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Success when opening a dollar store is about purchasing the right dollar store merchandise. Yet locating and purchasing just the right products is just the start. Then comes the process of receiving and displaying that merchandise. Even more challenging is the continual increases in sales that equates to ever-higher volumes of merchandise flowing into the store. One of the big challenges for every dollar store business owner is learning to handle that ever-increasing volume. Often the volume becomes so overwhelming it is almost impossible to handle. The choice of leaving merchandise sitting in the receiving or stockroom area becomes more attractive, even though it results in lost sales. Another consideration is to receive merchandise and then place the cartons directly onto the floor for stocking as time allows. Yet this opens the door to lost sales as well. Worse yet it can create both a tripping hazard and a barrio to shoppers being able to reach the other dollar store merchandise they wish to purchase. Fortunately those opening a dollar store do have options to expedite the receiving and stocking processes for incoming dollar store merchandise. Create a dedicated area for receiving incoming dollar store merchandise. Set up the area to handle ever-increasing volume. Have the right tools and equipment readily available. Leave lots of open space for sorting products. Be sure there is excellent lighting to aid in reading purchase order, freight receipts and cartons of product. When opening a dollar store be sure to thoroughly train your receiving and stocking personnel. As sales volume increases the importance of their job will increase as well. Make sure all the basics such as inspection of incoming merchandise, pricing and display are taught and understood. Don’t forget to train employees about the processes followed to obtain credits for broken, damaged and missing merchandise. Be sure actions to streamline stocking and display such as properly sorting and stocking by department are included in the training. Schedule employees for stock work on days when freight is arriving. With some experience you will be able to identify proper staffing levels to receive and rapidly display freight. Remember to never use days with unusually high freight to train new stockroom personnel. Save that training for slower times. After all, newly arrived items cannot start to make you money until they have gone through the process and are up for sale. To your success when opening a dollar store! Learn how you can Start your own Dollar Store Business.
Bob Hamilton is an entrepreneur, author, writer, business consultant and trainer.
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