Merchandising and Display Checklist

Walk the entry from the parking lot in. Check that exterior bulbs, vestibule lights, and channel-letter signage are all on; replace any out within 48 hours. Sweep, remove debris from the door track, and confirm the entry mat is flat and not a trip hazard under ADA Title III.

Pull the current window schematic from the visual portal. Restage mannequins, props, and risers to match — common drift includes swapped SKUs after a stockout and crooked styling after a fitting-room return. Photograph the finished window for the corporate visual walk submission.

Swap A-frame, valance, and door-cling signage to the active promo. Pull the previous week's sale signs to the recycle bin — leaving expired signage up is the most common audit ding and creates a price-match liability at the register.

Compare each fixture, gondola, and end-cap to the POG PDF. Note drift — SKUs moved during replenishment, end-caps stocked with whatever the AM team grabbed. Drift over a week is the leading reason customers can't find ad items.

Stage the week's new receipts on the front four-way and the lead end-cap. Pull from the receiving log for SKUs received in the last 7 days; older inventory belongs on regular fixtures, not feature.

Maintain a minimum 36-inch clear path through main aisles per ADA Title III. Move freight, rolling racks, and floor stacks out of the customer path before opening. A pinch point near fitting rooms is the most common citation.

Coordinate with the visual merchandiser and district manager to block 4-6 hours of overnight or pre-open labor. Pull the latest schematic, fixture parts list, and signage kit from the visual portal before the reset crew arrives.

Wipe gondola decks, slatwall, and pegboard. Flag any broken brackets, cracked acrylic risers, or bent hangrails for the facilities ticket queue — a falling fixture is an OSHA general-duty incident waiting to happen.

Pull every SKU forward to the shelf edge with the label facing out. Size-run apparel left-to-right, smallest to largest. Zoning at open and at each shift change keeps the floor looking stocked even after a heavy traffic hour.

Scan a sample SKU per fixture against the POS to confirm shelf tag matches the ringing price. Mismatches drive price-match refunds and, in posted-price states (CA, MA, MI, NY), can trigger consumer-protection fines.

Pull every sign holder, danglers, and shelf talker tied to last week's promo. Recycle on the spot — leaving one stray sign drives a price-match obligation that wipes out the margin gain from the new promo.

Place header, valance, and shelf-edge signs per the weekly visual guide. Avoid sign clutter on the lead end-cap — corporate visual targets 1 hero sign + supporting shelf talkers, not a wall of paper.

Walk the floor for off-brand handwritten signs, expired vendor POP, and mismatched fonts. Vendor reps frequently leave their own signage during stocking visits; these get pulled unless they are on the approved vendor-POP list.

Run the low-stock report from the POS and pull replenishment to fill holes on the planogram. Prioritize ad SKUs and end-cap features — a stocked-out hero SKU on a feature display is the most damaging visual miss of the week.

Review the aged-inventory report for SKUs past 60/90/120 days. Flag candidates for first, second, or terminal markdown per the markdown matrix. Below the cost-protection floor requires district manager approval.

Group complementary SKUs to lift UPT — belts with denim, socks with athletic shoes, batteries with electronics. Add-on placement at the register lifts ADS by 3-5% in most specialty formats.

Submit the markdown spreadsheet through the merchandising portal with SKU, current price, proposed price, cost, and aging bucket. District manager approval is required when the proposed price falls below the cost-protection floor.

Walk every fitting room. Empty hangers without garments are a shrink indicator — log the SKU on the loss-prevention shrink sheet. Re-hang try-ons on the go-back rack for the sales floor team.

Confirm overhead bulbs are warm-white and at full output — dim or fluorescent-yellow fitting rooms tank conversion in apparel. Wipe mirrors and check seating for damage.

Verify the schedule has an attendant within line-of-sight of the fitting-room entrance during peak hours. Attended fitting rooms reduce shrink (concealed-garment theft) and lift conversion through suggestive selling.

Final sign-off by the store manager or visual merchandiser. Attach the floor-walk photos for the district visual review and note any open issues to carry into next week's walk.