Almost every handmade process is more efficient in batches: you set up once and make several instead of starting over each time. But bigger isn't automatically better. The right batch size is a balance: large enough to be worth the setup, small enough that you're not pouring cash into stock that just sits.
The two forces to balance
- Setup cost: the time and effort to get ready for a run (melting, prepping, cleanup). Bigger batches spread this over more units, lowering the cost per item.
- Holding cost: bigger batches mean more finished stock sitting on the shelf, tying up cash and risking slow turnover.
Batch too small and setup eats your time and margin. Batch too big and you've converted cash into product faster than you can sell it. The sweet spot sits between the two.
What pushes your batch size up or down
- How fast it sells: make bigger batches of fast sellers, small batches of slow ones.
- How much setup it takes: high-setup products favor bigger batches; quick ones can go small.
- Shelf life: perishable products shouldn't be batched beyond what you'll sell in time.
- Your cash and space: both cap how big a batch you can responsibly make.
The right batch size makes setup worth it without turning your shelves into a warehouse of cash.
Let it differ by product
There's no single batch size for your whole shop. A fast-selling, high-setup product wants big runs, while a slow, quick-to-make one wants small ones. Set it per product and adjust as you learn how each one really sells.
Tie batch size to your numbers
Batch size connects your production to your costs and your stock, so it's worth setting deliberately. From the Maker plan, Keepsel lets you set a batch size on each product and uses it in the product's cost, so your runs are sized on purpose, not by a habit of "however many fit on the tray."