Which statement best describes the purpose of stock rotation in a salon?

• A. To place new deliveries at the front of the display
• B. To rotate stock randomly
• C. To ensure oldest stock is used first
• D. To reduce the shelf life of products

Answer: (C)

Stock rotation means using the oldest products first to prevent expiry and preserve quality. In a salon, this is typically done with a First In, First Out approach: move items with the earliest dates to the front so they’re used before newer stock, and place fresh deliveries behind. This helps avoid waste from products that go past their shelf life and keeps client treatments consistent and safe.

Running stock in any other way can lead to waste or reduced effectiveness—simply bringing new deliveries to the front doesn’t ensure older stock is used promptly, rotating randomly doesn’t guarantee order, and trying to shorten shelf life would create unnecessary risk to clients and the business.