Saturday, October 13, 2012

Sam Walton's Claim! Valid?


I am certain it has been discussed.  
The change in Walmart's business model:

From:  "Always low prices, always."
To:      "Spend less. Live better."

Is it valid?

Be a regular consumer for a moment.  This is a slice of life with the pennies rounded off the way real people do when they talk to each other. [sic]

100% Colombian Coffee.

Walmart?          $  8.00
Supermarket?   $12.00
Savings?          $   4.00

Jif Peanut butter?

Walmart?          $ 4.00
Supermarket?   $ 5.00
Savings?          $ 1.00

Total savings?  $ 5.00

Saturday night?

Hamburgers?    $ 4.00
Steak?              $ 8.00

Savings?         -$ 4.00

Offset?             $ 5.00

Saving?           $ 1.00

Saturday night, steak instead of hamburger + one dollar in savings.

Sam Walton's Claim:  "Spend Less. Live Better."  Validated!

Regards,

Slim


Other articles by Slim Fairview



Copyright (c) 2012 by Slim Fairview
All Rights Reserved.






       

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Doing a Store Remodel



1. The Walk Through.

Walk through the store.  

  • Using a marker, mark all the shelves that must be replaced.
  • Make a list indicating location and size of shelves.
  • Order the number of shelves.

2. Storage Containers

  • Determine the number of containers you need.
  • Allocate the necessary space and draw up a layout of what goes where.
  • If you delegate authority to a subordinate to transfer material from delivery to containers, give that subordinate the layout drawing.
  • Store shelves by size in one container leaving room for workers to move shelves in and out.
3. Shelf Change Procedures

  • Using two pallet jacks, have workers load 9 shelves on the first leaving the second jack empty.
  • Have workers proceed to the start location.
  • Remove 1st new shelf.  Place it on second jack.
  • Remove stock, placing it on stack of new shelves.
  • Remove old shelf.
  • Replace with new shelf
  • Place old shelf on second jack.
  • Replace stock.

  • Proceed to second location.
  • Remove new shelf from stack. 
  • Place new shelf on second jack.
  • Move stock to new shelf on second jack.
  • Take old shelf out, place new shelf (from first jack) in location.
  • Replace stock.
  • Put new shelf back on first jack, place old shelf on second jack.
  • Repeat until all shelves on the first size to be replaced have been replaced.

Begin process with second size shelf.

NB  When all nine (9) shelves have been changed, return to container to load nine new shelves on first jack and place old shelves in designated location in container.


3. Displays Cleaning

When cleaning, organising, zoning the displays, do not be tempted to place one worker in each aisle.  Rather, place four workers in each aisle.  Have one supervisor present for each of two aisles.


4. Supplies

While this may seem intuitively obvious to the casual observer, have supplies on hand for the workers to use in cleaning the displays.

  • Scrapers
  • Spray Bottles
  • Rags
  • Paper Towels
  • Screw Drivers
  • Ladders
  • Carts
Scrapers should be obvious as is the case with the rest.  However, the difficulty arises with ladders and carts.  (This includes pallet jacks.)

Ladders are needed for top shelves.  This is why we have four people per aisle.

While "Corporate" Policy can create difficulties with "canned patter": We don't use shopping carts. Shopping carts are for customers, we will try to work around that impediment despite the fact that shopping carts are used by staff and associates throughout the store throughout the day.

L-Carts should be assigned and organised.  Just as with storage containers, carts should have designated supplies in designated places.  Leads should be responsible for conveying this to their staff.   Other matter: paint cans, paint brushes, rolls of labels, fixtures, and other material should have a designated destination--period!

Product.  What do you do with the product when you remove it from the shelf to clean the shelf?  That is the test question.  Common sense would dictate that a portion of the L-Cart have that purpose.  However, the L-Cart is too small.  Answer?  Rethink the corporate impediment to common sense, efficiency, cost-effectiveness and other desirable ends.

5. Mentor

Have someone with experience in dealing with people not unlike contractors to tip off new project managers.  If a door does not close properly, don't let your corporate project manager listen to excuses not unlike:

  • The wind keeps the door from closing
  • We had our best carpenters install the door
  • We adjusted the bracket as far as it will go
  • Blah, blah, blah.

6.  Leadership


"You can't lead if you can't manage."  Slim Fairview: From The Quotations of Slim Fairview

There has been too much said about leadership training.  So many people lack basic management skills:

  • Organisation
  • Process Management
  • Referent Authority
  • Formal Authority
  • Confident
  • The confidence of superiours
  • The support of superiours.
Therefore, I have posted links to three articles on the matter.


Best Wishes 
Best of Luck

Warmest regards,

Slim Fairview--Creative Consultant

If anything herein was helpful, please do not hesitate to send me a really tricked out Mac and don't hesitate to tuck more than a few dollars into the envelope with the thank you note.

Regards, 

Slim

slimfairview@yahoo.com 

Copyright (c) 2012 Slim Fairview
All Rights Reserved