From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishstock-in-tradeˌstock-in-ˈtrade noun [uncountable] 1 TYPICALsomething that is typical of a particular person or thing, especially what they say or do Stewart’s stock-in-trade was the face-to-face interview.2 literaryEQUIPMENT the things you need to do your job Vanessa’s looks have been her stock-in-trade as an actress.
Examples from the Corpus
stock-in-trade• Teaching through stimulation and enjoyment should be our stock-in-trade.• Information is our stock-in-trade, and we should see ourselves as custodians, users, and disseminators of information.• Rituals of transgression, sensationalist violation and titillating naughtiness became the stock-in-trade of popular news reporting in the late nineteenth century.From Longman Business Dictionarystock-in-tradeˌstock-in-ˈtrade noun [uncountable]1 (also trading stock)ACCOUNTING all the goods that a company has to sell, as well as the raw materials that it uses to produce theseWhen you start up a business, you need sufficient funds to purchase your stock-in-trade.2words or behaviour that are typical of someonepoliticians whose stock-in-trade is economic populism3COMMERCEa business’s normal activityAfter he finished his apprenticeship, kitchens became a part of his stock-in-trade. 