Store Manager session / 15 minutes

Opening a Store: Prepare the Launch Range and Stock

Learning outcome: Check that the approved launch range, priority sizes and product information are ready for the store's first trading days.

Session graphicCheck launch stock from approved range to first-week review

Buying and merchandising decisions stay with their assigned owners; the store manager tracks availability and operating impact.

01
Confirm the range
Current approved styles, colours, sizes and plan version
02
Check availability
On hand, expected delivery and open product gaps
03
Prepare the floor
Space, ticketing, product information and replenishment owner
04
Review early trade
Approved stock and sales reports, action owner and date

Explore the checkpointsSelect a step to focus the manager's next check.

Manager's check / 01 of 04Confirm the range

Current approved styles, colours, sizes and plan version

A launch range has to work in the actual store. The manager should understand what has been approved, what is expected to arrive and which items or sizes are important to the opening offer. Buying and merchandising own range and quantity decisions unless the manager has been specifically authorized to make them.

Start with the latest approved assortment and launch plan. Check the product list against the store format, space plan and customer proposition. Confirm which styles, colours or sizes are marked as launch priorities, what is already on hand, what is due and when the team can expect an update on anything delayed.

Check the hand-off between stock and the floor. Who receives the delivery, checks it against the expected record, prepares launch displays and moves replenishment? Is there enough approved storage and display capacity? Do colleagues have the product information and price or ticketing instructions they need? Route changes to the accountable buyer, merchandiser or operations owner.

For a gap, record the item, size or colour, planned arrival, customer or trading effect, responsible owner and next update. Ask for an approved response if an opening display or customer promise is affected. Do not substitute product, change prices or promise availability without the right authorization.

Before opening, review the latest availability with the assigned teams. After the first trading days, use the approved stock and sales reports to separate an initial delivery issue from a replenishment or presentation issue. Share the evidence and agree the next action with its owner.

Practice case

The launch plan highlights three key styles, but a size run for one style is missing from the first delivery. The display team has printed a price ticket from an old product file, while the stock team expects replenishment in eight days. A colleague suggests replacing the item with a similar style.

Work through it

What should the manager verify in the approved range and delivery plan?
Who should confirm the missing size and expected update?
What should happen to the old price ticket?
What information should the manager record before agreeing any customer response?

Suggested approach

Check the latest approved item and size list, delivery status and product file. Ask the stock or merchandising owner to confirm whether the size is delayed, available elsewhere or not included in the launch allocation. Hold the outdated ticket for correction through the approved process. Record the affected item, customer or display impact, accountable owner and next update. Do not substitute the product or confirm a price or delivery date without authorization.

Manager tool

Approved assortment and plan version
Launch priority by item, colour and size
Expected quantity and delivery date from the source system
Store stock, display and storage readiness
Product information and ticketing owner
Availability gap and customer impact
Approved response, owner and next update
First-week stock and sales review date

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