Shadow Box

Shadow Box

n. See Backdrop.

Shark-Cut

Shark-Cut

v. To open a CASE or BOX by closely cutting three sides of the top using an upward diagonally-angled blade so that just the corner triangular bead of CARDBOARD joining the lid to the sides is separated or removed, and the interior of the CASE or BOX is just barely penetrated without touching any of the contents inside. So called because the tip of the BOX CUTTER BLADE is seen to move along the BOX'S upper edge just above or slightly below the surface, akin to a shark's fin cutting through water. —n. Any CUT so made. See also BASE-CUT, BOX CUTTER, H-CUT, LIFT-CUT, PEEK-CUT, STACK-CUT, TAPE-CUT, TOP-CUT, TRAY-CUT, WINDOW-CUT, X-CUT.

NOTE: A Shark-Cut is an angled variation of a regular TOP-CUT. Don't attempt one with a dull blade; it has to be new and sharp. Not the fastest (See X-CUT), but perhaps the best way to open difficult CASES that would otherwise not provide a nicely STACKABLE remnant if you followed the so-called “Easy Opening” method suggested on the packaging by the manufacturer.

Candidates? CASES of pudding and gelatin cups come to mind. Likewise some cake and brownie mixes, where the CASE is supposedly a DISPLAY unit. Yet, if you open the sides where they're glued, either the CASE falls apart, or stuff falls out the next time your CART goes over a bump. Or maybe, if you open that Zip tab on top, you have an awkward hole to deal with, and a not-so-great floppy lid.

Forget it. When you think there's going to be some leftover to go back into the BACK ROOM, cut your own lid and there's much less muss and fuss in the long run. The little bit of extra trouble can be well worth it.

Exceptions? For one, those small cases of Gerber® baby food in plastic twin-packs of plastic cups. The unglued sides fall open if you Shark-Cut the case. Problematic.

Sheet

Sheet

n. 1. See NEGATIVE ORDER WORKSHEET: “Have you seen the sheet?” 2. See ASSET TRACKING WORKSHEET: “Don't forget to put that on the sheet!”

NOTE: Context—where you are and what you're doing—generally tells you which Sheet they're talking about. In the GROCERY BACK ROOM it's Sheet1, the NEGATIVE ORDER WORKSHEET, and on the LOADING DOCK it's Sheet2, the ASSET TRACKING WORKSHEET.

Shelf Out

Shelf Out

v. To remove a quantity of PRODUCT from a DISPLAY and, to the fullest extent possible, refill its regular SPOT on the SHELF: “Shelf Out the foil shipper near the front of 13.”

TIP: Shelf Out 1's & 2's. After you've filled the HOLE, yet have one or two pieces left over, don't bring them back! Instead, try to either gently JAM them into the HOLE or gracefully HIDE them nearby. The idea is to save your team time by reducing unnecessary handling. As for three extras, um, maybe. But, four or more should usually either stay on the SPECIALS CART or go into BACK-STOCK, as appropriate. Likewise, there are some single ITEMS that are so bulky, they just have to come back.

Sign Holder

Sign Holders:
(L to R) Goose-Neck,
Swan-Neck, Duck-Foot

Sign Holder

n. A rectangular support frame with a slot on top for inserting the largest, DISPLAY-sized sign, and which has a foot and an optional, and in some cases adjustable, supporting column. There are three standard sizes. In order of increasing height, see DUCK-FOOT, GOOSE-NECK, SWAN-NECK.

Skyline

Skyline

n. The top or uppermost profile of a DISPLAY (typically not including SHADOWBOX, if any). —v. To STACK ITEMS on the top SHELF in the AISLE higher than usual, sometimes by using scrap CARDBOARD to create additional layers: “Don't skyline aisle 4.”

NOTE:

TIP: Top Shelf Terrace? If you're desperate to make all of a top SHELF ITEM GO, consider SKYLINING the extra by laying down a solid scrap of CARDBOARD on top of what's already there and building upwards.

CAUTION: The extra top layer must be set well back, so at least two FACE ranks underneath it can be taken out without risk of toppling PRODUCT onto anyone's head.

Piling PRODUCT on the top shelf above a first or second layer is sometimes viewed as Not A Good Thing. Thus, seek case-by-case guidance from the GROCERY MANAGER if you think you need to do this. And of course, having any PRODUCT topple on to a CUSTOMER would be A Very Bad Thing!

UPDATE: Recent policy changes do not permit the Skyline to extend above the back of the topmost shelf.

Specials RUNNER

Specials RUNNER

n. A RUNNER or CART kept in the BACK ROOM and dedicated to holding up to a CASE or two of extra STOCK of some ON SALE ITEMS, from which the SHELF from time to time may be replenished: “Work the aisle 1 through 4 Specials Runners.” See also SPECIALS WALL, THROW, WORK.

Rollout Flowchart…

NOTE: At one point as I was pulling out yet another Specials Cart to WORK it, I happened to wonder, “Hey—Just what exactly am I doing?” I knew I was doing a lot of thinking and judging, so—just for fun—I thought I'd try to write down everything, just to see what I got. And the answer is...

DETAILS: Specials Runner ROLLOUT. Yep: once again, this is the deep end of the pool. The result of my ruminations was actually a flowchart, with diamonds for decisions, rectangles for process steps, and ovals for the start and stop terminals. Click on the thumbnail at right for a much larger view. Here's the condensed, text-only version:

   

• (Start)
  • [ Inspect cart in bay, before moving it ]
    • < Any items toppled/leaning on other carts? >
      • [ Carefully move non-involved cart(s) to gain access ]
      • [ Temporarily off-load items at risk of falling ]
    • < Any items stacked too high? >
      • [ Move adjacent cart(s) to gain access ]
      • [ Temporarily off-load items at risk of "scrape off" ]
    • < Wide items snagged on other carts? >
      • [ Jockey other cart(s) in bay to free snags ]
      • [ Withdraw interlocked carts together, then separate ]
    • < Precarious, unbalanced items? >
      • [ Move adjacent cart(s) to gain access ]
      • [ Reposition items for maximum safety ]
  
  
  • [ Pull cart out of bay ]
    • < Any other moved carts? >
      • [ Return other carts to proper slots in bay ]
  
  
  • [ Re-inspect cart ]
    • < Any leaks, spills, or damaged items? >
      • [ Casualties to damages rack, sink or trash, as appropriate ]
      • [ Clean up ]
    • < Any empty boxes, waste plastic, etc.? >
      • [ Recycle or dispose of properly ]
    • < Anything belong on other cart(s)? >
      • < Space available on proper cart(s)? >
        • [ Move hitchhiker item(s) to proper cart(s) ]
    • < Any temporarily off-loaded items? >
      • [ Return off-loaded items to cart ]
    • < Any items on other carts belong on this cart? >
      • < Space available? >
        • [ Move fugitive items back onto cart ]
    • < Precarious, unbalanced items? >
      • [ Reposition items for maximum safety ]
  
  
  • [ Put footstool onto cart ]
    • < Cart very full, too many items? >
      • [ Get shopping cart to hold cardboard, plastic ]
    • < Expect lots of waste plastic? >
      • [ Put milkcrate onto cart to hold plastic ]
  
  
  • [ Pull cart out to designated aisle(s) ]


• (etc...)

The description above may seem daunting, but the actual task is pretty straightforward and more often than not, downright easy. I don't recall the listed contingency inspections ever requiring action all at the same time. Usually it's just pull out the CART, grab a footstool (they help a lot when you're WORKING the top SHELF), and go!

For more about flowcharts, see for example:
^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowchart}

Spring-Tray

Spring-Tray

n. A spring-loaded tray that serves as an automatic BLOCKING device by keeping PRODUCT pushed forward, up to the front, or SHELF FACE. Typically used for things like bagged coffee, bagged rice and pasta side dishes, etc. Compare BOTTLE-RACE, CAN-RACE.

TIP: Squeeze 'n Shake. The contents of free-standing or SPRING-TRAYED bags like cookie mixes or rice and pasta side dishes tend to settle down to the bottom, turning the bags into little pyramids—wide on the bottom, skinny on top. By turning the bags over and giving them a quick squeeze or shake, you can sometimes flatten them out enough to fit a lot more on the SHELF.

Stack

Stack

n. A vertical pile of PRODUCT or CASES of PRODUCT. —v. To make such a Stack. See also AISLE STACK, STACK OFF.

TIP: Cross-Tie Tall Stacks. Taking a cue from bricklayers, you can lay in a strip of CARDBOARD as a cross-tie part of the way up between pairs of tall STACKS and they'll be a lot more stable.

TIP: Bottom Bags are a Better Base. Speaking of stable, are you stuck STACKING slippery bags, like extra-wide pasta or powdered sugar? You'll find that those from the bottom of the CASE often have more of that annoying, air-bag puffiness squeezed out of them. So, use those flatter ones to form a kind of “sandbag dike” at the FRONT of the SHELF, and toss the top layers of puffiest, slipperiest bags to the back.