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Fill out the form below and receive free access to articles by retail expert Ted Hurlburt...articles that will help you gain a better understanding inventory control issues.

Cycle Count, Cycle Count, Cycle Count
A formal retail cycle count program will dramatically reduce your shrink. And once you're in the habit of continuously cycle counting, you'll probably never have to do a full physical inventory again.

The True Cost of Retail Inventory
When not managed carefully, inventory costs can be the difference between being profitable or losing your shirt.


Premium Content - Control, Shrink

Inventory Control, Shrink & Cycle Counting

Does this Describe You?
  • Every time we do a physical count we come up with big discrepancies.
  • Our auto replenishment package doesn't really work because our inventories aren't right.
  • I don't know how much of our shrinkage is actual theft.
  • A lot of our operational processes and controls aren't that tight.

Retail Shrink - A Major Retail Inventory Control Problem
Inventory shrink is an insidious problem for any retailer and can melt profits faster than an ice cube on a sidewalk in July. Unfortunately, it can be nearly impossible to detect until you actually count your inventory.

Real Steps that Reduce Retail Theft
Short of installing expensive loss-prevention systems, there are effective steps that can be taken--real steps that can take a real bite out of theft. Look at the physical layout of the store, the positioning of the cash wrap, the merchandising adjacencies, and the deployment of associates. All of these significantly impact loss-prevention. In addition, an effective cycle count program can go a long way towards eliminating theft.

Regular Cycle Counting Tightens Up Inventory Control
A regular, ongoing cycle count program, one that's an integral part of a retailer's 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 tends to stay neater and be better organized. Everybody in your store is more aware and, as a result, keep 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.

Take Action to Tighten Up Inventory Control and Reduce Shrink
We'll take the time to listen to you and learn about your situation. We'll help you develop and implement an effective cycle count program, then take a look at your physical procedures to be sure that every transaction is being accurately captured and that nothing is slipping through the cracks. We'll recommend whatever steps are necessary to tighten things up to further reduce shrink, and we'll help you implement those steps.

Contact us today and let Hurlbut & Associates help you say goodbye to shrink once and for all!