Supplies that are to be sold to clients are known as

• A. Retail Supplies
• B. Service Supplies
• C. Consumable Supplies
• D. Inventory

Answer: (A)

In a salon setting, supplies are categorized by how they’re used and who buys them. Supplies sold to clients for home use are called retail supplies. They’re products you offer for purchase after a service, like cleansers, moisturizers, sunscreens, and masks, so clients can maintain results at home.

Service supplies, on the other hand, are items used during the actual treatment—things like towels, disposable applicators, or gloves. These aren’t sold to clients; they’re consumed as part of the service. Consumable supplies are similar in that they’re used up during a service and discarded, such as cotton pads or wipes. Inventory refers to the overall stock a business keeps on hand, including both retail and service items, rather than the specific category of items meant for client sale.