What are inventory alerts in Shopify?

Automatic warnings that fire when stock runs low, so you reorder before a stockout.

How do I set up inventory alerts?

Configure a low-stock threshold per product or variant in the Shopify admin.

Does Shopify send low-stock emails?

Yes — Shopify sends email alerts when stock drops below your configured threshold.

Can I get alerts on mobile or Slack?

Yes — inventory apps add SMS, push, or Slack alerts beyond email.

What should I set my low-stock threshold to?

Based on lead time and sales velocity — set it high enough to reorder before you run dry.

Glossary Term

I

Inventory Alerts

Automatic warnings when stock runs low — so you reorder before you run dry.

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Key Takeaways
Inventory Alerts warn you when stock runs low.
Configured per product or variant with a low-stock threshold.
They prevent stockouts on your bestsellers.
Without them, you discover stockouts only when a customer can't buy.
They pair with inventory management as part of keeping stock healthy.

Overview

Inventory Alerts are automatic warnings that fire when stock runs low — emails or notifications that tell you to reorder before a product runs out. On Shopify they're configured per product or variant with a low-stock threshold.

Inventory alerts prevent stockouts on your bestsellers. Without them, you discover you're out of stock only when a customer tries to buy and can't — a lost sale and a bad experience. Alerts give you time to reorder or mark the product as sold out gracefully.

Inventory alerts pair with inventory management as part of keeping stock healthy. They're a simple but essential part of store optimization.

1

Why Inventory Alerts Matter for Shopify Merchants

1
Prevent Stockouts
Alerts give you time to reorder before a bestseller runs dry.
2
Prevent Lost Sales
You never lose a sale because you didn't know stock was low.
3
Prevent Bad Experiences
Customers never hit an out-of-stock page unexpectedly.
4
Reorder Planning
Alerts tell you exactly when and what to reorder.
5
Graceful Sold-Out
With warning, you can mark products sold out gracefully instead of overselling.

2

Setting Up Inventory Alerts That Work

1
Set thresholds per product
Configure a low-stock level for each product based on lead time and sales velocity.
2
Use Shopify's built-in alerts
Shopify sends low-stock email alerts when stock drops below your threshold.
3
Use an app for advanced alerts
Apps add Slack, SMS, or dashboard alerts for multi-location stores.
4
Prioritize bestsellers
Set tighter thresholds on top sellers so you never run dry on them.
5
Review thresholds regularly
Adjust thresholds as sales velocity and lead times change.