Resolve Stock and Size Gaps Before They Become Lost Sales

When a client asks for a size that is not on the floor, the first answer should be accurate. Guessing can create a second disappointment. Saying only 'we don't have it' can also end the conversation before the team has checked the options it is authorized to offer.

Confirm the exact product, colour and size. Check the shop floor and the approved stock system, then ask the stockroom or another authorized colleague to verify if the system is uncertain. Follow store rules for transfers, reservations, online availability and client data.

If the item is not available, explain what you know and what you are checking. Offer a practical alternative only when it fits the client's request. A substitute should reflect their need, not simply whatever is easiest to sell. Do not promise a delivery date, transfer or reservation until it has been confirmed through the proper process.

If the client wants follow-up, agree the channel and time and record only the information required by company policy. Give the action to a named colleague. A note that says 'call client' without a due time or owner is easy to miss during a busy shift.

At the end of the shift, review unresolved requests. Confirm who owns each next step and when the client will hear from the store. Repeated gaps in a popular size are operating information: record the pattern and share it through the approved stock or merchandising channel.