What size of glass to stock

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All of them. I don't stock smaller than 11x14 but I do stock the rest. The more sizes you carry the less scrap you have. I also get great discounts by buying 5 or 10 cases at a time. All items have large discounts when purchased one at a time and get even bigger for 5 and more at 10.
 
what percentage does it cost extra per sq m against say 4:3 sheets

and what extra does it actually cost to store so many diff sizes etc

it wouldnt suprise me that given the storage and organisational time + a % premium for cut sizes works out about the same as the waste, so just dont keep the waste and stick it in the bin
 
In the USA there is no real difference if you buy glass cut to size.

In Ireland when i had the glass supply business, I stocked a few cut sizes, my price was only a touch over 3 x 4' size, the extra for the cut to size was the extra I had to pay as i did not have the volume, shipping or volume to make cut to size work.

In fact cut to size in the UK was a touch less expensive than 3 x 4' or 4 x 6' the reason smaller sizes are easier to ship and you can get more in a container coming from the far east factories,
 
About 3' of bin space under the drymount press at the end of the mat board. For those who don't mind dealing with loose pieces certain sizes can be eliminated. 11x14 can be split out 4 pieces from a 22x28. 16x20 can be split out 4 pieces from a 32x40. 18x24 can be split out 3 pieces from a 24x36.

Glass is best stored in it's original carton and just cutting the end off allows it to slide right out of the box.
 
Since you ask "size" rather than "sizes," I would guess you have very limited space for storing glass and would suggest only stocking 32x40. If there is one type of glass you use considerably more than the rest, then I would consider a couple of other common sizes of that glass, like 16x20, 20x24, and 24x36 of Conservation Clear. Anything larger than 32x40 I would just order a box as needed, or if you do a lot of large pieces/rush orders then I would consider 40x60 of your most commonly sold types. Again, I am assuming you are some how limited in how much glass you can have, otherwise I would probably stock most sizes of the glass types you normally use to cut down on wasted materials.
 
Im with Jeff, at least on regular glass. All sizes. and most in conservation. less waste less sitting around. Its hard to put glass back in the box once you take it out with the paper getting in the way.

really what ever you sell the most of is the kind you should have the most of.
 
I do a lot of smaller pieces, so I stock 6 sizes in CC (11 x 14; 12 x 16; 16 x20; 18 x 24; 22 x 28; 26 x 32) and 4 sizes in Museum (16 x 20, 18 x 24, 22 x 28, and 32 x 40).

I like to minimize rewrap glass after it is cut, so I carry more inventory than most for my size. I store the bigger pieces in the same boxes as the glass comes in.

I do quite a few 11 x 13's (or similar dimensions, plus or minus 1/2 inch) so I cut these from 22 x 28 museum, because I get too much waste if I cut from 16 x 20, and museum doesn't come smaller.

The inventory cost of carrying this many sizes may seem high, but for me, I figure each box, on average, is only half full (because I order another box when I get down to 1 or 2 sheets in the box).

so my on-hand inventory cost is slightly more than half the cost of the initial inventory. I believe it is worth it, because I have less waste and damage. (for example, for discussion purposes, assume each box of CC is worth $500.00 at retail, times 6 sizs for initial inventory value of $3,000 at retail; as some are almost empty, and some are almost full, my actual retail value is closer to $1600 at retail.) Use your own cost calculations (instead of retail value) to determine what it will cost you.

Good luck
 
I'd stock whatever sizes are best for what your customers are buying. If, after a time, you find that some sizes are not moving quickly enough, ditch those sizes. Add new sizes when you see a need.

I've made some adjustments since the last time I posted these. Here's my latest (hoping my memory is good):

8x10: clear, non-glare (have to make the non-glares ourselves, none of my suppliers carry them anymore)
11x14: clear, non-glare, conservation clear, conservation non-glare
12x16: clear, non-glare
14x18: clear, non-glare
16x20: clear, non-glare, conservation clear, conservation non-glare, museum
20x24: clear, non-glare, conservation clear, conservation non-glare, museum
22x28: clear, conservation clear
24x36: clear, non-glare, conservation clear, conservation non-glare, museum
32x40: clear, conservation clear, museum
36x48: clear, non-glare, conservation clear, conservation non-glare, museum
40x50: conservation non-glare
40x60: clear, non-glare, conservation clear, conservation non-glare, museum

I used to stock everything in the 22x28 and 32x40 sizes as well, but found the non-glares were not selling well in those sizes so I dropped them. For example, we just sold our last sheet of 32x40 conservation non-glare last week. I had purchased 3 boxes of it back at the end of 2006, and it took that long to sell them. At nearly 2 years per box, there's just no reason to keep that size. I'd rather cut down a 36x48.

I'd stock museum in 11x14 if it were available. :(
 
The boxes basically cost the same.... but it's the lite count that changes.

As you go along, you will find by the third or forth re-order, your use
will start to clarify.

We buy ConClear 22x28 two boxes at a time..... the box of 24x30
and the box of 24x36 has been on the shelf for a few years...
If we empty the 24x30 ever, then that space will be used for something
else like the extra box of 22x28s.

Yes, it would be dumb to continually cut a 23x29 out of a 32x40..
but once a year or two years..... and you still end up with a 16x20
and an 11x14.
 
Each case of any particular flavor of glass (regular, non-glare, Museum, etc.) has just about the same number of square feet in it i.e. the number of sheet times width times length. (40 x 60 is generally a bit more per square foot, though.)

So, whether you're buying a case of 11 x 14 or a case of 36 x 48, the wholesale cost to us is roughly the same per ft[SUP]2[/SUP].

The decision becomes whether handling, say, a sheet of 32 x 40 to cut a 16 x 20 is worth the risk of breaking and storing the cut off rather than carrying cases of 16 x 20.

I tend to carry just about every size that is available in each category except UV-non glare.
 
oh right

well here if i buy sizes other than sheets or half sheets (60*40, 40*30) there is a percentage cost / sq ft more

which is why i was saying about storing lots of sizes + the premium
 
Best option for making your own 8x10 non-glare would be to cut 16x20 into four or 32x40 into 16 or just cut up scrap leaning against the wall. :p
 
Jeff Rodier said:
Best option for making your own 8x10 non-glare would be to cut 16x20 into four or 32x40 into 16 or just cut up scrap leaning against the wall. :p
Click to expand...

Duh..............I read his comment totally different. I thought he was actually doing something to clear 8x10s, not just cutting down larger pieces.
 
I guess you could try a matte clear coat spray if you were in a real bind Larry. ;)
 
Jeff Rodier said:
I guess you could try a matte clear coat spray if you were in a real bind Larry. ;)
Click to expand...


While I still have a few remaining customers from my storefront days, online all I sell is acrylic - one size only - 4x8.

I have a fair assortment of glass but not much non-glare. I recently had to buy a box of non-glare for a single piece for a former customer. I guess that's why I read that into the comment.
 
Down here in The Land of Oz, we don't have the luxury of all those sizes of glass. We have:
32 x 40
36 x 48
40 x 60 in some types!
 
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