Back to School Suggestions

[m316foley]

So I work for a major retailer. Recently, corporate has asked me to come up with some ideas in making checkout faster. I have a lot of free reign when it comes to in-store policy, however, I can't spend any money at all (unless it's my own).

So, I've come to ask for suggestions.

So far, I've come up with a few ideas:

1. Have 1 line, then when a checkout is open, have 1 person at a time go to the register. That way, if a register goes down, we don't have to have "cutting in line" issues.

2. We have a gun where we can scan things, bag them, and give them a card to give to the cashier. The cashier rings up the card and they pay at an "express" register.

3. Create a website, fairly simple and only for my store, where customers can order the simple and basic items, it sends an email to the store, the associates collect them, bring them up front, and they can go through the "express checkout." They get a phone call when the items are ready to be picked up.

Any other suggestions or comments on the suggestions I have made?

Thanks in advance,

Foley

 

[AznAnarchy99]

One line helps, as long as it isnt one register like what the nearby Staples did last year.

 

[m316foley]

Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99
One line helps, as long as it isnt one register like what the nearby Staples did last year.

Haha, no we'll have 4 registers + 1 express lane.

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: m316foley

Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99
One line helps, as long as it isnt one register like what the nearby Staples did last year.

Haha, no we'll have 4 registers + 1 express lane.

Hum, you could do that what Fry's does... The gun scanning thing is what Costco does when they're overloaded...
It may just work

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: m316foley

Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99
One line helps, as long as it isnt one register like what the nearby Staples did last year.

Haha, no we'll have 4 registers + 1 express lane.

I like that setup and lots of stores are adopting it now. It also kills the "f*ck, I got in the wrong line" or "that c-sucker took my spot!".

 

[m316foley]

Originally posted by: Imp

Originally posted by: m316foley

Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99
One line helps, as long as it isnt one register like what the nearby Staples did last year.

Haha, no we'll have 4 registers + 1 express lane.

I like that setup and lots of stores are adopting it now. It also kills the "f*ck, I got in the wrong line" or "that c-sucker took my spot!".

Oh yeah, from what I've seen, it just works better. That, and when a register goes down, because it's back to school time and I know it will, it will create less problems.

 

[jagec]

Those are all fairly good ideas, although the website one is probably not quite as effective for the amount of work it would take to set it up.

 

[m316foley]

Originally posted by: jagec
Those are all fairly good ideas, although the website one is probably not quite as effective for the amount of work it would take to set it up.

It wouldn't be as much work since there would probably be around a 24 hour turnaround time. This would allow the nightcrew or the daycrew (during downtime) able to collect all the items.

 

[tfinch2]

Don't allow people to write checks.

1 line that feeds multiple registers.

 

[m316foley]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
Don't allow people to write checks.

1 line that feeds multiple registers.

I can't really do that, however, maybe have 1 register for check users or post a sign asking people not to use checks?

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

You need to give more details on the store... what's the biggest bottleneck in this process and what kind of items are being checked out.

Just look at the largest of businesses in your industry/market and see what they're doing, that's usually a good place to start.

 

[m316foley]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
You need to give more details on the store... what's the biggest bottleneck in this process and what kind of items are being checked out.

Just look at the largest of businesses in your industry/market and see what they're doing, that's usually a good place to start.

It's Staples haha and we're mainly going to be selling school supplies. Walmart/Target would be the closest I could think of, but they're going to have wayyyyyy more staff and business than we are.

 

[soydios]

The "1 line for all registers" is the most efficient method for checkout at a register. Once the customers wrap their minds around the idea, they'll realize how much faster and better it is.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: soydios
The "1 line for all registers" is the most efficient method for checkout at a register. Once the customers wrap their minds around the idea, they'll realize how much faster and better it is.

Actually, you process the same number of customers in the same amount of time, you don't have to deal with the frustrated customer who watched ten people zip through the vet's line while they were stuck with the rookie.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Think Best Buy and Black Friday. Set up most needed items around the store and have the line wrap around the entire store. Open up the hallways if possible to get rid of traffic that will keep the store all chaotic and people in there longer than they need to be.