What to do if I want to discontinue trading a product
Strategic guide to methodically phasing out products while preserving inventory integrity, minimizing financial impact, and maintaining customer access during discontinuation.
Written by Ian Oldrey
Updated at September 5th, 2025
Managing product discontinuation requires a strategic approach to maintain inventory integrity and minimise financial impact. When you need to phase out a product that still has existing stock, there's a specific process to follow that protects both your business operations and customer access.
The key action is to change the product status to 'Withdrawn'. This critical step allows you to:
- Continue selling existing inventory
- Prevent new stock orders
- Gradually deplete current stock levels
When a product is marked as 'Withdrawn', it enters a controlled wind-down phase. Customers can still purchase remaining stock, but no additional inventory can be ordered or restocked. This approach provides a smooth transition that:
- Minimises potential financial losses
- Gives customers final opportunity to purchase
- Prevents unexpected inventory write-offs
Important: Once all remaining stock is sold, the system will automatically transition the product to 'Archived' status, completing the discontinuation process.
By following this methodical approach, you ensure a controlled and financially prudent product discontinuation strategy that protects both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.