| Evaluate Your Ordering Process | | | | your store. Resist the urge to splurge on what you |
| You should never ever treat the purchase of items for | | | | remember as a hot item last year or a cheap promo |
| the store the way you would pick out a personal gift. | | | | for some chatchke that no one wants. |
| While, yes, that leopard print Snuggie may very well be | | | | - 'Tis the Season. Depending on your store location, |
| both fashionable and practical...it probably isn't going to | | | | seasonal sales items may play a huge part in your |
| end up on Oprah's Favorite Things list anytime soon | | | | success. Be prepared, but don't be ridiculous. While |
| (*cough cough* ever) and your shelf space could be | | | | getting my weekly shot of testosterone at Home |
| put to better use. | | | | Depot last weekend, the air conditioner displays were |
| Remember how you start to profusely sweat when | | | | already being replaced with space heaters. |
| you pick out a gift for your wife or girlfriend (or both) | | | | - Acclimate to Automate. Efficiency is key. Whether |
| because you know, whatever it is, has a 99% chance | | | | you are using a hand-held scanner or an electronic |
| of being completely wrong? Luckily, ordering items for | | | | ordering system for your weekly order, reduce your |
| your store requires little speculation and far less | | | | dependency on manual ordering. Automating this step |
| antiperspirant. Let us introduce you to a more | | | | will allow you to verify proper costs and inventory |
| systematic approach: | | | | levels assuring a higher degree of pricing accuracy. |
| - Delegate an Heir and a Spare. Determine who in | | | | You will be amazed at how accurate your vendors will |
| your organization is authorized to place an order. Is it | | | | suddenly get when you automate. |
| your pricebook guru, your store supervisor, your | | | | - Have Control Issues. While this comes naturally to |
| manager, or your cousin who is in a work release | | | | some, it is imperative to control the order. Have the |
| program? For a solid, centralized pricebook, and, most | | | | process in place to order based on your replenishment |
| importantly, for accountability, select one person and | | | | needs, your negotiated prices of promotional items |
| one backup person. Do not let just anyone in the | | | | with your vendors --- NOT what the store manager |
| company stock your store. | | | | and vendor simply want to put on your shelves. The |
| - It's Not Personal...It's Business. So what should you | | | | next 4 steps will bring this more into focus. |
| order? Put aside your personal preferences and stick | | | | Next week we will discuss Step #2: Communication...a |
| to your list --- this is where a Top/Bottom Movement | | | | subject I've been told I know little about, but will share |
| report is invaluable. Check your top 50-100 moving | | | | with you what others have told me should be done. |
| items and be sure to order the product that sells in | | | | |