A merchandiser from a magazine company came in this week and proceeded to remove a display we created the day before for the new issue of another title, ignoring the display for the old issue of the title there were to create a display for.
I’d prefer the magazine distributors to pay me to handle merchandising – at least that way I can stop them taking down fresh displays for titles from another company. It would also stop them partially covering other titles with their material.
I don’t want merchandisers just coming in and making changes unchecked any more. I want them to register when they arrive and get approval from the manager for any display they want to put up.
That is exactly what all stores should be doing.
From the perspective of the supermarket industry, nearly all stores make reps check in with the manager (some, including Coles/Woolworths even make them formally log their arrival/departure). There aren’t many reps that would dare make changes to displays – and if they did it once they definatly wouldn’t do it again.
I don’t see they need for merchandisers from magazine companies. Proper merchandising isn’t rocket science.
No reps are allowed in the store without an appointment.
No merchandisers are allowed to change anything until approved by management.
I don’t see this as heavy handed, I just ask for the same professional courtesy I would extend to any other business. I also find that you get treated better by them all when you show a professional facade as all businesses should do.