TNG BLOG

Ever wonder why supermarkets look the same, or how and why product location is universal to certain retail chains?

TNG Retail Services is one of the top experts when it comes to inputting merchandizing plans and executing Planograms, or as the industry gurus would say, POGs. POGs are used in the merchandising industry as an organization tool for stores to take their visual standards and make them come to life!

It’s why you as a consumer can walk into chains across America and know your way around without too many interruptions. Sometimes you’ll see a POG in action with empty shelves, or aisles temporarily denying access. We as consumers may find it troublesome, and scoff at the ‘Please excuse our mess’ signs, but what we don’t see are the many people who make these ‘disaster zones’ turnaround in a matter of hours. What we see as inconvenient, they see as a puzzle, a plan and then a well-executed, team-oriented work-of-art.

“As competition increases, we're seeing [retailers] becoming more aware of the importance of correctly merchandising their products. That awareness is leading to better…planograms and other marketing aids provided to retailers directly from the suppliers”

               -thebalancesmb.com

The process of a POG is not something that happens overnight. Inception through execution can take an average of 18 weeks, depending on retailer and project scope. What to consider are new product strategy meetings, hardware funding agreements, cut-ins, resets, etc. It’s a process that involves a ton of steps prior to any execution team even stepping foot into a store.

With so much communication and planning needed, TNG Retail Services really takes a holistic approach on retail execution. We support the schematics, new item deliveries, equipment arrival and set-up.  All is done according to the retailer's plan.

“Those variables need to be controlled. Many [service companies] do not support this process, nor the schematics. Some do not even have a streamlined relationship between one another. Especially with planograms, these need to be managed the entire way. Any impact on the store is a direct impact on the customer, and we [TNG Retail Services] makes sure the consumer impact is low to non-existent.”

               -Jacob Jackson: SR. V.P. of Operations TNG Retail Services.

We pride ourselves on being the best because we pair ourselves directly with the retail. We are trusted as experts who follow your vision and deliver the best results because we work with you through the entire process. Because we aid in streamlining the development and execute under the direct line of your plan, TNG Retail Services’ goal is to limit impact on the customer so they can continue seeing a well-organized store without ever knowing how it got that way.  

See how we can help execute your plan and maintain your vision all the way through.  Contact TNG Retail Services today, and we will help move products to move your business forward. 

Being part mind-reader, part strategist, helps

So much is in the news about how retail is stumbling, sinking, closing and shuttering. It is true. There are many dying retailers. As times change and customer demands evolve, retailers must keep up or stay ahead. Actually, the successful retailers are the ones that anticipate what their customers want before the customers know themselves – part mind reader, part strategist all wrapped in the most enticing of packaging.

Every retailer knows that times are tough right now. It can seem unrelenting with an onslaught of new issues every day. With one part of the puzzle in hand, another seems to falter in a constant battle to remain relevant and thriving. The pinch is real.

A recent article outlines the wildcard nature of the supply chain as the integral link for retail success. It starts the discussion with: “…as much as grocers continue to invest in building a better shopping experience, consumers still think of a trip to the grocery store as a chore”^1. If that is the case, then consumers will continue to look for alternatives to cut out just one more ‘chore’ in their already busy lives. If we look at retailers that are doing “better than” some of the others, are there patterns? Does the excitement of discovery and treasure hunt in a Costco make the shopping experience better for the shopper? If so, how does grocery incorporate more of that element into their stores? It could be that they customize more, experiment more with different products or try to localize products. It could be how they present that product to shoppers. The store within a store is gaining ground. Retailer operations along with limited distribution space often don’t make this an easy task, however.

According to The Shelby Report, Peapod and ORC International recently conducted a national survey to see what food resolutions will be topping many lists this year.