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Can We Help You?

 

with Inventory Control, Shrink and Cycle Counting

 

 

“We've got a real problem with shrink. Every time we do a physical count we come up with big discrepancies. We don't know if it's theft or something else. Can you help us?”

 

 

Yes We Can!

 

Shrink is an insidious problem for any independent retailer. Shrink can melt profits faster than an ice cube on a sidewalk in July! It can be a nearly invisible problem, nearly impossible to detect until you actually count your inventory.

There are effective steps that can be taken, however, short of installing expensive loss prevention systems. steps that can take a real bite out of shrink. The physical layout of the store, positioning of the cashwrap, merchandising adjacencies and deployment of associates all significantly impact shrink. In addition to addressing these issues, an effective cycle count program can all but eliminate the problem.

A regular, on-going cycle counting program, one that's an integral part of an independent retailers daily or weekly routine, heightens everybody's awareness of inventory control and loss prevention. Inventory discrepancies are spotted sooner, when it's easier to figure out the cause, inventory transactions are processed more carefully, merchandise is kept more neat and organized and everybody keeps an eagle eye out for theft. Cycle counting helps establish operational efficiency as a core value. At its best, an effective cycle count program eliminates any need to do annual physical inventories.

We’ll take the time to listen to you and learn about your business. We’ll help you develop and implement a workable cycle count program, then take a look at your physical procedures to be sure that every transaction is being accurately captured, including sales, receiving, inventory adjustments and cycle counts, and that nothing is slipping through the cracks. We’ll recommend whatever steps are necessary to tighten things up to further reduce inventory shrink, and we’ll help you implement those steps.

 

 

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Hurlbut & Associates is a retail consulting and business advisory firm which focuses on strategic, operational, merchandising and inventory management issues. Our retail clients leverage our  expertise to increase sales, margins, profitability and cash flow.

 
 
 

Related Reading:

 

"Cycle Counting, Cycle Counting, Cycle Counting"

 

 

 

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