The bar-code label (circled in yellow) on the cover of this issue of Inspector Morse partwork is central to our management of putaways. When the customer collects the title we scan the barcode and record that this specific copy has been collected by the customer. If it’s billed to their account we track that. If they are to pay we track that.
What is important is that at any point in time we know exactly what titles are in stock and waiting to be collected – without having to go through our putaway drawers.
This customer level control by title helps us improve customer service – more certain putaways when titles arrive, better allocation in the event we are short supplied and less chance of being left with uncollected stock.
Customers like the fact that their putaways are professionally labeled and barcoded in this way. Given that putaway customers spend more than almost any other category, the extra effort is well worth it.
A very intertesting idea. Clearly ‘putaways’ or ‘shopsaves’ are a USP for professional magazine retailers.
Steve