Merchandiser s Guide

Transcription

1 Merchandiser s Guide Please read this guide thoroughly prior to your initial store visit October 2014

2 Table of Contents Program Overview 1 Helium: Information/Safety 2 Helium: Regulator/Tank 3 Initial Store Visit 4 Locating Balloon Shipments 5 Balloon Inflation and Re-Inflation 6 Transporting Balloons to the Sales Floor 7 Scrap: 8 Defective/Damaged Balloons Importance of Proper Scrap Reporting Balloon Fixtures: 9 General Instructions Register/Check Lanes Fixtures Celebrations/Party Goods Fixtures Seasonal and Promotional Programs 12 Cycle Count Process 13 Merchandiser Visit Task List 14 Accurate Reporting 15 Time Saving Tips 16 Glossary 17

3 Program Overview Anagram balloons add a bright touch to any occasion. They also make a fun gift or children s toy, making them a high impulse purchase item great for celebrating any event. This program consists of the best selling styles and licensed characters that Anagram offers. Balloons will be merchandised in the Celebrations/Stationery area and Checkout Lanes. Balloons may also be displayed in other areas of the store with the approval of store management. Foil Balloons Foil balloons are made from a material that is coated with a metallized finish that gives the balloons a foil-like appearance. Unlike latex balloons, foil balloons will remain inflated for up to two to three weeks. Helium Helium is not provided by Anagram and must be ordered by each individual store. Normally, this is done by the Walmart Invoicing Clerk who is to contact the Walmart approved helium vendor, Zephyr Solutions. It s the responsibility of the store to provide helium and the proper regulators. Additional information regarding helium (i.e. ordering and general safety) is included on pages 2-4 of this guide. Importance of Proper Merchandising In order to obtain optimal sales, balloons need to be fully inflated and merchandised in a manner and location that makes them noticeable, exciting and accessible. Each of the licensed character properties included in the program should be fully represented. Fixtures are provided by Anagram in the Celebration aisles and Registers. This is a Pay From Scan (PFS), or scan based trading program, meaning that Anagram does not get paid unless the balloon is sold. For this reason it is essential that a variety of designs are merchandised in an appealing manner. More than 60% of sales are birthday sentiments and approximately 30% are licensed character designs; so it is essential that adequate quantities of both birthday and licensed character designs are inflated on each visit. If you have questions regarding any of the information contained in this guide, please feel free to contact your merchandising company or Anagram International ( ). Page 1

4 Helium: Information and Safety All questions and concerns regarding helium, helium tanks and regulators should be directed to the Walmart Invoice Clerk, Celebrations Department Manager or Store Manager. Generally, the helium tank will be located in the backroom or in the Site-To-Store area. Contact the store manager for exact location on your initial visit. If you are having difficulty getting to the helium tank, please contact store management. In an effort to conserve helium, please always turn off the helium by turning the knob on the top of the helium tank all the way to the right once you have completed your visit. The regulator gauge shows (Pounds per Square Inch/PSI) how much helium is in the tank. A full helium tank should show approximately PSI on the regulator gauge. IMPORTANT: When the gauge reads 500 PSI (Low) or less on the last tank, please contact the store s Invoicing Clerk, to request that an order for helium be placed. If you are not able to speak with this person, please give the Helium Leave Behind slip that is printed on the bottom of the packaging document (shown on page 4), included with each balloon shipment and drop it off in the Invoice Office. Please note that when reporting helium issues on your visit report: Only indicate Low when the gauge on the last tank reads 500 PSI or less. Helium should be marked Out when, due to lack of helium, you are unable to inflate any more balloons on all tanks, including any reserve tanks, at the store. Anagram does not sell helium or regulators. Please advise the invoice clerk that they should order helium and regulators following corporate instructions as they would for any 99 Supply item or contact Zephyr Solutions ( ). In addition, Merchandisers should request that the store invoice clerk contact Anagram ( ) as soon as helium is available for use so that we can notify the rep company to reinstate service. Helium Safety Helium tanks should be secured to the wall or in a stand. If not, please notify the store or department manager. An inflation regulator must be attached to the tank prior to opening the cylinder valve. Always open the cylinder valve very slowly, standing to one side of the cylinder when opening the valve. DO NOT inhale helium. Inhaling helium can cause headaches and dizziness. If inhaled, helium can cause oxygen deprivation, which can lead to serious damage to your health. While helium is non-flammable and non-explosive, tanks should be handled with great care to assure that they are not dropped, knocked against another tank or tipped over. Regulator Tank Cap/Cover Tank Valve Tank Regulator Gauge Page 2

5 Helium: Regulator/Tank Most helium tank regulators will have either: (1) two separate nozzles - one for foil (mylar) balloons and one for latex balloons, or (2) an adjustment where you can set separate settings for either foil (mylar) or latex balloons. It is important that you are using the correct (mylar/foil) nozzle/setting prior to beginning inflation. Using the incorrect nozzle for inflation will cause damage to the balloon. There are many styles of regulators available; those shown below are just a few examples. Variations between regulator styles include: 1. The majority of the regulators require that the nozzle be pushed toward the regulator in order to release the helium. 2. Generally speaking, the correct nozzle for foil balloons has a tapered tip and are made of brass or plastic. 3. If the regulator you are using does not have two separate nozzles or does not have an adjustment for a mylar/foil setting, please request that the Invoicing Clerk order the proper regulator following corporate instructions as they would for any 99 Supply item or contact Zephyr Solutions ( ). The latex nozzle (which will be flexible or rubber) should not be used for inflation since it will cause damage to foil balloons. It can also cause the balloon to burst upon inflation. Correct nozzle for inflating foil balloons TIP: If possible, the foil/mylar nozzle should be in the downward position to make it easier for inflation. Changing a Helium Tank When the tank you are using is empty, the regulator can be moved to a full tank by simply following the directions listed below. 1. Be sure the cylinder valve on tank is turned off. 2. Release helium (pressure) from regulator by depressing valve (as if inflating a balloon). Helium will stop if tank is turned off or empty. 3. By hand, loosen regulator connector from tank to remove regulator by turning the knob to the left. 4. Attach regulator to new tank by making sure the threads are lined up. 5. Tighten the regulator to the tank; use caution that you do not over-tighten or it will be difficult to remove the next time you need to change the tank. 6. Slowly, turn on cylinder valve on tank. 7. Gauge on regulator should register PSI and you should hear no leaking sound. 8. Tank / Regulator is now ready for use. 9. Replace cap on empty tank. Page 3

6 Initial Store Visit: Establishing Store Relationship (Goal: To maintain a strong working relationship with key contacts within the store to help ensure program success) Introduce yourself to the Store and/or Celebrations Manager and provide the following: Overview of Pay From Scan Balloon Program to include the frequency and purpose of your visits: weekly service to freshen the balloons, inflate as many balloons as possible to maximize sales and inform the Invoicing Clerk when helium needs to be re-ordered. Discuss where balloons will be merchandised within the Stationery/Celebrations Department and at the registers using the Walmart approved fixtures as defined on pages 9-11 of this document. Encourage store associate participation in merchandising additional balloons or re-inflating existing balloons between rep visits. Provide toll-free number: and address for Anagram Support walmartsupport@anagramintl.com Explain that the store is responsible for receiving the UPS shipment and providing a secure, consistent location for storing inventory. Make sure that they understand that there should always be an adequate supply of helium on hand. Introduce yourself to the Receiving Clerk and provide the following information: Show image of master carton for easy identification (shown on page 5). Identify a consistent and secure a location for new shipments and excess inventory, preferably by the helium tank. Reiterate that this is a Pay From Scan (PFS) program and they should not scan merchandise upon receipt. Introduce yourself to the Invoice Clerk and provide the following information: Advise them that you will provide a friendly Please order helium reminder slip (shown below) when the gauge on the last tank reads 500 PSI or less. Advise them of the frequency of your visits so that they know when helium needs to be delivered. Anagram does not sell helium or regulators so please make sure to clearly explain that they need to order helium and/or a regulator as necessary following the diagram below. Request that the invoice clerk contact Anagram ( ) as soon as helium has been delivered to the store and is available for use so that we can notify the rep company to reinstate service. Page 4

7 Locating Balloon Shipments Shown in the illustration below is the box that is used for our Pay From Scan balloon shipments. A decorative balloon pattern is printed on all four sides of the carton in order to make it easy to identify. Shipments are sent directly to the stores via UPS and should be placed in a secure and permanent location within the store. You are only responsible for inflating and merchandising Anagram balloons that are shipped to stores in the master cartons shown below. Reps are not responsible for the inflation of clearance balloons, Valentine s Day balloons, Black Friday balloons or balloons from any other manufacturer. Please Note This merchandise is Pay From Scan so it does not need to be received or inventoried by the store. TIP: It is important that you work with the Receiving Clerk and or Celebrations Manager to determine a consistent location that these shipments will be placed once received by the store. This will allow you to locate it quickly each time you visit the store saving valuable time. Master Carton Your balloon shipment will contain balloons packed in 3 or 6 pack poly bags. Balloons are pre-priced with ribbons/weights attached; ready for inflation. A designated PO number will be printed in the lower right hand corner of the shipping label. The PO number can also be found on the packing slip inside the box. IMPORTANT: Please enter the PO number on your visit report for any new shipments that are received. TIP: Once you ve located your balloon shipment, organize your back stock in the boxes. Put all of the birthday balloon packs together, all of the Elmo, Mickey, SpongeBob (licensed character) etc., so that you don t have to dig through the box to find what you need for inflation later. Page 5

8 Balloon Inflation and Re-Inflation Balloons are shipped in packs of 3 or 6 with ribbon weights, and adapters if necessary, pre-attached. Once a poly bag is opened, inflate all balloons contained in that bag. Simply remove all the balloons from the poly bag and begin inflating each balloon following the steps listed below. 1. Keep ribbon tightly wound around the weight before starting the inflation process. 2. Carefully slide the inflation valve opening over the correct foil/mylar nozzle one to two inches (care must be taken not to tear the valve as you insert the nozzle). 3. Hold the balloon securely on the nozzle with one hand, almost pinching so the helium is only going in the valve opening, while pressing lever on the regulator or pushing the regulator nozzle up or toward the regulator (depending on the style of regulator at your store). Not all stores will have the same regulator. 4. If you can hear a hissing sound, or can feel the helium escaping, you are not properly inflating. Pinch the tail to ensure a proper seal. 5. If the inflation process makes a screeching noise, adjust the angle of the balloon valve by gently pulling on the balloon to straighten the foil while inflating. 6. When balloon is fully inflated, helium will stop flowing preventing the balloon from overinflating/bursting. 7. Unlike latex balloons, Mylar balloons should not overinflate to the point that they will burst. 8. Carefully remove the balloon from the regulator nozzle. 9. Inflation is complete. IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE: If a newly inflated balloon appears to lose helium right away, it could be that the valve has not fully closed. Reinflate the balloon, smoothing the neck of the balloon with your fingers to make sure it seals. If the balloon still does not stay inflated, do not merchandise it. Please note the item/upc number and quantity on your visit report and record it as scrap. All Anagram Sing-A-Tune balloons are designed to play upon inflation; this is normal and not a product defect. Some large shaped balloons have multiple chambers that need to be inflated with helium. Ensure all parts of the balloon is fully inflated. TIP: If possible, the foil/mylar nozzle should be in the downward position to make it easier for inflation. TIP: Instead of picking up one balloon at a time to inflate, try holding the tails of all balloons in the pack in your hand and inflate each one. With some practice, you will see how easy this is and how much time and effort it saves. Re-Inflating Balloons Balloons inflated previously that may appear soft should be re-inflated. It s important to feel the balloons to see if they need to be re-inflated; balloons should feel firm to the touch. Although the balloons may look like they re fully inflated, sometimes they aren t. Simply follow the inflation procedures listed above to freshen and re-merchandise the balloons. Page 6

9 Transporting Balloons to Sales Floor In order to maximize the number of balloons inflated and merchandised during your visit, please use a shopping cart to transport balloons to the sales floor. Carefully hook the balloons on top rail and exterior of cart as needed. Stagger the balloons at varying heights to avoid tangling the ribbons and allowing you to get more balloons on the cart. To vary the amount of ribbon released from the weight simply pull the ribbon from the notch on the weight then release the desired length of ribbon and insert the ribbon back into the notch. You should be able to place balloons in your cart at one time. (See photos below) Once your shopping cart is full, you can transport the inflated balloons to the sales floor for merchandising. Pull the shopping cart from the front to easily view the aisles and avoid a collision with customers shopping nearby. Balloons should be merchandised in the Celebrations/Party goods aisles as well as at the Registers. TIP: Place the balloons in the cart in the order you will merchandise them on the sales floor based on the location of the fixture. For example, inflate all licensed character designs and attach them to one side of your cart, then inflate all of the your birthday designs and attach them to the other side of the cart. Once out on the sales floor, you can simply pull your cart up to the like fixture and merchandise the balloons without having to sort through the balloons. Ribbon Notch Ribbon Weight Page 7

10 Scrap: Defective or Soft Balloons Customers will not buy a soft balloon so please ensure all balloons are fully inflated before leaving the department. If a balloon will not hold helium or is damaged, it should be reported as scrap. Following your merchandising company procedures, please record the item/upc number and total quantity of that style being scrapped on your visit report. Once finished with scrap reporting, please dispose of these balloons in the trash bin. Scrap is not reported in the comments section of your visit report. If you cannot find the balloon in the scrap reporting screen then please note in your comment section. If you are not familiar with the process or need any additional clarification, please contact your merchandising company. Importance of Proper Scrap Reporting It is essential that scrap is accurately reported after each visit as this can significantly impact store inventory levels and can affect the timeliness in which the store gets a replenishment order. The purpose of properly reporting damaged/scrapped balloons is to ensure that accurate store level inventories are maintained. This allows our system to process replenishment orders to ensure that you have an adequate supply of balloons at your store to maintain an exciting and varied balloon presentation. NOTE: Since this is a Pay From Scan program, Walmart does not need to adjust their inventory. DO NOT turn any scrapped balloons into the claims department. As noted, scrapped balloons should be properly disposed of in a trash bin once recorded on your visit report. Page 8

11 Balloon Fixture Program Details and Merchandising Instructions Anagram has provided two types of fixtures to stores currently participating in our Pay From Scan balloon program; (1) register/check lane fixtures, and (2) Celebrations/party goods fixtures. Fixtures make merchandising easier and more efficient, as well as providing an improved merchandising presentation. Balloon weights are hooked onto the outer ring of the fixture as shown in the photos below. 10 to 12 balloons should be merchandised on each fixture, but there must be a minimum of 50 balloons total on the sales floor. If your store does not have fixtures, you must utilize the pegs or magazine racks at the checkouts in order to obtain the minimum of 50 balloons total. If your store needs additional fixtures please contact Anagram ( ) and provide the necessary information indicated at the bottom of this page. TIP: Fixtures should be placed low enough for the customer to reach which is the 10th slot down from the top of the shelving, or at a height of no more than 6 from the floor. Register/Check Lane Fixtures Four fixtures will be shipped to each store. Guidelines for the styles that should be merchandised on the four register/check lane fixtures are summarized on the following pages. Celebrations/Party Goods Fixtures The number of fixtures shipped to each store will vary (between two and eight fixtures) depending on store format and sales volume. Guidelines for the styles that should be merchandised on the Celebrations/party goods fixtures are summarized on the following pages. PLEASE NOTE: If Your Store Does Not Have Fixtures Installed Or Has Requested Additional Fixtures If your store doesn t have the fixtures installed or is in need of additional fixtures please contact Anagram ( ). Please provide us with the following important pieces of information: Store Number Store Contact Name Your Name Your Phone Number Page 9

12 Fixture Merchandising Instructions: Register/Check Lane Merchandise e 10 to 12 balloons on each fixture, with a MINIMUM of 50 balloons total on the sales floor. If your store does not have fixtures, you must utilize the pegs or magazine racks at the checkouts in order to obtain the minimum of 50 balloons total. Having 50 balloons total on the sales floor is a minimum requirement, if time and space allows you should always place more than 50 balloons to help increase sales. On each visit you should always have new inflation, to ensure there is a fresh variety on your displays. If your store needs additional fixtures please contact Anagram ( ) and provide us with the store number, store contact name, your name, and your phone number. Whenever possible, at least one large shape balloon should be merchandised on each fixture. This large shape balloon should have the longest length of ribbon released so that it floats above the 18 styles on the fixture. Fixtures should be placed in the following manner: - In small format stores (less than 20 registers) fixtures should be placed at every third or fourth register. -In large format stores (more than 20 registers) a fixture will be placed at two of the registers near both store entrance/exits. - Fixtures should not be placed at self check-out lanes. Please merchandise Register/Check Lane fixtures using the guidelines below. Small Format Stores Fixture #1 Licensed Girl Styles: Princesses Tinker Bell/Fairies Minnie Mouse Dora, etc. Fixture #2 Licensed Boy Styles: Mickey Mouse SpongeBob Elmo Cars, etc. Fixture #3 Licensed Style Combination: Combination of licenses that are merchandised on Fixture #1 and #2 Fixture #4 Birthday Styles 18, Junior Shape and Large Shape styles Large Format Stores Fixture #1 Birthday Styles 18, Junior Shape and Large Shape styles Fixture #2 Licensed Styles Combination of all licensed styles Fixture #3 Licensed Styles Combination of all licensed styles Fixture #4 Birthday Styles 18, Junior Shape and Large Shape styles Entrance/Exit #1 Entrance/Exit #2 Page 10

13 Fixture Merchandising Instructions: Celebrations/Party Goods Merchandise 10 to 12 balloons on each fixture, with a MINIMUM of 50 balloons total on the sales floor. If your store does not have any fixtures, please merchandise the balloons using the pegs and magazine racks at checkouts. Whenever possible, at least one large shape balloon should be merchandised on each fixture. This large shape balloon should have the longest length of ribbon released so that it floats above the 18 designs on the fixture. WMT store associates have been given direction to place fixtures in the following manner: - Fixtures should be placed in the party goods section of the Celebrations Department. - Fixtures should be placed in both the General Party section, as well as in the License Party section. Please merchandise Celebrations/Party Good fixtures using these guidelines: - Two fixtures: one with birthday balloons and one with general sentiments. - Four fixtures: two with birthday balloons, one with general sentiments, and one with licensed character designs. - Six fixtures: three with birthday, one with general sentiments and two with licensed character designs. - Eight fixtures: follow table below. Please merchandise Register/Check Lane fixtures using the guidelines below. 2 Fixtures 4 Fixtures 6 Fixtures 8 Fixtures Birthday General Sentiments (Baby, Get Well, Love, Congrats) License/ Character Birthday License/ Character Birthday License/ Character Birthday Merchandising Tip: Grouping styles together on a fixture adds visual impact. For example, merchandise a full pack of Sparkle Hearts B-Day and Oh So Fabulous B- Day on the same fixture. Merchandising Tip: Whenever possible, licensed character styles should be merchandised on fixtures near the coordinating party goods. Page 11

14 Seasonal and Promotional Programs Anagram participates in several seasonal and promotional programs throughout the year that are part of our Pay From Scan program. Seasonal Programs Seasonal programs included in the PFS program are Mother s Day and Graduation. Balloons for these two programs are shipped via UPS in master cartons that are clearly marked Seasonal Balloons or with the appropriate program as shown in the illustration below. Merchandising reps are responsible for inflation of this product, but should encourage store participation in the inflation and merchandising process. It s important to let the Department Manager know where your back stock is if they want to inflate these balloons. Details and additional instructions on when these balloons should be inflated will be provided to the merchandising companies for communication to the field. Unsold balloons should be disposed of after the seasonal event; they do not need to be reported as scrap. Promotional Programs Promotional programs are licensed character designs that are associated with a new movie/dvd release, or a special in-store promotion related to a specific licensed character property. These balloons are packaged in separate poly bags and are included in with your regular product shipments. Merchandising reps are responsible for inflation of this product, but should encourage store participation in the inflation and merchandising process. Details and additional instructions on when these balloons should be inflated will be provided to the merchandising companies for communication to the field. It is important to note that Walmart s Valentine s Day balloon program is NOT part of the PFS program; reps are NOT responsible for the inflation of these balloons. Page 12

15 Cycle Count Process Cycle counts are utilized to reconcile book inventory against physical inventory. Utilize the cycle count sheet provided to ensure a proper count. It is extremely important to accurately report the number of inflated and un-inflated balloons currently in inventory. Balloons in inventory that are not currently listed on the cycle count sheet are no longer in our program, therefore they do not need to be recorded on your cycle count and should be disposed of in a proper manner. Cycle Count Types Regular Regular cycle counts are requested to reconcile book inventory against physical inventory. These cycle counts are requested as needed. Repeated requests of additional inventory when book inventory notes excessive inventory. Other situations indicating book inventory and physical inventory do not match. Cycle Count Process Inflated balloons All counts should be recorded on the cycle count sheet. Inflated balloons are any balloons currently inflated and displayed either on the register and celebrations fixtures or other areas of the store. Place tally marks next to each balloon listed on the cycle count sheet as they correspond to the balloons currently inflated in the store. Add tally marks and note the total in the inflated balloons section of the cycle count sheet next to the corresponding balloon. Un-inflated balloons Un-inflated total is the total number of balloons in back stock. Record the PO number of any unopened shipments in the appropriate place on your cycle count sheet. You do not need to record the individual balloon packages, our system will account for the balloons in any unopened shipments. The total number of balloons should be recorded, not the number of packages. Separate out each style of balloon. Each package lists the number of balloons in each package; utilize this information when counting the balloons. Add up the total number of each style. Write the total number of balloons of each style in the total un-inflated column. Submit the cycle count Cycle counts must be submitted via the system and not through . If you are unsure as to how to submit a cycle count please discuss this process with your merchandiser company. Cycle counts deemed unacceptable will be rejected and will not be paid. Cycle counts reporting zero inflated and zero un-inflated Cycle counts reporting the same number of inflated as un-inflated. Cycle counts with an excessive amount of one or more designs that does not match book inventory. If any of these situations occur, please inform your merchandiser company and have the information passed on to Anagram International to prevent cycle count rejection. Page 13

16 Merchandiser Visit Task List Store Arrival Take a shopping cart. Check in, sign vendor log book and obtain vendor badge. Walk through area where balloons are merchandised: Pull all balloons that appear to be soft, for re-inflation. Wind ribbon around spool weight in order to avoid tangling. Place soft balloons in cart and take to backroom for re-inflation. Straighten remaining balloons making sure that ribbons are not tangled Locate back stock, if any, and any new shipments, if applicable. TIP: After pulling the soft balloons for re-inflation, note the styles and the quantity that is left on each fixture to determine what styles you need for new inflation to obtain the 50 balloon MINIMUM. TIP: Once you ve located your balloon shipment, organize your back stock in the boxes. Put all of the birthday balloon packs together, all of the Elmo, Mickey, SpongeBob (licensed character) etc., so that you don t have to dig through the box to find what you need for inflation later. Take un-inflated and soft balloons to the helium tank. Product Selection Based on your observations of what is currently inflated in the department select additional designs (both 18 and shapes) to inflate and merchandise, focusing on birthday styles first. Product Re-Inflation/Inflation Re-inflate soft balloons to prepare for return to sales floor. Inflate new balloon selections. Place balloons in cart. TIP: Place the balloons in the cart in the order you will merchandise them on the sales floor based on the location of the fixture. For example, inflate all licensed character designs and attach them to one side of your cart, then inflate all of the your birthday designs and attach them to the other side of the cart. Once out on the sales floor, you can simply pull your cart up to the like fixture and merchandise the balloons without having to sort through the balloons. Use the hook on the weights, attach to top rail and exterior of shopping cart where possible, staggering ribbon lengths as illustrated on page 7. Product Merchandising Transport inflated product to sales floor. Merchandise balloons on the fixtures in the Celebrations department and at the check out lanes When possible, place balloons in an area with corresponding party goods patterns. Display balloons at varying heights by adjusting the amount of ribbon released from the weight as shown on pages Reporting Complete your merchandiser visit report as directed by the Rep Company including all pertinent information. Please review the next page thoroughly. Accurate reporting is an essential part of your responsibly. Remember to accurately record scrap. Find and report the PO number on any new shipments Merchandisers should only mark Low on their visit report when the last tank shows 500 PSI or less. Helium should be marked Out when due to lack of helium, you are unable to inflate additional balloons on any tank at the store. Page 14

17 Accurate Reporting Providing accurate reporting on your visit is essential. Listed below are definitions on how to accurately respond to each area of your report. Please review these definitions and contact your rep company or Anagram ( ) if you need additional clarification. Number of Balloons Reinflated This is the number of balloons that, at the beginning of your visit, were soft, and required additional helium. These balloons are reinflated with helium and returned to the sales floor. It s important to feel the balloons to see if they need to be inflated; although the balloons may look like they re fully inflated, sometimes they aren t. Newly Inflated This is the number of balloons that, on this visit, you removed from the packages, inflated and merchandised on the sales floor. Total Inflated This is the total number of balloons that are on the sales floor at the end of your visit. This number represents designs in the pay from scan planogram only and should not include Valentine s Day balloons. Helium Only indicate Low when the gauge on the last tank reads 500 PSI or less. Helium should be marked Out when, due to lack of helium, you are unable to inflate any more balloons on all tanks, including any reserve tanks, at the store. Anagram does not sell helium or regulators. Please advise the invoice clerk that they should contact Zephyr Solutions (855-4HELIUM) to order helium or a regulator. In addition, Merchandisers should request that the store invoice clerk contact Anagram ( ) as soon as helium is available for use so that we can notify the rep company to reinstate service. Comments We will read and respond to any information you put in the comments section of your report. Please use this area to report on any unusual circumstances in your store or any concerns you might have. BackStock This is any product, excluding seasonal items, that is currently in your inventory and not inflated. Only report you are low on backstock when your uninflated balloon inventory is less than 50 pieces. If you have more than 50 balloons in your backstock but are out of specific balloons, please note that in the Comments section of your report. For example, if you need birthday balloons, or a specific licensed character, etc. Scraping Damaged/Defective Balloons (see page 8 for additional information) Following your merchandising company procedures, please record the item/upc number and total quantity of that style being scrapped on your visit report. Once finished with scrap reporting, please dispose of these balloons in the trash bin. Scrap is not reported in the comments section of your visit report. If you cannot find the balloon in the scrap reporting screen then please note in your comment section. If you are not familiar with the process or need any additional clarification, please contact your merchandising company. Page 15

18 Time Saving Tips Remember, every second counts. The more efficient you become, the more balloons you can inflate during each visit. Visiting stores early in the day makes it easier to move your cart of balloons through the aisles when the store is not as busy. When pulling soft balloons for re-inflation, re-wind the ribbon onto the spool to avoid tangling when you are transporting the balloons back to the helium tank for refreshing. Make a list of the designs that need to be replaced on the sales floor so that you are certain to get those inflated. Organize your back stock in the boxes. Put all of the birthday balloon packs together, all of the licensed character (Elmo, SpongeBob, etc.), so that you don t have to dig through the box to find what you need. Pull all of the balloon packs you plan to inflate out of the box before you start the inflation process. Plan your trip out to the sales floor. When merchandising, inflate balloons and place them in the cart in the order you will merchandise them on the sales floor based on the location of the fixture. For example, inflate all licensed character designs and attach them to one side of your cart, then inflate all of your birthday designs and attach them to the other side and/or place them in the basket of the cart. Once out on the sales floor, you can simply pull your cart up to the birthday fixtures and merchandise those balloons without having to sort through the balloons. Once birthday balloons are merchandised you can pull your cart to the licensed character fixtures and do the same, and so on. When inflating balloons, rather than picking up one balloon, inflating it, then picking up the next balloon and inflating it, you can hold the tails of all balloons in the pack in your hand and inflate each one. With some practice, you will see how easy this is and how much time and effort it saves. When placing balloons on the fixtures, stagger the ribbon length by alternating short, long, short, long. This will help reduce tangling on the fixtures. Working closely with store associates to determine a consistent location for your back stock and new shipments will save wasted time and energy attempting to locate balloons on your visit. Page 16

19 BACK STOCK CLUSTER MERCHANDISING CYLINDER VALVE FOIL GLOSSARY OF TERMS Any product that is currently in inventory and is uninflated. See examples on pages 9, 10 and 11. Similar or same balloon designs merchandised together (more than 5) for extra shelf appeal. Similar (color and/or pattern) products used to merchandise any given area - example: SpongeBob balloons with SpongeBob party products. See diagram on page 2 - knob to control helium tank output A thin piece of material that is used to make balloons. IMPULSE PURCHASE A purchase made because of the product's location. Candy, gum and magazines are a good example; they are generally placed at check-out lanes and the purchase more than likely isn't planned "meaning impulse". INFLATION VALVE JUNIOR SHAPE LICENSED CHARACTERS MYLAR NOZZLE See diagram on page 6 - Often on the tail of a balloon, where you insert the helium nozzle. Medium size balloon (larger than 18" - and not necessarily round) Any movie, cartoon, action, TV series character that falls under a Licensor (i.e.. Disney, Nickelodeon, Warner Bros, Hello Kitty) A polyester film used to make foil balloons. Mylar balloons are foil balloons. See diagram on page 3 - a short tube with a taper or constriction used (as on a hose) to speed up or direct the flow of air/helium/fluid. OPP Opening Price Point (OPP) = $1.00 OXYGEN DEPRIVATION Severely deficient supply of oxygen to the body that arises from being unable to breathe normally. PAY FROM SCAN (PFS) PROGRAM Retail program that allows vendors to manage and merchandise their own inventory; and when product is scanned and sold by retailer, profit is made by both vendor and retailer. Also known as Scan-Based Trading. POLY BAG REGULATOR GAUGE PSI RIBBON WEIGHT SEMI PERMANENT Plastic bag that balloons are shipped/packed in. Device that is used to inflate helium balloons. Device used to monitor the amount of helium that is being injected into a balloon. Pounds of pressure per square inch Plastic weight attached to balloon with a length of ribbon attached and used for suspending balloon Not permanent - partially permanent SING-A-TUNE Balloon that plays a song or tune SITE TO STORE SOFT BALLOON SUPERSHAPE ADAPTER DEFECTIVE DAMAGED SCRAP LOW OUT Description for Walmart backroom/stockroom/warehouse. Partially deflated balloon Larger than 18" or Jumbo Shape balloons that are not necessarily round in shape. Weight that is inserted into ribbon weight if balloon is a Super or Jumbo shape balloon. Balloon that has burst on inflation or you are unable to inflate. Balloons that have a tear or hole in the seam (or anywhere on the balloon) as a result of being rubbed up against a sharp object. Damaged and/or defective balloons that need to be reported as scrap on your visit report. Merchandisers should mark Low on their visit report when the last tank shows 500 PSI or less. Merchandisers should mark Out on their visit report when due to lack of helium they are unable to inflate any more balloons.