Retail Skills: An Introduction

1. Retail Skills: An Introduction Access 2

2. Outcomes 1. Identify the use of equipment commonly associated with a retail environment. 2. Perform allocated tasks in a retail environment while supervised.

3. Outcomes 1 and 2 • You will learn the names of items of retail equipment, what they are used for and how to look after them. • You will get the chance to practice working in a retail setting.

4. Shop visits • You and your class will get the chance to visit retail shops to see the different types of retail equipment being used. • You must complete a log each time you visit. This can be found at the end of the workbook. • After each visit talk to your partner and discuss how you think it went.

5. Background information • You will learn what’s like to work in a retail outlet (shop). • Your teacher/tutor will work through this PowerPoint show. They will then ask you to work through the Student Workbook to complete the tasks. • When you have completed each task, ask your teacher/tutor to check it.

6. More information • When you see this icon , it means you are ready to do a task.

7. Your responsibilities • You will be responsible for your own work. • You must always check your work for errors. • You will also be responsible for marking the work of your classmates.

8. The way you work • There will be a high level of help from the teacher/tutor. • As you progress, you will take ownership of your own work and ensure the quality of your work is good.

9. What will you learn? You will learn how to: • store stock • hygienically handle stock • help customers • handle money • look after your own and others’ health and safety.

10. What is retail? • Retail is all about selling items to people. • This unit will teach you how to work in a retail outlet or shop.

11. Stock • This what is sold to customers. • Shops need to make sure they have enough stock in the warehouse or storeroom. • Shops won’t keep too much stock as it could go out of date.

12. Warehouse/stock room • Spare stock is kept in the warehouse or stock room. • Stock should always be stored safely. • Items shouldn’t be stored too high up. Heavy items should be stored at floor level. • Stock should be kept at the correct temperature.

13. Customer • A customer is a person who buys the stock.

14. Retail equipment is split into the following categories: • stock storage equipment • stock handling equipment • stock replenishing equipment • stock display/shelving equipment • stock wrapping material • product location equipment.

15. Now do Tasks 1–5.

16. Stock storage equipment You will find out about the different types of equipment used to store stock in the warehouse or stock room: • shelving units • fridges • freezers.

17. Shelving units • These are used to store items of stock in the warehouse, eg tins of beans, cereal, bottled water, etc. • You clean them by washing them with a damp cloth and maintain them by tightening bolts when they loosen.

18. Fridges • A fridge is used to store chilled items in the warehouse or stock room. • You clean it by emptying it and cleaning the inside with a damp cloth.

19. Freezers • Freezers are used to store frozen items in the warehouse. • You clean it by emptying it, defrosting it and cleaning it with a damp cloth.

20. Now do Task 6.

21. Stock handling equipment You will now learn about some of the items used to handle cold meats, cheeses, Sweets, etc: • food tongs • food scoops • disposable gloves.

22. Food tongs • These are a grasping item used to pick up food items. • After use, you clean them in hot soapy water.

23. Scoop • This item is used to scoop up food items, eg salad, spiced onions or sweets. • You clean the scoop in hot soapy water.

24. Disposable gloves • These are used by shop assistants to pick up food items, eg cold meat, cheese, raw meats, etc. • They stop germs passing from the hands of the shop assistant onto the food. • Put them in the bin after use.

25. Now do Task 7.

26. Stock replenishing equipment • Stock on the shop floor must never run out. • The word replenish means to put stock on the shelves. • If there is no stock on the shelves then customers will shop elsewhere. • You will need to use equipment to replenish the shelves.

27. Stock replenishing equipment: • kickstool • pallet truck • wooden pallet • electric pallet truck • flatbed trolley • roll cage • mobile safety steps • handy steps.

28. Kickstool • A stool with small wheels used in shops, etc to reach high shelves. • The wheels stop working when someone stands on it. • Clean the kickstool with a damp cloth.

29. Pallet truck • The hand pallet truck is an excellent means for carrying or lifting heavy loads on pallets. • It is used in warehouses and on the shop floor when the shop is closed. • Always keep clean and well oiled.

30. Wooden pallet A wooden pallet is a flat piece of wood that supports stock in a stable fashion while it is lifted by a pallet truck.

31. Electric pallet truck • Electric pallet trucks are motorised to allow lifting and moving of stacked pallets. • They generally contain a platform for the user to stand on while hauling pallets around a warehouse or loading/unloading trucks.

32. Flatbed trolley • Useful for moving small amounts of stock around the warehouse or shop floor. • The flatbed trolley should always be kept clean. • You should use a damp cloth to clean any spillages.

33. Roll cages • Stored in the warehouse. • Useful when moving large amounts of small stock from warehouse or stock room to the shop floor. • Clean all spillages with a damp cloth.

34. Mobile safety steps • Can reach stock on high shelves. • They can be moved around the warehouse. • Clean any spillages with a damp cloth. • Be careful when using them!

35. Handy steps • These are used to reach stock on shelves. • Make sure the steps are always clean. • Use a damp cloth to clean any spillages on the steps.

36. Now do Tasks 8 and 9.

37. Stock display equipment • Used to show customers what stock is available. • Designed to persuade customers to buy stock from the shop.

38. Stock display equipment: • mannequins • display clothing rails • display counters • shelves • freezers • chill cabinets.

39. Mannequins • Used in clothing shops to display clothing, eg jackets, sweatshirts, etc. • Mannequins should be cleaned using soapy water and a cloth.

40. Display clothing rails • Used by clothes shops to display their stock, eg T-shirts, jumpers, etc. • Clothing rails should be cleaned on a regular basis using a cloth and soapy water.

41. Display counters • Used to display stock. • Display counters can be used to display jewellery, aftershave, perfume or food products. • They must be kept clean using a damp cloth and glass cleaner.

42. Shelves • Used by shops to display their stock, eg tins of soup, coffee, bottled water, etc. • Shelving must always be kept clean. • Use soapy water and a cloth to clean the shelves.

43. Freezers • Used to display frozen items such as ice cubes, ice-cream, frozen chips, etc. • Defrost every few weeks and clean with a damp cloth.

44. Chill cabinets • Used to store milk, cream, yoghurts, butter, etc . • Chill cabinets are also called fridges. • Clean the chill cabinet with a damp cloth.

45. Now do Tasks 10 and 11.

46. Stock wrapping material You will now find out about the different types of wrapping material used by retail outlets: • bubble wrap • boxes • cardboard tubes • plastic bags • paper bags • reusable bags.

47. Bubble wrap • This is a sheet of plastic with air bubbles in it that is used as a packing material. • Used to wrap stock that could break easily, eg cups, saucers, glasses or vases.

48. Boxes • Some bakers use boxes to wrap rolls or cakes. • A supply of these would be kept at the checkout.

49. Cardboard tubes • Shops use tubes to wrap posters or pictures. • A supply of these would be kept at the checkout. • They are good for the environment as they can be recycled.

50. Plastic bags • These allow customers to carry home their shopping. • Many shops now charge for their use. • Can be reused but start to break after a few uses. Not good for the environment as they cannot be recycled.