The Body Shop has used the central control afforded by this infrastructure, combined with Retail Manager, to increase efficiency and accuracy of information for its stores. From previously sending out up to 16 different planograms to cover all possible store configurations and leaving the store to choose, The Body Shop now holds shop layout information in a store database and sends only the appropriate plannogram. Similarly, point-of-sale graphics for window and gondolas are designed and dispatched with a particular store in mind.

Simon Link at Retail Manager Solutions Ltd. (previously Triangle) says that head office to store communication by fax is still common and the 'cc' effect of multiple emails doesn't help store managers discover there priorities. He advocates collaborative interaction between head office and stores through diaries, task list and surveys.

August 2007

www.retailspeak.com