Call Sales: +1 (833) 437-3835
Call Sales: +1 (833) 437-3835
Julie Holkeboer | February 24, 2023 |
In the retail business, smooth-running store operations start long before a customer walks through the door. Clean floors, cool air, fully stocked shelves, and well-arranged aisles are a product of careful planning and efficient systems. One such system is the implementation of retail opening checklist and retail closing checklist to ensure nothing falls through the cracks in the daily, weekly, and monthly store operations.
A good store manager understands that closing and opening a store are key parts of the day, and ensures a retail opening and closing checklist is followed strictly to maintain high standards and promote staff safety.
Though businesses are different, and you may have adjusted procedures as a result of the 2020 pandemic, here is a basic checklist of retail and warehouse opening and closing procedures you can apply to ensure streamlined operations throughout the day.
Getting ready for business can be hectic if you are all over the place trying to do everything at the same time. Ensure your day starts on the right foot with a retail opening checklist that covers all the bases.
A good practice for store managers is to arrive at the retail business at least thirty minutes before opening time. But before you leave the house, make sure you have your keys and anything else you will need for the day. Forgetting something important and having to rush back home would be a time-wasting mistake.
Opening and closing times are considered high-risk periods for robberies. Because of this, it is advised that no fewer than two people be present for the store opening process. Making sure everyone is on time is key for smooth (and safe) store management.
Before you open the store, walk around the building and outside of the store premises. Inspect windows, doors, air vents and other entry points for signs of damage or uninvited visitors. If there is any tampering inside or outside the store, call the police and do not enter.
As you inspect the building, your colleague should carefully observe the surroundings for any suspicious behavior, like loitering nearby or unfamiliar cars. Do not proceed if you notice anything unusual.
Once you are sure that it is safe to go inside, open the store door and relock it after entry. Disable the alarm. If your security system requires a panic or distress code, make sure all members who open the store are familiar with it.
Store doors should never be left unlocked before the store opens. Include in your retail opening checklist that employees should be let in one at a time and the door locked after each entry.
If your store’s security system includes security cameras, ensure the tapes are changed and the unit is recording.
After turning on the lights, it’s time to get down to business. Walk the floor to do a store evaluation:
Once you’ve ensured everything is where it should be and nothing is wrong, it’s time to turn on your retail software solutions, like electronic systems.
Turn on and check your retail point of sale system to make sure all terminals are ready to go. If your business accepts cash payments, remove the cash register tills from the safe. If your registers do not have sufficient funds, count the money you will need away from the sight of the front door.
Start all other retail management systems and electronics, such as televisions and sound systems. Ensure your screens are showing the correct promotions with accurate and current details.
Whether your store is in a mall or a stand-alone building, it is your responsibility to make sure your store-front is appealing. Clear out any litter or debris and place any outdoor signs and banners you wish to display. If you have one, look at your display window from the outside to make sure your display is appealing and nothing is out of place.
After creating your daily retail opening checklist and lunch and break schedules, call a short meeting to review retail operations and expectations with all the staff on the shift. Assign the duties and make sure everyone understands what they have to complete within the day. You should also go over any important information, such as daily targets and notices for the upcoming period.
As always, make sure your staff is educated on the current best practices around health and safety standards. Meeting these standards for your staff and customers is critical to remaining open for business.
You’re all set for the day!
The retail closing checklist is important as well, because it determines how the next day will begin. To make sure you don’t overlook any details or unintentionally create more work for the next morning, here’s a retail closing checklist to follow.
Just as with opening the store, some things need to be done before closing time. Wait for all customers to leave the retail business before turning off any screens or lights. Similarly, make sure all customers have checked out and exited before closing the last POS terminal.
As with opening store management procedures, store closing procedures should be done in pairs or more. You should be even keener on security in the evening, as robbers know there is more likely to be more money on the premises in the evening.
Do not rush your customers out of the store. However, it is appropriate to make an announcement 15 minutes before closing time. This enables your guests to wrap up their browsing and head to the registers.
Always confirm that everyone has left the store by inspecting all areas including restrooms, stockrooms, and closets. When this is confirmed, bring in all the banners, signs, and shopping carts that have been placed on the sidewalk or outside the store.
Lock all doors, including the main entrance and exit doors. A supervisor should stand by the door to let customers and employees out, relocking the door after each exit. Customers and employees who are leaving should be observed to ensure they have not carried out any unpaid merchandise.
Mark all non-defective returned merchandise as “in stock” in your POS retail management system. Staff should start reorganizing items on the shelves while waiting for customers to leave to expedite the closing process for your retail operations.
When closing a retail store, procedures on cleaning are determined by whether your establishment utilizes an overnight cleaning and restocking service or if you perform those tasks in-house. In addition to clearing the aisles of any merchandise, carts or litter, dusting and mopping the floors is usually done at closing time.
If you use a cleaning crew, preparing a cleaning retail closing checklist can help make sure nothing is left undone. However, it is still best to do some light housekeeping to make everyone’s life easier and to instill some sense of responsibility.
Empty all trash, but do not place the bags in the dumpster until the next morning. This will deter any theft of product through the trash for later removal.
The steps of the closing down process will vary significantly based on the size and type of retail business you are running. Here's an example of what a general step-by-step process should look like:
Any retail store should have its own clear and systematic standard operating procedure as well as a cashier cleaning retail closing checklist for reconciling sales at the end of the day.
After shutting down any computers, working displays, overhead music, and seasonal items, walk the floor one final time before shutting off the lights.
Make sure everything is where it should be, and check that the windows and doors are properly closed and locked. Activate the alarm system and know the duress code before exiting the store through the front door. All closing personnel should leave together.
Close the doors and double check that they are securely locked before leaving.
Running a retail business involves many different responsibilities. From leading staff to tracking sales and accounting duties, a store manager must make sure retail operations run smoothly.
That’s why having standard procedures such as this retail opening and closing checklist is important to running a successful business.
Revel Systems understands the need for optimization of business processes. That’s why we’ve created a cloud POS system that greatly simplifies day to day tasks while helping to reduce costs.
Schedule a free demo to learn more about our services and how they can help your retail business thrive.
Client Login