Archived Planogram + Push Efficiency IDEA : NEED FEEDBACK!!

[Penrose]

This is another one of my silly or half-baked idea that I thought about for a while, but didn't really delved further until this morning.

Assume a section with the same brand (e.g. HANES), and same price (e.g. $9.99 ).

Looking at the diagram above, table 1 is how the items are CURRENTLY organized. A bunch of stickers above each item. If you look at figure 1, if you've experience pushing items, to this section for example -- you know , that it can easily get disorganized, with items not where it should be.

From a customer's point of view, everything seems RANDOM.

Now that I've stated the problem, I have come up with a solution, and that is TABLE 2.

It's red coded because instead of individual stickers. I imagined, LABELS on the side.

From the logistics point of view, if one is to STOCK the items. They simply have to look at the TOP header and the SIDE header. Say BIKINI, 9. It's FLEX...but controlled FLEX.

Most importantly, a customer can just look at the HEADERS for their size and style that they want, and that directly gives them a sense of direction of where item should be.

@Rock Lobster
@TiedAndDropped
@Flowmotion
@Hardlinesmaster
@redeye58
@Retail Girl

 

[Rock Lobster]

Well your suggestion should still include both methods (yellow labels) and then your suggestion makes sense to "add" ISM signage to suggest a grid like pattern. Its nice to have the actual DPCI available for each individual size for guest assistance, instocks processes, and other random things. I could even see them doing something similar to what they do in Intimates for Basics (putting the labels in holders behind) but everyone knows how much it sucks to maintain that.

 

[Penrose]

I would even include a diagram or explanation at the TOP HEADER for guests to be able to compare styles, like this:

 

[Penrose]

Well your suggestion should still include both methods (yellow labels) and then your suggestion makes sense to "add" ISM signage to suggest a grid like pattern. Its nice to have the actual DPCI available for each individual size for guest assistance, instocks processes, and other random things. I could even see them doing something similar to what they do in Intimates for Basics (putting the labels in holders behind) but everyone knows how much it sucks to maintain that.

Well, true. I guess, both can work too.

If we keep the current method, and just add the LARGE FONT HEADERS to emphasize how the items are organized would that be an "easy" thing to do ?

and would you agree, it helps with the flow process AND how customers are able to quickly find the item they want?

 

[Penrose]

(sigh)

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

Spot gets lost in the softlines. @sher or @Patty can assist us in this matter.

 

[redeye58]

Patty might be out of pocket but @:Sher would be the pro.

 

[60SecondsRemaining]

Our natural tendency, as americans, is to view things from left to right. So the planogram, Would make the most sense, with each type in its own row, each as its own shelf.

Ie: a1-6, b1-6 etc. By doing this, you could use a long label channel with a flip top. Put your label strip inside, so you can research individual skus, with a single price point/picture descriptor strip on the outside for guests.

It would also make pinpointing an item easier for flow, and give more adspace while still maintaining a recognizable pog

 

[Westcoast7]

Soft lines is trashed too much to give a damn. I set back wall in softlines with the Hanes shirts and stuff. It went xxl bottom to top being small. Top to bottom being the same style or whatever. The each peg has its own label , these are softlines items that get back stocked and researched because they are bought frequently. Honestly Many of people working at spot don't care and will stick things wherever, and planograms and sent from CORPORATE headquarters, so I'm sorry but why are you fantasizing over things that people get paid 6 figure salaries to come up with? i could proposes this that this that all day to my senior price and presentation team leader, ETL Logistics, but the reality is, they only cares about if the WORKLOAD is finished and metrics are GREEN. I care about my job too, and like working here, but you will come around soon enough

 

[60SecondsRemaining]

Soft lines is trashed too much to give a damn. I set back wall in softlines with the Hanes shirts and stuff. It went xxl bottom to top being small. Top to bottom being the same style or whatever. The each peg has its own label , these are softlines items that get back stocked and researched because they are bought frequently. Honestly Many of people working at spot don't care and will stick things wherever, and planograms and sent from CORPORATE headquarters, so I'm sorry but why are you fantasizing over things that people get paid 6 figure salaries to come up with? i could proposes this that this that all day to my senior price and presentation team leader, ETL Logistics, but the reality is, they only cares about if the WORKLOAD is finished and metrics are GREEN. I care about my job too, and like working here, but you will come around soon enough

He's working to change exactly the thing you don't like. You're bashing him for trying to fix the things you don't like.

I fail to see how that's constructive.

I agree corporate suffers from groupthink, but if you don't like how something is, try to change it. Giving up or saying "it's not worth it" doesn't really make you any better in the first place.

 

[Retail Girl]

He's working to change exactly the thing you don't like. You're bashing him for trying to fix the things you don't like.

I fail to see how that's constructive.

I agree corporate suffers from groupthink, but if you don't like how something is, try to change it. Giving up or saying "it's not worth it" doesn't really make you any better in the first place.

But POGs aren't changeable by anyone at the store level. That all comes from people in Minnesota, who we aren't exactly certain have ever seen the insides of one of the stores. So dreaming of changing things is nice, but in the end, there isn't the flexibility that the OP thinks/hopes there is.

 

[sher]

Ohh like the jean walls how they have the big eye-catching labels that say straight, bootcut, skinny, and jeggings. Then the labels have the color codes. It's easy to put those away because of those things... Well it was until my tl decided she didn't care about coordinating the signs to the actual area those fits are in. Jegging are beneath the sign that says straight and straight is under skinny. So annoying. I haven't memorized the new locations yet, either.

Girl's basics aren't terrible because some of the companies actually color code the packaging. I think FOL's is the most obvious. So those are easy to reshop most of the time.

 

[sher]

Patty might be out of pocket but @:Sher would be the pro.

I didn't think I was that memorable lol, but thank you!

 

[incredulu]

Do you guys ever backstock anything in softlines? We used to be 100 percent flex, nothing in the backroom for softlines but we have a new softlines TL that keeps trying to send stuff to the back.

 

[sher]

We do. Our dtl has been saying it for forever but our etl log was pushing against it so we didn't for a long while, then after a visit from the dtl's boss (Idk what comes next in the hierarchy) it was reiterated that we need to back stock. So we're doing it again but the effing backroom fights it. They send it back then the next day it comes out on a caf. Whyyyy? Sometimes, I keep little back stock in the fitting room because I don't wanna get the stuff back the next day. I hate flexing things that actually have a location (I think it's easier for in stocks) and I hate when folded piles get too tall. I pulled a million sports bras off a table the other day. They just fall on the floor when there's so many. Besides, 12 medium girls aren't gonna come buy sports bras at once.

Edit: We backstocked before, but not as much. Pretty much only when we had no choice but to backstock. But now finger spacing is a thing again.

But question, how is this TL "trying" to send stuff back? Either she sends it back or doesn't... Is she sending it back, but then backroom just puts a green clip on it and sends it back??

 

[60SecondsRemaining]

But POGs aren't changeable by anyone at the store level. That all comes from people in Minnesota, who we aren't exactly certain have ever seen the insides of one of the stores. So dreaming of changing things is nice, but in the end, there isn't the flexibility that the OP thinks/hopes there is.

If you put together a strong presentation with examples, and reasons why it would be successful, then you can present that to someone, and possibly have it accepted.

You could also just have it emailed directly to the person who created the pog. Their name is on the planogram.

Doing something is better than just saying "i have no control".

"It is what it is" isn't really an attitude that translates into success. It is what you make it.

 

[Penrose]

Thank you @60SecondsRemaining for explaining that. I do see that in most floor fixtures, the items are categorized by rows and not columns. I also observed that in wall displays that don’t have horizontal dividers, the categorization is by columns.

To say that our main customers have the tendency to view things from left to right is a good point. That made me think “How do customer’s browse?” + “What relevant information do they need”? And “how these relevant info should be displayed?” – These same questions are applied to team members doing the stocking of these items.

THE PROBLEM: In my brief time here (less than 2 months), I’ve seen customer’s walk away or change their mind because they couldn’t easily find their size. I’ve also seen some negative emotion or confusion or worries that they picked up items that are not really on clearance or of different price.

Clearly, there is something wrong with the current approach. The outcome of this method produced logistical errors and disorganization.

Therefore, there must be something that we overlooked.

I suggest, we go back to the basics.

Let’s not forget that when we say “customer experience”, what this really meant is to reduce cognitive load. Everything needs to be organized so that ideas and instruction are recognized easily and seamlessly.

In general and in order of importance, there are 3 things that customers look for: BRAND, STYLE and SIZE.

Guests tend to first glance at the different brand offerings we have, when one matches their preference, they will move closer…as soon as they are near enough, they should be able to identify what styles we carry on that brand. Lastly, they want to know if we have the size for that style they want.

In location that means, Brand is at the HEADER section or TOP section where it stands out. As soon as they move to that direction, the different styles should be apparent, and they should know where the location of their size.

So, if their size, say XS is not there, they don’t waste time browsing, and be disappointed.

I can’t emphasize enough that ALL 3 of these factors needs to be PERCEIVED immediately as soon as customers come close to the display or fixture.

 

[Penrose]

@sher – I can relate to that experience of having too many items on the sales floor, and backroom keep sending the overstock items back.

I suspect that there is a “flaw” in the process of unloading of truck, then sending the items quickly to sales floor. I also just don’t get why backroom refuse to hold items. Why backroom needs to almost be empty is a source of confusion to me. The backroom should have a working reserve and safety stock amount for every item. Sales floor should hold the right capacity of the appropriate utilization rate of the items.

The question I guess, is what is the main objective? If you have no reserve or have minimal reserve on the backroom? How does that affect the supply? Doesn’t that send a message to the distribution center that more items are needed in your store? What happens next? That I guess causes oversupply and outdated items on the sales floor, because new items are continually being replenished due to the fact that you keep signaling for “MORE”.

 

[Penrose]

I might have contradicted myself on my earlier thoughts about sales floor capacity. If we have a "barren" aisle, or "light" aisle -- temporarily assigning surplus item of same category and price (but different type) to the empty shelves or container, might be okay in some instances. Empty spaces might produce negative impression on guest. That made me wonder why that may happen at times that certain shelves are not stocked for an extended period of time -- are items that should not be ordered are ordered? poor demand, so it is being phased out?

 

[signingminion]

Those mean signs move real easy...just saying. Little tilt to get them out. Swap and tilt back in...

Most of the zone/finding item issues would be solved with adequate staffing. I often search and walk away after the six packages flexed in the wrong location don't yield the right size, even for the right location. Took me three stores to find the right size and color mix of boxer briefs for hubby. I had to go to Wal-Mart...

 

[Penrose]

Thanks for sharing @signingminion - so, this is indeed a widespread problem...obviously, not finding the right item even when you are standing at where it should be , annoys guest that they walk out and leave... Lost sale!

I think, if I were the STL, I might be able to know if a certain department is having this kind of issue just by looking at the data -- the CUSTOMER PENETRATION -- if you see a significant decline in this key performance measure from one of the department, say intimates, that might tell you that something has to change.

How much is the decline to warrant the change? How much does it cost to make the change? These are the relevant questions.. maybe it is worth it..