inconsistent or underused. Without a regular review, brands often miss valuable opportunities to reduce cost, increase visibility and strengthen brand identity.

UK businesses that carry out a merchandise audit or POS review typically see up to 20% savings in storage and production costs by consolidating items and removing duplication. They also report a 30% improvement in brand consistency and better engagement from refreshed campaigns.

• A year end merchandise audit helps you:Review existing branded assets to ensure they align with your brand identity and values

• Identify duplication or gaps in your merchandise and marketing materials

• Evaluate the performance of campaign assets in driving engagement and sales

• Make informed, data led decisions before investing in new designs or campaigns

  
  

This is not just about counting stock, it is about understanding how every branded item supports your marketing goals.

What Is Included in a Staci Create Audit

At Staci Create, we go beyond a simple stock take. Our team reviews your merchandise, marketing materials and POS to analyse usage, brand consistency and performance. Whether we audit a single campaign or your full range, we look at

• Brand consistency – are all materials visually aligned with your brand guidelines 

• Relevance – do your items reflect current market trends and audience expectations 

• Quality – are materials durable, practical and representative of your brand reputation 

• Sustainability – could materials be replaced with more eco conscious alternatives 

• Performance – which products are achieving the best results and which can be improved

Every Staci Create audit includes a detailed report with data backed insights and recommendations to help you reduce cost, eliminate waste and improve impact.

The Benefits of Auditing Before the New Year

Running a merchandise or POS audit in November or December allows you to start 2026 with clarity and control. It helps you understand which products deliver value and which need updating or redesigning.

You will be able to: 

• Plan your budgets more effectively, focusing spend where it makes the biggest difference 

• Optimise campaigns using real data and insight from existing materials 

• Reduce waste and costs by reusing or repurposing assets instead of producing new ones 

• Strengthen brand consistency across every touchpoint, from events to retail environments 

• Maximise return on investment by aligning merchandise with marketing goals

On average, brands that complete a Staci Create merchandise audit ahead of the new year achieve a 10 - 15% reduction in overall merchandise spend while improving campaign effectiveness and brand impact.

How Staci Create Supports UK Brands

Based in the UK and part of the global Staci Group, Staci Create combines creative design expertise with logistics and fulfilment knowledge to help brands get more from their merchandise and point of sale materials.

We manage every stage of the process, from audit and analysis to redesign, sourcing, production and fulfilment. This complete solution allows you to streamline your operations and deliver consistent, sustainable and high performing campaigns.

Whether you are planning an event, updating retail POS or reviewing your merchandise budget, our expert team will help you create a data driven, insight led strategy that improves results while protecting your brand integrity.

The Takeaway

Before starting your 2026 campaign planning, take time to review your current merchandise and marketing materials. A Staci Create merchandise and POS audit gives you the visibility and insight to invest smarter, reduce costs and strengthen brand performance across every channel.

Request your free merchandise audit today.

Learn more about how we can review your current merchandise and POS range, provide expert recommendations and help you plan 2026 with confidence:  https://www.stacicreate.com/merchandise/pos-audit