| Managing retail inventory is a huge responsibility | | | | If you are having your employees take |
| and one that can have devastating repercussions | | | | responsibility for each section, offer a reward for |
| if it's not done correctly. Managers everywhere | | | | accuracy. If you have managers and |
| report that inventory management is one of their | | | | supervisors, you may want to have them go in |
| biggest concerns. The truth of the matter is | | | | behind the lower level employee and double check. |
| that it is a huge, tedious job that no one really | | | | If you warn the first person that their count will |
| likes to do. It is almost impossible for one | | | | be checked, they are less likely to make |
| person to manage and it's almost always | | | | mistakes. |
| necessary to delegate responsibilities in order to | | | | Consider doing your inventory counts outside of |
| get the job done. | | | | your regular business hours so that there aren't |
| It may be surprising to find out that smaller retail | | | | customers there to distract the counters. This |
| stores and boutiques actually have a tougher time | | | | will also keep your boutique or retail store looking |
| doing inventory than big department stores. This | | | | nice and neat when you're making that |
| is generally because boutiques try to inventory | | | | all-important first impression on your customers. |
| everything at once with only one or two | | | | You may need to motivate the employees to |
| employees working on it. Department stores | | | | show up when it is normally their time off. Many |
| categorize everything, creating smaller and smaller | | | | companies make inventory count participation |
| categories, and then put one person in charge of | | | | mandatory. |
| a tiny section of the store. The employees are | | | | You can make it mandatory, but you may risk |
| not overwhelmed and generally give an accurate | | | | losing employees that have other obligations, |
| count of the section that they are responsible for. | | | | other jobs, college classes, or trips that were |
| Boutiques and smaller retail stores should take the | | | | planned in advance. Instead, consider offering |
| big department stores' advice to heart. Delegate | | | | rewards, like bonus money for participating. Play |
| the responsibility by dividing your store into | | | | music, order pizza, and make it fun. You could |
| different categories and subcategories. Hire an | | | | give people with accurate counts longer breaks or |
| inventory specialist team if you don't have the | | | | lunches during business hours, or even a deeper |
| employees or the time to do it right. | | | | discount on their next purchase. |