Preparing gas stock for Tet: an early plan for dealers

In the weeks before Tet, gas dealers usually receive their highest order volumes of the year: families cook more, restaurants are fully booked and many households order an extra spare cylinder before the holiday. Preparing gas stock for Tet early helps dealers avoid running out of full cylinders at the peak, avoid being left with surplus stock after Tet and keep the warehouse safe as stock levels rise.

Forecasting demand from last year’s sales

1. Take the number of 12kg and 45kg cylinders and cartons of mini gas sold each week, from about a month before Tet to the end of the week after Tet last year.
2. Identify the week when sales started to rise and the peak week; this is usually the days just before Tet, but it varies from area to area.
3. Adjust for changes this year: new customers, new restaurants signed up for regular deliveries, customers who have stopped buying.
4. Break it down into a weekly purchasing plan rather than buying everything at once, so that the warehouse is not overloaded.

If you have no figures from last year, start keeping records now so that you have a basis for next season.

Mini gas and portable gas stoves for Tet gifts and spring outings

Family hotpots, year-end parties and spring outings make mini gas sell faster than usual — a seasonal pattern described in selling mini gas canisters. Dealers can prepare sets of a stove with a few canisters, such as the VNG/BG001 smart portable gas stove with mini gas canisters of the same brand, for customers to buy as gifts or take on trips. When holding many cartons of canisters, stack them the right way up, no higher than the number of layers printed on the carton, and do not display them in the sun.

Cylinders and full cylinders: calculate enough before the peak

You can only have full cylinders if you have the cylinders: when you sell more, more cylinders are sitting at customers’ homes, on vehicles and at the filling plant. For how to calculate the number of cylinders from turnover, see how many gas cylinders a dealer needs. If you are short, order additional 12kg gas cylinders or 45kg cylinders early, because close to Tet manufacturers and transport companies are also in their busy season. At the same time, review the list of cylinders falling due for inspection and send them early, so that cylinders are not taken out of rotation just when you need them.

Staffing and delivery schedules

• Draw up a duty rota for the days just before Tet and the first days of the new year; tell customers your holiday dates and order hours in advance.
• Remind regular customers to order early; give priority to restaurants and canteens with regular delivery contracts.
• Seasonal delivery staff must be trained to fit cylinders and test for leaks with soapy water before making deliveries on their own — for the standard procedure, see home gas delivery tips.

Safe storage when holding more stock

Holding more stock does not mean you can stack more tightly. Store only within the warehouse’s safe capacity, always keep cylinders upright, separate full cylinders from empty ones and leave clear walkways; for the detailed rules, see storing gas cylinders in a dealer’s warehouse.

Prices and suppliers’ holiday schedules

Gas prices may be adjusted at the start of the month, including the Tet month — for the reasons, see why gas prices change every month. Ask your suppliers and filling plants in advance about the last day for orders, the holiday dates and the date they reopen, as each has its own schedule; give customers the new prices as soon as you receive the price list.

After Tet: collecting cylinders and reconciling

Many customers keep an extra spare cylinder over Tet, so cylinders are scattered across customers’ homes. After the holiday, call customers to collect empty cylinders, reconcile serial numbers, take stock of the remaining mini gas canisters by batch so that they can be sold first, and record your actual sales. For how to track cylinders, see gas cylinder management for dealers.

Frequently asked questions

Written by the VietnhatGas technical and sales team — a batch manufacturer of LPG cylinders. This content is for reference; regulations and standards may change, so please check the current texts.