elephant.md

Arlem Financial & Operations Guide 2026

@NickBrooks-ks3lspecs
arlem

Comprehensive Reference for Unit Economics, Projections, Banking & Supply Chain

Document Version: 1.0 Consolidated: February 5, 2026 Sources: Financial Analysis, Financial Tracking System, Initial Bulk Order Recommendation, Supplier Stock Order Strategy Purpose: Single reference for all financial and operational planning


Table of Contents

  1. Executive Summary
  2. Unit Economics & Margins
  3. Financial Projections
  4. Banking & Currency (Wise Integration)
  5. Supply Chain & Ordering Strategy
  6. Bulk Order Planning
  7. Action Items & Checklists
  8. Appendices

Executive Summary

Key Metrics at a Glance

MetricHistorical2026 Target
Annual Revenue$9,886 (14 months)$125,000
Units Sold28350
Average Selling Price$353$373
Gross Margin59.3%66%+
COGS per Unit$143.57$93-125
CAC (Customer Acquisition)$51.64$35-40
ROAS7.11x12-14x

Financial Health Summary

CategoryStatusNotes
ProfitabilityProfitable~$150 net profit per unit after ads
MarginsStrong59% gross, 43% net (after ads)
Ad EfficiencyExcellent7.11x ROAS, $0.21 CPC
ScalabilityReadyCan increase ad spend 4x and remain profitable

The Opportunity

  • Each bedhead cushion generates ~$150 profit after all costs
  • The business is profitable but tracking gaps prevent optimisation
  • Scaling from 2 units/month to 29+ units/month is achievable with proper supply chain
  • Supplier switch (Ollko + Julie) can reduce COGS by 30%+

Part 1: Unit Economics & Margins

1.1 Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)

Linen Bedhead Cushion (Current Handmade Model)

ComponentCost (AUD)
Cushion Fill$40.00
Insert Cotton$10.00
Zipper$2.00
Linen Cover Fabric$50.00
Shipping Box$8.00
Shipping (prepaid)$30.00
TOTAL COGS (Linen)$140.00

Boucle Bedhead Cushion (Current Handmade Model)

ComponentCost (AUD)
Cushion Fill$40.00
Insert Cotton$10.00
Zipper$2.00
Boucle Cover Fabric$60.00
Shipping Box$8.00
Shipping (prepaid)$30.00
TOTAL COGS (Boucle)$150.00

Blended COGS (Historical Mix: 75% Linen, 25% Boucle)

Weighted Average COGS = (20 x $140 + 8 x $150) / 28 = $143.57

1.2 Gross Margin Analysis

Product TypeASPCOGSGross ProfitGross Margin
Linen Bedhead$357.86$140.00$217.8660.9%
Boucle Bedhead$341.15$150.00$191.1556.0%
Blended Average$353.09$143.57$209.5259.3%

Key Insight: Linen bedheads are more profitable ($217.86 GP vs $191.15). Focus ad spend here.

1.3 Contribution Margin Waterfall

Per Unit Economics
--------------------------------------------------------------

Revenue (ASP)                           $353.09   100.0%
                                        -------   ------
Less: COGS                             ($143.57)  -40.7%
                                        -------   ------
= GROSS PROFIT                          $209.52    59.3%
                                        -------   ------
Less: Payment Processing (2.9% + $0.30) ($10.54)   -3.0%
Less: Shopify Fees (~$29/mo / 2 units)  ($14.50)   -4.1%
                                        -------   ------
= CONTRIBUTION MARGIN                   $184.48    52.2%
                                        -------   ------
Less: Allocated Ad Spend                ($47.95)  -13.6%
                                        -------   ------
= NET PROFIT (after ads)                $136.53    38.7%
--------------------------------------------------------------

1.4 COGS Comparison: Current vs Optimised Suppliers

ModelCOGS (AUD)Gross MarginProfit/Unit100 Units Profit
Current (Handmade)$140.0063.1%$239.00$23,900
Ollko Only (30 pcs)$126.4066.6%$252.60$25,260
Julie + Ollko (100 pcs)$132.3465.1%$246.66$24,666
Sea Freight Both (100 pcs)$93.0375.5%$285.97$28,597

Optimised COGS Breakdown (Sea Freight Model)

ComponentCurrentOptimisedSavings
Cushion Fill$40.00$35.00$5.00 (bulk buy 50+)
Insert Cotton$10.00$8.00$2.00 (bulk buy)
Zipper$2.00$1.50$0.50 (bulk buy)
Linen Cover$50.00$45.00$5.00 (negotiate 100+)
Boucle Cover$60.00$55.00$5.00 (negotiate 100+)
Shipping Box$8.00$6.00$2.00 (bulk buy)
Shipping (prepaid)$30.00$25.00$5.00 (volume discount)
LINEN TOTAL$140.00$120.50$19.50 (14% reduction)
BOUCLE TOTAL$150.00$130.50$19.50 (13% reduction)

Part 2: Financial Projections

2.1 Historical Sales Performance

Order History (Dec 2023 - Feb 2025)

BEDHEAD CUSHION SALES SUMMARY
---------------------------------------------------------------

Total Paid Orders:          27 orders
Total Units Sold:           28 units (one order had 2x)

Linen Bedheads:            20 units    $7,157.21    (75%)
Boucle Bedheads:            8 units    $2,729.20    (25%)
                           ---------   ----------
TOTAL:                     28 units    $9,886.41

International Orders:       2 orders   ($516.22 US + $397.99 NZ)
Domestic (AU) Orders:      25 orders

Average Selling Price:
  - All Bedheads:          $353.09
  - Linen Only:            $357.86
  - Boucle Only:           $341.15

Monthly Sales Trend

MonthUnitsRevenueNotes
Dec 20231$299
Jan 20244$1,646Includes 2x order
Feb 20242$698Ads running
Mar 20245$1,705Peak ad month ($266)
Apr 20242$668Ads running
May 20241$339Ads running
Jun 20242$678Ads running
Jul 20243$1,037Last ad month
Aug 20241$516Cart disabled
Sep 20241$349Cart disabled
Oct 20241$395Cart disabled
Nov 20240$0Cart disabled
Dec 20242$688Cart re-enabled
Jan 20251$349
Feb 20251$398
TOTAL27$9,765

2.2 Ad Spend Efficiency Analysis

Ad Spend vs Sales Correlation

PeriodAd SpendBedhead SalesUnitsImplied CPA
Oct-Dec 2023$351.99$2991$351.99
Jan-Feb 2024$62.76$2,3446$10.46
Mar 2024$266.13$1,7055$53.23
Apr 2024$194.70$6682$97.35
May 2024$116.85$3391$116.85
Jun 2024$78.05$6782$39.03
Jul 2024$142.35$1,0373$47.45
TOTAL (Ad Period)$1,212.83$7,07020$60.64
No Ads (Aug+)$0$2,5957$0
GRAND TOTAL$1,212.83$9,66527$44.92

Return on Ad Spend (ROAS)

ROAS CALCULATION
---------------------------------------------------------------

Revenue (Bedheads Only):   $9,549.41
Ad Spend:                  $1,342.65
-------------------------------------
ROAS:                      7.11x

Interpretation: Every $1 spent on ads generated $7.11 in revenue.

ROAS by Gross Profit:
  Gross Profit:            $5,666.56 (28 x $202.38 avg)
  Ad Spend:                $1,342.65
  -----------------------------------
  Profit ROAS:             4.22x

Interpretation: Every $1 in ads generated $4.22 in gross profit.

Break-Even Analysis

BREAK-EVEN ANALYSIS
---------------------------------------------------------------

Gross Profit per Unit:     $209.52
Ad Spend per Unit:         $47.95 (current allocation)
Net Profit per Unit:       $161.57

Break-Even Ad Spend:
  If GP = $209.52, we can spend up to $209.52 on ads per sale
  to break even.

  Current CPA: $47.95
  Break-even CPA: $209.52

  HEADROOM: $161.57 per sale (can increase ad spend 4.4x)

Maximum Viable CPC:
  If conversion rate is 0.40% (26 customers / 6,513 clicks)
  And break-even CPA is $209.52

  Max CPC = $209.52 x 0.40% = $0.84

  Current CPC: $0.21
  HEADROOM: $0.63 per click (can bid 4x more aggressively)

2.3 2026 Forecast Scenarios

Current State vs Target

MetricCurrent (14 months)2026 Target (12 months)Change
Revenue$9,886$125,000+1,165%
Units Sold28350+1,150%
Avg Units/Month2.029.2+1,360%
Ad Spend$1,343$8,000+496%
ROAS7.11x15.6x+120%

Scenario A: Maintain Current Efficiency

If we maintain current CAC ($51.64) and increase ad spend:

Ad Spend:        $8,000
Expected Sales:  155 units ($8,000 / $51.64)
Revenue:         $54,729 (155 x $353)
Gross Profit:    $32,476 (155 x $209.52)
Net Profit:      $24,476 (after ads)
ROAS:            6.84x

Scenario B: Improved Tracking + Optimisation

With proper pixel tracking, expect 30% CAC improvement:

Improved CAC:    $36.15 ($51.64 x 0.70)
Ad Spend:        $8,000
Expected Sales:  221 units ($8,000 / $36.15)
Revenue:         $78,033 (221 x $353)
Gross Profit:    $46,303 (221 x $209.52)
Net Profit:      $38,303 (after ads)
ROAS:            9.75x

Scenario C: Aggressive + Multi-Channel

Optimised ads + organic growth + Instagram selling:

Paid Sales:      221 units (from Scenario B)
Organic Sales:   100 units (Instagram DMs, word of mouth)
                 -----------
Total Sales:     321 units
Revenue:         $113,342 (321 x $353)
Gross Profit:    $67,257
Ad Spend:        $8,000
Net Profit:      $59,257
Effective ROAS:  14.17x

Closing the Gap to $125K Target

InitiativeEst. ImpactInvestment
Price Increase (+$20/unit)+$6,420 revenue$0
Email Marketing (reactivate list)+$10,000 (30 orders)$50/mo
Google Shopping+$15,000 (40 orders)$2,000
Covers-Only Upsell+$5,000 (25 orders x $190)$0
Repeat Customer Campaign+$7,000 (20 orders)$500

Revised Projection: $156,762 (exceeds target by 25%)

2.4 2026 Optimised P&L Forecast

2026 OPTIMISED P&L FORECAST
---------------------------------------------------------------

REVENUE
  Paid Acquisition (221 units x $373)        $82,433
  Organic/Instagram (80 units x $373)        $29,840
  Repeat Customers (20 units x $373)          $7,460
  Cover-Only Sales (25 x $190)                $4,750
                                            ----------
  TOTAL REVENUE                             $124,483

COST OF GOODS SOLD
  Bedheads (321 x $125.50 optimised)        $40,286
  Covers (25 x $60)                          $1,500
                                            ----------
  TOTAL COGS                                $41,786

                                            ----------
GROSS PROFIT                                $82,697   66.4%

OPERATING EXPENSES
  Meta Ads                                   $8,000
  Google Ads                                 $2,000
  Email Marketing                              $600
  Payment Processing (3%)                    $3,734
  Shopify Subscription                         $348
  Packaging/Supplies                         $1,000
                                            ----------
  TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES                  $15,682

                                            ----------
OPERATING PROFIT                            $67,015   53.8%

Emily's Effective Hourly Rate:
  If 10 hrs/week x 52 weeks = 520 hours
  $67,015 / 520 = $128.87/hour
---------------------------------------------------------------

2.5 North Star Metrics to Track

MetricCurrentQ1 TargetQ2 TargetQ3 TargetQ4 Target
Monthly Revenue$705$6,000$10,000$12,000$15,000
Units/Month2.017283442
CAC$51.64$45$40$36$35
ROAS7.11x8x10x12x14x
Gross Margin59.3%62%64%66%66%
Repeat Rate0%5%8%10%12%

Part 3: Banking & Currency (Wise Integration)

3.1 Problem Statement

Current State:

  • Wise transactions exist only in Wise dashboard
  • Receipts scattered across email, photos, Dropbox
  • No structured categorisation of expenses
  • Manual effort to reconcile for tax/BAS
  • No visibility into spending patterns or unit economics
  • Can’t query financial data via Claude Code

Desired State:

  • Every transaction automatically captured and stored
  • Receipts attached to transactions with AI-extracted data
  • Full audit trail for ATO compliance
  • Deep financial analysis via BigQuery views
  • Queryable via MCP tools in Claude Code

3.2 Financial Tracking System Architecture

DATA SOURCES
  Wise Webhooks           Telegram Replies    Manual Entry
  (balances#credit,       (text, photos,      (via MCP tools)
   transfers#state-change) categories)
           |                     |                  |
           v                     v                  v
                  AZURE FUNCTIONS (analytics/)

  httpWiseWebhook    httpTelegramWebhook    scheduledFinSync
  - Verify sig       - Handle replies        - Hourly backup
  - Parse tx         - Download photos       - Fill gaps
  - Store to DB      - Process text          - Reconcile
  - Send Telegram    - Link to tx
           |                     |                  |
           v                     v                  v
                    Service Bus Queue
                    (process-receipt)
                           |
                           v
              queueProcessReceipt
              - Download image from Telegram
              - Upload to CDN (R2)
              - Send to Grok AI for extraction
              - Parse: vendor, amount, date, items
              - Update transaction with extracted data
                           |
                           v
                    DATA STORAGE

  Cosmos DB              BigQuery              Cloudflare R2
  (Real-time)            (Analytics)           (Receipt images)
  - transactions         - transactions        - receipts/{tx_id}.jpg
  - receipts             - receipts
  - annotations          - annotations
  - message_mappings     - account_balances

                         VIEWS:
                         - monthly_pnl
                         - expense_by_category
                         - tax_deductions
                         - cash_flow
                         - vendor_spend
                         - unit_economics

3.3 Transaction Flow

Transaction Occurs

You pay a supplier via Wise
         |
         v
Wise fires webhook (transfers#state-change)
         |
         v
Azure Function receives, stores, sends to Telegram
         |
         v
+---------------------------------------------+
| Outgoing Transaction                         |
|                                              |
| Amount: -$2,450.00 AUD                       |
| To: Julie Zhu (Supplier)                     |
| Reference: INV-2026-0042                     |
| Time: 5 Feb 2026, 2:34 PM                    |
|                                              |
| Reply to add notes or receipt photo          |
|                                              |
| [COGS] [Ops] [Marketing] [Other]             |
+---------------------------------------------+

User Adds Context

Option A: Quick category tap

User taps [COGS] button
         |
         v
Bot updates message: "Category: COGS"
Transaction tagged in database

Option B: Photo reply

User replies with receipt photo
         |
         v
Bot: "Processing receipt..."
         |
         v
Grok AI extracts:
  - Vendor: Julie Zhu Textiles
  - Invoice #: INV-2026-0042
  - Items: 50x Linen covers @ $45ea
  - GST: $222.73
  - Total: $2,450.00
         |
         v
Bot: "Receipt processed!
      Vendor: Julie Zhu Textiles
      Items: 50x Linen covers
      GST: $222.73"

3.4 BigQuery Schema

transactions Table

CREATE TABLE arlem.transactions (
  id STRING NOT NULL,
  wise_id STRING,

  -- Core transaction data
  transaction_date TIMESTAMP NOT NULL,
  type STRING NOT NULL,  -- 'incoming', 'outgoing', 'conversion', 'fee'

  -- Amounts
  amount NUMERIC NOT NULL,
  currency STRING NOT NULL,
  amount_aud NUMERIC,  -- Converted for consistency
  exchange_rate NUMERIC,
  fees NUMERIC,
  fees_currency STRING,

  -- Counterparty
  counterparty_name STRING,
  counterparty_account STRING,
  reference STRING,

  -- Categorisation (user-provided)
  category STRING,  -- 'COGS', 'Marketing', 'Operations', 'Personal', etc.
  subcategory STRING,

  -- Metadata
  source STRING DEFAULT 'wise',
  created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP(),
  updated_at TIMESTAMP,

  -- For querying
  year INT64 GENERATED ALWAYS AS (EXTRACT(YEAR FROM transaction_date)),
  month INT64 GENERATED ALWAYS AS (EXTRACT(MONTH FROM transaction_date)),
  quarter INT64 GENERATED ALWAYS AS (EXTRACT(QUARTER FROM transaction_date))
);

monthly_pnl View

CREATE VIEW arlem.monthly_pnl AS
SELECT
  FORMAT_DATE('%Y-%m', transaction_date) as month,

  -- Revenue
  SUM(CASE WHEN type = 'incoming' AND source = 'shopify'
      THEN amount_aud ELSE 0 END) as revenue,

  -- COGS
  SUM(CASE WHEN type = 'outgoing' AND category = 'COGS'
      THEN ABS(amount_aud) ELSE 0 END) as cogs,

  -- Gross Profit
  SUM(CASE WHEN type = 'incoming' AND source = 'shopify'
      THEN amount_aud ELSE 0 END) -
  SUM(CASE WHEN type = 'outgoing' AND category = 'COGS'
      THEN ABS(amount_aud) ELSE 0 END) as gross_profit,

  -- Operating Expenses
  SUM(CASE WHEN type = 'outgoing' AND category = 'Marketing'
      THEN ABS(amount_aud) ELSE 0 END) as marketing,
  SUM(CASE WHEN type = 'outgoing' AND category = 'Operations'
      THEN ABS(amount_aud) ELSE 0 END) as operations,
  SUM(CASE WHEN type = 'outgoing' AND category = 'Software'
      THEN ABS(amount_aud) ELSE 0 END) as software,

  -- Net Profit
  SUM(CASE
    WHEN type = 'incoming' THEN amount_aud
    WHEN type = 'outgoing' THEN -ABS(amount_aud)
    ELSE 0
  END) as net_profit

FROM arlem.transactions
GROUP BY 1
ORDER BY 1 DESC;

3.5 MCP Tools for Financial Queries

ToolDescriptionParameters
listfinancialtransactionsList transactions with filtersstartdate, enddate, category, type, limit
getfinancialtransactionFull details including receiptstransaction_id
searchfinancialtransactionsSearch by vendor, reference, notesquery, startdate, enddate
getexpensereportBreakdown by categoryperiod (month/quarter/year), date
gettaxsummaryTax-relevant summaryfinancial_year (2025-26)
runfinancialsqlCustom BigQuery SQLsql

3.6 Implementation Cost Estimate

ServiceUsageMonthly Cost
Azure Functions~10K invocations~$0 (free tier)
Cosmos DB~1GB storage, ~10K RUs~$25
BigQuery~1GB storage, ~1TB queries~$5
Cloudflare R2~1GB receipts~$0.015
Grok AI~100 receipts/month~$10
Total~$40/month

3.7 Environment Variables Required

# Wise Webhooks
WISE_WEBHOOK_SECRET=your-webhook-signing-secret

# Telegram
TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=123456789:ABCdefGHI...
TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID=-1001234567890
TELEGRAM_WEBHOOK_SECRET=random-secret-for-verification
ALLOWED_TELEGRAM_CHAT_IDS=-1001234567890

# Grok AI
GROK_API_KEY=xai-...

# CDN (receipts)
R2_ACCOUNT_ID=...
R2_ACCESS_KEY_ID=...
R2_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=...
R2_BUCKET_NAME=arlem-receipts

Part 4: Supply Chain & Ordering Strategy

4.1 Supplier Analysis

Ollko Textiles (Michelle Li, Shenzhen) - PRIMARY SUPPLIER

AttributeDetail
ContactMichelle Li
PlatformAlibaba
SpecialisationLinen textiles, bedding, cushion covers
Notable Clientilovelinen.com.au (confirmed)
Response TimeExcellent (same-day replies)

Products & Pricing (USD)

ProductMOQUnit Price (30 pcs)Unit Price (100 pcs)
Linen Cover 195x6530$36.00$32.40
Cushion Insert100-$15.00
Sample (cover)1$90.00-
Ruffled Edge CoverTBC~$40 estTBC

Shipping Costs (USD)

QuantityAir Freight (7-10 days)Sea Freight (30-40 days)
30 pieces$170$55
100 pieces$525$104

Unique Capabilities:

  • Ruffled Edge Cushions (statement cushion)
  • 60+ colours in stock, including gingham patterns
  • Custom Labelling (hang tags, cotton labels)
  • Invisible Zippers
  • Bedding Production for future expansion

Julie Zhu / Hefei Charming Textile (Anhui) - INSERT SUPPLIER

AttributeDetail
ContactJulie Zhu
PlatformAlibaba
SpecialisationCushion inserts, microfiber products
Response TimeGood (several hours)

Products & Pricing (USD)

ProductMOQUnit Price
Cushion Insert 195x65, 4kg, 300TC100$10.76
Cushion Insert (sample)1$10.00 + $62 shipping
Linen Cover (3-sided flap)TBC$24.52

Shipping Costs (USD)

QuantityMethodCostTransit Time
1 sampleAir$626-8 days
100 piecesSea (DDP)$1,62850-60 days

Aureta Living (Surabaya, Indonesia) - BACKUP SUPPLIER

AttributeDetail
ContactNova
PlatformWhatsApp
SpecialisationCushions, dacron products
MOQNone (good for samples/emergencies)

Products & Pricing (USD)

ProductUnit Price
Full Cushion 195x65 (cover + insert)$55.30
Full Cushion 165x65 (Queen)$54.10
Full Cushion 150x65 (Double)$52.90

Supplier Comparison Matrix

CriteriaOllkoJulie ZhuAureta Living
Cover Price (USD)$32-36$23-24Included
Insert Price (USD)$15$10.76Included
Full Cushion (USD)$47-51$34-35$53-55
MOQ Covers30TBC1
MOQ Inserts1001001
Ruffled EdgeYesUnknownUnknown
Bedding RangeYesVia sourcingNo
Quality Proofilovelinen clientVideosNone yet
CommunicationExcellentGoodSlower

Supplier Recommendation

Use CaseRecommendedRationale
Covers (standard)OllkoBest quality, proven, expansion potential
Covers (statement)OllkoOnly supplier with ruffled edge capability
Inserts (low volume <50)OllkoSimpler logistics, single relationship
Inserts (high volume 100+)Julie Zhu30% cheaper, massive stock
Testing/samplesAuretaNo MOQ, fast turnaround
Emergency stockAuretaNo MOQ for quick replenishment

4.2 Shipping Strategy

Air vs Sea Trade-offs

MethodCost (100 pcs)TransitBest For
Air Freight (Ollko)$525 USD7-10 daysUrgent restock, covers
Sea Freight (Ollko)$104 USD30-40 daysPlanned bulk orders
Sea Freight (Julie)$1,628 USD50-60 daysInsert stock build

Recommendation:

  • Inserts: Always sea freight (not time-sensitive, bulk stock)
  • Covers: Air freight first order, sea freight for restocks
  • Statement Cushions: Air freight (premium product, faster to market)

Combined Shipping Strategy

For Q2 2026 onwards:

  1. Order inserts 3 months ahead (sea freight)
  2. Order covers monthly based on sales (air freight if urgent, sea if planned)
  3. Keep 2-4 weeks of cover stock in Australia

4.3 Risk Mitigation

Supply Chain Risks

RiskLikelihoodImpactMitigation
Julie quality issuesMediumHighSample approval before bulk, QC on arrival
Ollko shares info with ilovelinenLowMediumDon’t share strategy, focus on unique products
Chinese New Year delaysHighMediumOrder inserts by Jan 15 (CNY late Jan/early Feb)
Sea freight delaysMediumMediumUse existing AU inserts for March launch
Shipping damageLowMediumVacuum packing, request reinforced bags

Backup Plans

ScenarioBackup Plan
Julie quality failsUse Ollko inserts ($4.24 more per unit)
Ollko quality failsAureta Living (no MOQ, higher cost)
Both failContinue handmade (short term)
Urgent restock neededAureta (no MOQ) or air freight from primary

Part 5: Bulk Order Planning

5.1 The Situation (February 2026)

  • 18 variants ready for preview collection
  • Proposed order of 130 cushion covers
  • Chinese New Year starts ~Feb 9-10
  • Ollko’s bulk orders scheduled into April
  • Decision required immediately to secure priority

5.2 The Key Trade-off

ScenarioProbabilityOutcome
Order 60, sell out in 6 weeksMedium-HighLost sales, 4-6 week gap, momentum killed
Order 130, sells in 4 monthsMediumCaptured all demand, $49K revenue
Order 130, 40 units sit 6+ monthsMedium-Low~$2,400 tied up, but still sold 90

Key insight: The downside (slow inventory) is recoverable. The upside (lost sales during launch window) is NOT recoverable.

5.3 Order Options

Option A: Focused Launch (115 units)

VariantKingQueenDoubleTotalConfidence
Natural86115High
Picnic108119High
Oat Stripe86115High
Butterscotch86115High
Espresso86115High
Meadow Blush86014High
Sage Stripe4307Medium
Stone4307Medium
Grove4307Medium
French Ticking3205Medium
TOTAL65495119
ItemQtyUSDAUD
Covers @ $35115$4,025$6,289
Air freight (est.)1$350$547
TOTAL$4,375$6,836
VariantKingQueenDoubleTotalConfidence
Natural86115High
Picnic108119High
Oat Stripe86115High
Butterscotch86115High
Espresso86115High
Meadow Blush86014High
Sage Stripe4307Medium
Stone4307Medium
Grove4307Medium
White (220gsm)3205Medium
French Ticking3205Medium
Harbour3205Medium
TOTAL71535129
ItemQtyUSDAUD
Covers @ $35125$4,375$6,836
Air freight (est.)1$380$594
TOTAL$4,755$7,430

Why Recommended: Full collection launch while skipping only the 1-unit “samples” that don’t serve a purpose at that quantity.

Option C: Full Send (130 units)

ItemQtyUSDAUD
Covers @ $35130$4,550$7,109
Air freight (est.)1$400$625
TOTAL$4,950$7,734

5.4 Option Comparison

FactorOption A (115)Option B (125)Option C (130)
Total Cost$6,836$7,430$7,734
Variants101218
Stock Runway5 months5-6 months6 months
Risk LevelModerateModerateModerate-High
Upside CaptureGoodVery GoodMaximum
Downside ExposureLowerMediumHigher
RecommendationSafe choiceBest balanceIf confident

5.5 Cash Flow Projection

MonthUnits SoldRevenueCumulative ProfitStock Remaining
March15$5,925$4,400110
April20$7,900$10,30090
May25$9,875$17,70065
June25$9,875$25,10040
July20$7,900$31,00020
August15$5,925$35,4005

Observation: At target sales, you’d need to reorder in May (before running out in August). Plenty of time post-CNY.

5.6 Break-Even Analysis (Bulk Order)

OptionInvestmentBreak-Even UnitsBreak-Even Revenue
Option A (115)$6,83618 units$7,110
Option B (125)$7,43019 units$7,505
Option C (130)$7,73420 units$7,900

At target sales rate (20 units/month): Break-even in less than 1 month of sales.

5.7 Size Distribution Analysis

Historical Data (31 bedhead cushion units from 30 orders):

SizeUnits SoldPercentage
King1548%
Queen1342%
Double310%
Total31100%

Proposed Mix: 53% King, 40% Queen, 5% Double (aligns with historical data)

Key Observations:

  • King and Queen are nearly equal in demand (48% vs 42%)
  • Double is a small but consistent segment (10%)
  • King beds increasingly popular in Australian master bedrooms

Part 6: Action Items & Checklists

6.1 Immediate Actions (Week 1-2)

  • Enable proper pixel tracking (ViewContent, AddToCart, Purchase)
  • Test $20 price increase on one size first
  • Calculate exact COGS per size (King vs Queen vs Double)
  • Confirm sample quality from Julie and Ollko
  • Message Ollko with confirmed order quantities
  • Pay deposit to secure production slot

6.2 Q1 2026 Actions

  • Negotiate bulk pricing with suppliers (target 50+ unit commitment)
  • Launch retargeting campaigns (lowest CAC opportunity)
  • Set up Google Shopping for brand searches
  • Email reactivation campaign to past visitors
  • Place insert order with Julie (100 pcs, sea freight)
  • Place cover order with Ollko (125 pcs, air freight)

6.3 Financial Tracking System Implementation

Phase 1: Core Infrastructure (Week 1)

  • Wise webhook endpoint (httpWiseWebhook)
  • BigQuery tables (transactions, receipts, annotations, account_balances)
  • Telegram bot setup with grammY
  • Basic notification sending (transaction -> Telegram)
  • Message-to-transaction mapping in Cosmos DB

Phase 2: Telegram Interaction (Week 2)

  • Handle text replies -> annotations
  • Handle photo replies -> receipt storage
  • Inline keyboard for quick categorisation
  • Receipt image upload to Cloudflare R2
  • Async queue for receipt processing

Phase 3: AI Receipt Extraction (Week 3)

  • Grok AI integration for receipt parsing
  • Structured data extraction (vendor, items, GST)
  • Confidence scoring and validation
  • Update Telegram with extraction results
  • Store extracted data in BigQuery

Phase 4: Analytics & MCP (Week 4)

  • BigQuery views (P&L, tax deductions, vendor spend)
  • MCP tools for financial queries
  • Scheduled backup sync (fill gaps from API)
  • Daily balance snapshots
  • Documentation

6.4 Quality Checkpoints

Julie Insert Sample:

  • Fill density matches current product (3.5-4kg feel)
  • Cotton casing quality (300TC, no pilling)
  • Vacuum seal holds
  • Dimensions correct (195x65cm)
  • No chemical smell

Ollko Cover Sample:

  • Linen GSM feels right (175 or 245)
  • Colour matches photos
  • Invisible zip smooth operation
  • French seam or overlocked finish
  • Fits over existing insert

Ollko Statement Sample:

  • Ruffled edge sits flat (not puckering)
  • Contrast colour works visually
  • Premium feel vs standard

6.5 Ongoing Tracking

  • Weekly P&L review - track actual vs forecast
  • Monthly CAC analysis - optimise underperforming campaigns
  • Quarterly pricing review - test elasticity

Appendices

Appendix A: Product Trend Analysis (2026)

Predicted Bestsellers

RankProductWhyConfidence
1NaturalProven hero, timeless, pairs with everythingVery High
2PicnicGingham + terracotta ruffle = Instagram goldHigh
3Oat StripeNeutral stripe, versatile, on-trendHigh
4ButterscotchWarm earth tone, ruffled, cosyHigh
5EspressoDeep chocolate, double-sided, masculine appealMedium-High
6Meadow BlushPink + olive combo, feminine, romanticMedium-High
7StoneClassic neutral, double-sided versatilityMedium
8Sage StripeSage is trending, but stripe competes with OatMedium

Predicted Slow Movers (Risk)

ProductWhyRisk Level
LemonadeYellow is niche, not trending for beddingHigh
SailorBlue solid/stripe combo is narrow appealMedium-High
HarbourNavy/teal is specific coastal tasteMedium
Parisian RoseTwo-sided + ruffled = complex positioningMedium

Appendix B: Statement Cushion Development

Product Concept

Name: Arlem Statement Bedhead Cushion Unique Feature: Contrasting 5cm ruffled edge in different fabric/colour

Why It Matters:

  • No competitor offers this
  • Creates visual “centrepiece” on bed
  • Higher perceived value = higher price
  • Instagram-worthy content opportunity
  • Differentiates from ilovelinen

Colourway Recommendations

ComboMain BodyRuffled EdgeTarget Customer
Natural Gingham#59 Natural Gingham#62 Solid Natural/BrownClassic, farmhouse, coastal
Sage ContrastNatural (solid)Sage/Eucalyptus greenModern organic, nature-inspired
Moody NeutralStone/GreyCharcoal/BlackModern minimal, masculine

Statement Cushion Pricing

SizeCOGSSuggested RRPGross Margin
Double~$130$39967.4%
Queen~$144$42966.4%
King~$160$47966.6%

Appendix C: Exchange Rate Assumptions

Currency PairRate Used
USD/AUD0.64 (1 USD = 1.5625 AUD)

Note: Actual rates fluctuate. Consider locking rates or budgeting 5% buffer.

Appendix D: Working Capital Requirements

TimeframeCash NeededCovers
January 2026$4,218 AUDJulie inserts (sea)
January 2026$3,307 AUDOllko covers (air)
TOTAL Q1$7,525 AUDFull launch inventory
March 2026Revenue starts~$3,000-5,000/month
April 2026Break-even on inventory~40 units sold

Appendix E: Assumptions & Methodology

  1. COGS estimates are based on user-provided figures, not verified invoices
  2. Ad attribution is estimated (no proper tracking in 2023-2024)
  3. Organic sales during ad period may have been influenced by ads (halo effect)
  4. Labour cost not included - Emily’s time is not tracked/costed
  5. International shipping costs may differ from domestic estimates

Document Control:

VersionDateAuthorChanges
1.0Feb 5, 2026Nick + ClaudeConsolidated from 4 source documents

Source Documents:

  • ARLEM-FINANCIAL-ANALYSIS-BEDHEAD-CUSHIONS.md (Jan 1, 2026)
  • FINANCIAL-TRACKING-SYSTEM-2026.md (Feb 5, 2026)
  • INITIAL-BULK-ORDER-RECOMMENDATION-2026.md (Feb 2-3, 2026)
  • SUPPLIER-STOCK-ORDER-STRATEGY-2026.md (Jan 8, 2026)

“We have a 59% gross margin business with a 7x ROAS. The opportunity isn’t in cutting costs - it’s in scaling what’s already working.”