Retail Refits and Stock Moves: Managing Inventory with Reusable Crates
Retail refits can easily get complicated and messy, with the back room suddenly becoming full of products that still need to stay clean and easy to find.
The best way to avoid this is with a proper system. If stock is packed into whatever boxes happen to be available, it quickly becomes hard to control. If it's packed into consistent, reusable crates, it's much easier to separate product types and move stock in phases.
These are the things you should consider when working on a retail refit or stock move.
Separate your stock into clear retail move groups before anything moves
Before anything is packed, it helps to decide what kind of stock movement you're actually dealing with. Not every product in the building is going to move in the same way, so it's important to have a system that separates them out appropriately.
1. Stock that's going straight back onto the shop floor
Some items only need to come off the floor temporarily. Core lines, fast sellers and products tied to current trading should usually be kept in the easiest-to-access group. These are the items that need to go back out on the shop floor first, once the relevant part of the refit is finished.
2. Seasonal or promotional stock
Temporary stock like seasonal or promotional items should be kept together in a way that still makes sense when teams come back to them later. If they're mixed in with ordinary stock, it can be much harder to find and identify.
3. Stock that's staying off the floor for longer
Some stock doesn't need to come straight back out, such as overstock, archived merchandising materials, clearance items, or stock that's being transferred to another store rather than returned to sale. Much like organising the seasonal items, separating this group early makes for clearer organisation.
Build a simple system for keeping track of stock
The real test of whether a stock move has been successful is in how quickly the team can put get everything out of boxes and back in the right place. By correctly labelling and organising your storage, you can save hours of checking what's in each box.
What every crate label should show
- Product category
- Store area or destination
- Whether the contents are priority return stock
- Whether the stock is seasonal, promotional, markdown, or transfer stock
Plan the move around trading hours, deliveries and merchandising deadlines
In retail, the easiest way to move things will be by navigating it around how the store actually works. During a refit, part of the floor might need to stay active, or a seasonal changeover might need to happen in stages so that current stock can stay on sale for as long as possible. These need to be factored into what can move when.
Before you begin, consider things like:
- Trading hours
- Delivery times
- Contractor access
- Visual merchandising deadlines
Why a phased approach usually works better in retail
A phased approach usually works best because it gives store teams more control. Everything can be taken one stage or one category at a time, which gives staff more time to check products between phases. It also allows for flexibility if priorities need to change, which may well happen when working around a live shop floor.
Why reusable crates make stock changeovers easier
Reusable crates give a retail move more structure. They're sturdier than standard cardboard, easier to stack, easier to label and much better suited to stock that may need to be moved more than once, or kept in storage.
At phs Teacrate, our reusable crates are available for both purchase and hire, making them an option for temporary use or permanent storage. The crates are lidded and complete with sturdy handles for easy transportation, or if you're moving them in bulk, we can also provide skates and cages.
Why choose phs Teacrate for retail stock moves?
Reusable crate hire can make retail life easier, especially during refits, seasonal changeovers and short-term store projects.
At phs Teacrate, we support retail teams with reusable crates that protect stock, keep storage more organised, and make stock easier to move.
If you're moving towards a refit or a seasonal stock change, get in touch to discuss the specifics of your project with us. We'll help you keep your inventory protected and easy to find while the work is going on.