Catch increases before tags go out
See unit-cost moves on recurring SKUs while you can still reprice, substitute, or push back.
IndustriesRetail
CostBeacon for retail
Protect retail margin when vendor unit costs move
Retail buyers see cost changes across packaging, freight, and co-op fees buried in invoice lines.
30-day free trial · No credit card required
Common suppliersRegional wholesale distributors · Import / private-label vendors · Packaging & freights on the same invoice · Seasonal co-op / promo lines
The problem
Retail margin dies in the pack-size details
Store buyers juggle wholesale catalogs, import invoices, and freight add-ons. A unit cost up a few percent—or a case that quietly lost two units—will not show if you only glance at the invoice total.
Try a sample
Watch the unit-cost spike on a sample invoice
Upload vendor invoices and CostBeacon builds product history: which SKU moved, whether freight spiked, and which lines need a shelf or vendor conversation before the next order.
Interactive sample
Invoice spike chart
Step through three orders. Watch freight and shelf SKUs drift before tags change.
Freight surcharge$52.00 → $61.00 · +17.3%
On this order: +$9.00 per order · Fold freight into landed cost before tags go out.
What changes for your team
Invoice evidence your team can act on
Landed cost, not just sticker
Freight and surcharge lines sit next to product history so you do not miss the true cost of the case.
How it works
From supplier PDF to a buying decision
Upload supplier PDFs, extract every line, then review alerts before the next order or quote.
- Upload invoicesDrop PDFs, email attachments, or scans from your usual suppliers.
- Extract line itemsCostBeacon reads unit costs, quantities, vendors, and product names.
- Review what movedOpen alerts with the source invoice attached—then reprice, renegotiate, or accept on purpose.
Signals to watch
What good review looks like
Operators usually check a short alert queue after each buying cycle—not a full re-type of every invoice.
| Signal | Typical range | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Shelf SKU unit cost | +3–8% before you reprice | Flag before shelf tags change |
| Freight or fuel surcharge | Often a separate line | Fold into landed cost review |
| Pack count change (12→10) | Breaks naive comparisons | Normalize per selling unit |
FAQ
Common questions
No. CostBeacon works from uploaded invoices; QuickBooks sync is optional if you also post bills there.
CostBeacon tracks unit cost on matched product lines. When pack counts change, you still see the new unit economics versus prior invoices—so comparisons stay honest.
If you place recurring POs with a handful of wholesalers every week, manual sheet updates usually lag by the time shelf margin is already wrong.
Browse industries
Same product. Different buying rhythm.
Catch supplier cost moves before they become your new normal
CostBeacon turns supplier invoices into line-item history and price-change alerts for retail.