I have a question.
How do you guys deal with your Vendors? it is the one subject I was never really trained on and left out to dry. It is very easy to get caught up on everything else in market and to ALMOST forget all about the vendors, ours, are more often than not, late. And for some reason I am expected to make sure that seasonal/front lanes/random areas are full at all times and on time.
I am just a PA and not CTL, but often these responsibilities are often thrust onto me, however my partner is borderline useless, so I am also trying to hold down everything ELSE that has to be done in market myself. I have a feeling I am being looked at to be CTL in the future and would like to know how to work all this crap into my routine as everything else I have down pat.
When I was working mornings, I watched how my CTL would interact with the vendors -- he was very friendly with them, and as a result, he got them to fill up their specified areas as well as discuss any new products/endcaps/etc. needed setting up. When my CTL went on LOA, the PA and I (I'm currently just a Market TM -- hopefully that will change soon) would have to interact with the vendors to make sure things got filled. I also learned how to do lookup receipt numbers and other stuff I was never trained to do (with regards to vendors).
Since moving to the evenings, I don't deal with vendors that often, since they usually arrive early in the morning, with maybe the sole exception of the milk vendor when he's late.
From my observations, I would try to engage with the vendors -- more often then not, they usually sought me out if I was there opening to ask or discuss what needed to be done. They remembered who I was (e.g. Pepsi guy, beer guy, Orowheat/Bimbo/bread guy, milk guy). If you interact with them enough, they should remember who you are, and they'll seek you out rather than you looking for them, hopefully.
Another reason they seek you out is that weekly, the CTL/PA has to fill out a vendor report -- if the vendor isn't doing his/her job, you can ding them (i.e. give them a red score), and if you do that enough times, the vendor's bosses won't be to pleased. Hence, the vendors usually try to get on your good side. Hope that helps...
ETA: Just remembered -- whenever I wasn't sure about something, I always checked with my Reverse Logistics TL in the back -- she knew all of the vendors, and if I had any questions when my CTL was on LOA, I would check with her.