Managing inventory for free gift products that you also sell as normal products can seem like a challenging aspects of running gift promotions. When you duplicate a “normal” product to create a free gift version, you need to ensure both the original product and gift version maintain accurate stock levels to prevent overselling and maintain customer satisfaction.
This guide will walk you through three proven methods for managing inventory between your original products and their free gift counterparts, helping you maintain accurate stock levels while maximizing your promotional effectiveness.
Method 1: Using the Same SKU with External Warehouses
If you use a third-party warehouse or fulfillment service, the simplest approach is often to maintain the same SKU for both your original product and the free gift version.
How it works:
When duplicating your product for the gift version, keep the exact same SKU as the original product
Your external warehouse system will recognize both products as the same inventory item
Stock levels will automatically sync between both products based on the shared SKU
When either version sells, inventory decreases for both products simultaneously
Requirements for this method:
Your warehouse or fulfillment service must own the stock and support SKU-based inventory syncing
Your warehouse system should be configured to push inventory updates back to Shopify by SKU
Benefits:
Zero manual intervention required
Near real-time accuracy across both products
No additional app costs or setup complexity
Seamless integration with existing warehouse workflows
Important: Verify with your warehouse provider that they support this SKU-based syncing approach before implementing this method.
Method 2: Using Shopify Apps for Inventory Synchronization
For merchants who handle fulfillment in-house or need more sophisticated inventory management, several Shopify apps can automatically sync inventory between your original and gift products.
Recommended Apps:
1. SimpleSync - Sync by SKU ($4.99/month)
Best for: Stores that prefer SKU-based syncing without complex setup
Automatically syncs inventory between items sharing the same SKU
Works instantly with minimal configuration
Perfect for unisex products, personalized vs. blank versions
Real-time syncing with every sale
Setup: Simply assign the same SKU to both your original and gift products, and SimpleSync handles the rest automatically.
2. Easify Inventory Sync (Free plan available, Pro at $9.99/month)
Best for: Stores with complex inventory needs including bundles and raw materials
Syncs inventory for duplicate SKUs, bundles, and raw materials
Unlimited syncs on Pro plan
Handles add-on products and variant syncing
Manual product selection for flexible grouping
Setup: Create inventory groups and add both your original and gift products to the same group. Set mutual inventory levels, and the app manages stock deductions across all grouped items.
3. Connected Inventory by NASP (From $4.99/month)
Best for: Stores selling bundles or products with shared components
Links products by SKU or manual selection
Supports multi-location inventory
Handles bundle components and shared materials
Real-time synchronization across all connected items
Setting up app-based syncing:
Install your chosen app from the Shopify App Store
Configure the sync relationship between your original and gift products
Set initial inventory levels to match across both products
Test the sync by making a test purchase or manual inventory adjustment
Monitor sync accuracy during your first few transactions
Pro tip: Most apps offer free trials or free tiers. Test the functionality with a few products before committing to a paid plan.
Method 3: Manual Inventory Shifting
A straightforward way without any involvement of apps or similar, is to simply manually manage inventory between original and gift products can be effective.
How manual shifting works:
Start with your original product's current inventory count
Decide how much inventory to allocate for gift promotions (e.g., 50% of total stock)
Subtract the gift allocation from your original product in Shopify
Add the same amount to your free gift product
Adjust as needed based on promotion performance and demand
Example:
Original product: 100 units in stock
Allocate 25 units for gift promotion
Adjust original product to: 75 units
Set gift product to: 25 units
Total available: Still 100 units, but distributed strategically
Benefits of manual management:
Complete control over inventory allocation
No additional costs for apps or integrations
Flexibility to adjust ratios based on performance
Simple tracking through standard Shopify inventory reports
When to rebalance:
Gift inventory runs low: Move more stock from original to gift product
Original product selling faster: Reallocate some gift inventory back to original
Promotion ending soon: Move remaining gift inventory back to original product
New stock arrivals: Distribute new inventory based on current performance
Important EliteCart Features
Automatic gift hiding: EliteCart automatically hides gift rewards when they sell out, so customers won't see unavailable gifts in their cart or during checkout.
Original product behavior: Your original product will continue to sell normally and show as out of stock when its allocated inventory is depleted.
Inventory flexibility: You can re-shift inventory between original and gift products at any point during your promotion.
Best Practices for Gift Inventory Management
1. Monitor inventory ratios regularly
Track which version (original vs. gift) is selling faster and adjust allocation accordingly. Most successful merchants find a 70/30 or 80/20 split works well initially.
2. Optionally set up inventory alerts
Configure Shopify or third-party apps (e.g. the free app Shopify Flow) to notify you when either product reaches low stock levels (typically 10-20% of your comfort threshold).
Choosing the Right Method
Choose same SKU method if:
You use a compatible external warehouse
You want zero ongoing maintenance
Choose app-based syncing if:
You fulfill orders in-house
You need detailed control and reporting
You manage multiple similar products
You want automated but flexible management
Choose manual shifting if:
You have simple inventory needs
You want maximum control
You prefer not to use additional apps
You have reliable processes for regular adjustments
Need help?
Remember that EliteCart's automatic hiding of out-of-stock gifts means your customers will always see accurate, available rewards, regardless of which inventory management method you choose.
If you encounter issues with any of these methods or need guidance on which approach fits your specific situation, reach out to our support team.