An opening checklist should include: turn off the alarm, prepare the cash register, verify internet and systems connections, adjust the thermostat, clean the counters, floormats and door, restock any empty shelf locations, merchandise products to the front of the shelves, clean and restock restrooms, turn on music, turn on the Open sign. Smile.
A closing list would include: turn off the Open sign, lock the front door, run sales or POS reports, run computer backups, count cash and make either a bank or a vault deposit, secure petty cash, clean off counters and floors, restock bags, return any stranded goods to their shelf location, survey the sales floor for damaged goods, adjust the thermostat, remove garbage, turn on the alarm, lock the back door. Smile.
Each day’s opening and closing checklist should be posted in the backroom with a place for initials at each step so that each task is noted when it is completed. Reviewing the opening and closing checklist is the task of the general manager. Additional items should be added to meet your store’s specific needs. Using the opening and closing checklist should be a part of all new employee training. The goal of the checklists is to create consistency and accountability. Each day your store needs to open “customer-ready.” Postponing opening tasks until after the doors open will lead to poor customer service.
Each week’s tasks should include: review the employee schedule, run weekly sales, inventory and payroll reports, deep clean restrooms, clean and remove backroom/employee refrigerator, clean and remerchandise rotating sections of the store to include baseboards, shelf cleaning, product dusting, etc., remove old sale signs, put up new sale signs, adjust product price change labels, review non-sale item stock (register paper rolls, bags, cleaning supplies, pens, toilet paper) and reorder as required, review and rotate stock to sell oldest product first (in critical businesses, this may be done daily), restock literature throughout the store, replace light bulbs as needed, conduct weekly team sales meeting.
A monthly task list would include: create the upcoming month’s staff schedule, run monthly sales, inventory and payroll reports, return any accumulated products to vendors, cycle count scheduled physical inventory categories or products, monthly store performance meeting with monthly staff recognition, change windows and interior/exterior signs. Cycle in other key items like smoke detector tests and fire drills, following up with notes or calls to key customers.