Scrape-Off

Scrape-Off

n. If you're not careful, what can sometimes happen to things that are piled too high on the SPECIALS RUNNERS when you pull them out of their BAYS.

Security

Security

n. The DEPARTMENT with oversight responsibilities for the lawful behavior of all EMPLOYEES and CUSTOMERS.

NOTE: The STORE'S Security force operates mainly under cover, and works in cooperation with local law enforcement. I have seen several people arrested for SHOPLIFTING over the years, as well as seen EMPLOYEES terminated for inappropriate behavior.

WARNING: Some people can be very dangerous when confronted. So, observe, yes, but then immediately notify a MANAGER of anything unusual or suspicious. Don't ever take it upon yourself to attempt to apprehend anyone.

Security Camera

Security Camera

n. For safety and security purposes, video cameras monitor and tape activity throughout the STORE and its environs, including the parking LOT, LOADING DOCKS, DEPARTMENT BACKROOMS, and so on.

NOTE: Upon walking into the STORE, you can see yourself on a video monitor. This is known as sending folks a message. However, there are some who still don't get it. A few have learned the hard way that the STORE'S video tapes can and have been used for criminal prosecutions as well as internal disciplinary actions.

Service Operations Manager (SOM)

Service Operations Manager (SOM)

n. (* DEFINITION GOES HERE *).

NOTE: As it happens, I'm told my STORE doesn't presently have anyone in the SOM role. It's been subsumed into the COM, or CUSTOMER OPERATIONS MANAGER'S position. Thus, your constructive input would be appreciated!

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.

Shelf Clip

Shelf Clips

Shelf Clip

n. A small, clear, more or less C-shaped narrow plastic strip that has a friction grip near one end for holding DISPLAY SIGNS by their edges and which can be gently squeezed to make it slip into a track that runs along the entire length of the front edge of a standard STORE SHELF. Typically used in pairs to hold 3-UPs on END-CAPS and WINGS.

NOTE: A special BLACK RACK CLIP variant with curved hook is required to hold 3-UPs on BLACK RACKS. See BLACK RACK CLIP.

Shelf Dividers

Shelf Dividers

n. Thin, upright organizational aids, usually CARDBOARD or PLASTIC, used to help clearly separate similar ITEMS, as between tiny stacked jars of baby food, or boxed packets of gravy mixes, etc. May or may not protrude beyond the SHELF FACE. Usually has manufacturer's BRAND and/or PRODUCT decorations.

Shelf Tag Notations

Shelf Tag Notations

n. Any marks or other notes that the PRICE CONTROL DEPARTMENT writes on SHELF TAGS. See also CASE NOTATIONS.

NOTE: Needless to say, STOCK CLERKS do not in any way mark or alter SHELF TAGS. That's strictly the job of PRICE CONTROL. Examples of their notations include:

Mark	Meaning
B	B-ITEM (i.e., soon to be DISCONTINUED)
DBL	“Double” (i.e., ITEM is in two SPOTS; don't double ORDER)
DISC.	DISCONTINUED ITEM
NOF ISP	“Not On File; In-Store Price”
(Red Line Strike-Out Through Description)	Do not ORDER

B - See B-ITEM.

DBL - The classic example of a legitimate doubled ITEM—that is, one that appears in two different SPOTS on the SHELF—is organic peanut butter. You'll find it in the peanut butter AISLE, and you'll also find it in the organic ITEMS AISLE. Parmesan cheese, same thing: both in the pasta section and in Dairy. In each case, one of the two TAGS may be marked DBL to alert the person holding the GUN that there's another SPOT to check before ORDERING more. STOCK CLERKS must remember to THROW the ITEM to both SPOTS. Thus it's a good idea to jot down the two locations on the CASE if it's going onto a SPECIALS RUNNER or into BACK-STOCK, to help others MAKE IT GO later on.

DISC. - See DISCONTINUED.

NOF ISP - (“Not On File; In-Store Price”) is the rarest of these notations. I've only seen it once in 3-1/2 years. It's an ad hoc TAG, created as a temporary measure to expedite the sale of what is essentially a remaindered, non-orderable, non-replenish-able ITEM that's otherwise not a candidate for the DISCOUNT RACK. PRICE, weight, size, BRAND and PRODUCT name are all accurate on the TAG, and the ITEM will SCAN properly at CHECKOUT, which is what counts.

(Red Line Strike-Out...) - Reasons to cease or delay ORDERING additional STOCK vary. One might be in anticipation of a known rebranding or packaging change. In each case, check with the DEPARTMENT head if you want to know the specific reason. Meanwhile, THROW to the SHELF as usual.

Shrink Wrap

Shrink Wrap

n. See STRETCH FILM, WRAP.

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.

SOM

SOM

n. See SERVICE OPERATIONS MANAGER.

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}

Spinner Rack

Spinner Rack

n. A free-standing DISPLAY which can potentially turn freely about a vertical axis, allowing the inspection of various ITEMS typically affixed to columns of clips, somewhat like a carousel of J-HOOKS or CLIP STRIPS.

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-Cut

Stack-Cut

v. To make multiple BASE-CUTS all at once on a STACK of plastic-wrapped CASES containing CARDBOARD TRAYS, in order to save time. —n. Any such multiple cuts. See also BASE-CUT, BOX CUTTER, H-CUT, LIFT-CUT, PEEK-CUT, SHARK-CUT, TAPE-CUT, TOP-CUT, TRAY-CUT, WINDOW-CUT, X-CUT.

NOTE: Candidates? Stack-Cuts are most often used when THROWING LOAD, because, except for SPECIALS, the presumption is it will all GO. So, multiple, non-identical CASES containing jars of spaghetti sauce, jars of baby food, cans of cat or dog food, and so on are a pretty safe bet.

On the other hand, multiple identical CASES of any ITEM should be investigated before you cut! They are likely to be a SPECIAL, ON-SALE ITEM, where the extra CASES are to be held in reserve on the SPECIALS RUNNERS or STACKED OFF on the SALES WALL in the BACK ROOM in order to periodically replenish DISPLAYS and/or the SHELF.

So, your goal is to save time, yes, but it's also to keep all unused and partial CASES as intact as possible in order to minimize STORE DAMAGE while PRODUCT gets moved around. See also H-CUT.

Stock Rotation

Stock Rotation

n. See ROTATE.

Store Brand

Store BRAND

n. “Me too” products or product lines which the STORE commissions manufacturers to produce and then offers along side the manufacturers' and others' better-known BRANDS, but for which the STORE reaps higher profit MARGINS, e.g., by minimizing advertising costs, etc. Also PRIVATE LABEL. See also BRAND.

NOTE: Like they say about beauty, I think CUSTOMER SATISFACTION is also in the eye of the beholder. Some folks seem to think all Store Brands are inferior to their national Brand counterparts. I don't know about that, but I do know Store Brands are generally a lot less expensive! Where I work they currently include:

Store Brand	Category
CareOne®	Health & Beauty
Companion®	Pet Food and Care
Guaranteed ValueTM	Various; Bargain Items
JaVaNa®	Coffee
KaPop®	Popcorn
Nature’s Promise®	Organic Foods
Smart LivingTM	Household, Entertainment, etc.
(Store Name)®	Various; Canned Goods, Cookies, Crackers, etc.

Store Directory

Store Directory

n. A bi-fold sheet of printed paper that opens to show both a pictorial map of the general layout of the STORE and an index listing key PRODUCTS and the AISLES where they may be found. See also PHONE LIST.

NOTE: The layout from one STORE to the next varies widely, so each Store Directory is unique to that particular STORE.

Stretch Film

Stretch Film

n. The proper name for what's commonly called “SHRINK WRAP” or just plain “WRAP.”

Swan-Neck

Swan-Neck

n. The tallest free-standing DISPLAY sign holder, having an adjustable white column. Compare DUCK-FOOT, GOOSE-NECK. See photo at SIGN HOLDER.