Checklist template

Seasonal department merchandising for hardware stores

A ready-to-use checklist with 119 items in 6 sections, covering Displays, Assortment, Pricing, Signage, Stock, Sell-down. Use it as-is in Bindy, or adapt it to your own standards in minutes.

  • 6 Sections
  • 119 Items
  • 98 Yes / No checks
  • 6 Scored ratings
  • 128 Points

Use this template How audits work

1. Displays 21 items

  1. Season set inspected Choice
    • Spring lawn and garden
    • Summer grilling and outdoor living
    • Fall cleanup and weatherization
    • Winter snow and holiday
  2. The season's set is on the floor by the set date on the merchandising calendar Yes / No 1 pt
  3. The seasonal department follows the head office floor plan for this season and this store size Yes / No 1 pt
  4. The display facing the store entrance carries the season's lead item named on the floor plan Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Assembled grills are displayed with the lid, side shelves and warming rack fitted as they are sold Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Patio furniture sets are displayed complete, with every chair and cushion of the set Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Patio umbrellas on display are open and held in a weighted base Yes / No 1 pt
  8. One assembled unit of each wheelbarrow, lawn spreader and garden cart model on the plan is displayed Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Snow shovels, roof rakes and ice scrapers stand in a tool corral sorted by type and blade width Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Leaf rakes, garden rakes and long-handled shovels hang with the head up so the customer can compare heads Yes / No 1 pt
  11. The holiday lighting display has one lit sample string for each bulb color and style sold Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Artificial trees on display have every branch shaped out Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Pre-lit artificial trees on display are plugged in and fully lit Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Each displayed tree is tagged with its height in ft and m Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Stacks of boxed heaters, fans or air conditioners show one unboxed sample unit at the top of the stack Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Seasonal pallet drops at the store front sit in the positions marked on the floor plan Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Sidewalk displays leave the walkway width set by company policy clear to the entrance doors Yes / No 1 pt
  18. Pool chemicals are displayed in their own bay, separate from fertilizers and fuels, as the planogram shows Yes / No 1 pt
  19. The seasonal department is free of empty pallets, shrink wrap and flattened cartons Yes / No 1 pt
  20. Number of displays on the season's floor plan that are not built Number
  21. Execution of the seasonal displays Rating
    • Every display built to the floor plan 5 pts
    • One or two displays missing or altered 3 pts
    • Several displays missing or the previous season still set 1 pt

2. Assortment 19 items

  1. All 20 items of a sample from the season's assortment list for this store are on the floor Yes / No 1 pt
  2. Number of items missing from the floor in the sample of 20 Number
  3. Seasonal category with the most missing items Short text
  4. Grass seed and fertilizer blends on display are the ones assigned to this store's climate region Yes / No 1 pt
  5. The grill lineup offers a gas, a charcoal and a pellet model where the assortment list includes all three Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Grill covers, brushes, charcoal, wood pellets and propane gauges are merchandised beside the grills Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Garden hoses, nozzles and sprinklers are set in the bay next to the lawn care products Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Vendor seed racks hold packets marked as packed for the current year Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Grass seed bags show a test date within the period allowed by company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  10. The fall set includes furnace filters, weatherstripping, pipe insulation and window insulation kits Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Ice melt is offered in a standard and a pet-safe formula Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Ice melt is offered in both a bag and a shaker jug size Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Insect and weed control products are shelved away from bird seed and pet food, as the planogram shows Yes / No 1 pt
  14. No item of the previous season occupies a position that the current planogram assigns to another item Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Vendor shippers and racks in the department are those authorized by the merchandising plan Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Locally chosen items added to the set are on the list approved by the district manager Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Carryover stock from last year on the floor is free of faded or damaged packaging Yes / No 1 pt
  18. Deck stain is displayed with its cleaner, brightener, applicator pads and brushes in the same bay Yes / No 1 pt
  19. Completeness of the seasonal assortment Rating
    • Full assortment on the floor 5 pts
    • A few items missing 3 pts
    • Whole categories missing 1 pt

3. Pricing 18 items

  1. Every seasonal item has a price label at its shelf, hook or pallet position Yes / No 1 pt
  2. Assembled display units carry a tag with the item number and price Yes / No 1 pt
  3. The tag on each assembled unit states whether it is sold assembled or boxed Yes / No 1 pt
  4. The assembly fee for grills, wheelbarrows and patio sets is posted where the store charges one Yes / No 1 pt
  5. The local delivery fee for bulky seasonal items is posted at the patio and grill displays Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Pallet signs for ice melt show the price per bag and the bag weight in lb and kg Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Multi-bag prices on pallet signs match the offer programmed at the register, tested with one item Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Ten seasonal items from the current flyer carry the flyer price at the shelf Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Ten seasonal items scanned on the handheld show the same price as their label Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Number of price mismatches found in the items scanned Number
  11. Number of seasonal items found without a price label Number
  12. Sale tags from the previous flyer have been removed from the seasonal department Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Price changes for seasonal items sent by head office this week have been applied Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Coverage-based products (fertilizer, seed, stain) show the unit price where local regulation requires it Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Environmental or recycling fees are shown on the tag where local regulation requires them Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Mail-in or instant rebate details are posted at the item for each rebate running this period Yes / No 1 pt
  17. The deferred payment offer on high-ticket items is tagged on the grills and patio sets that qualify Yes / No 1 pt
  18. Price labeling in the seasonal department Rating
    • All items labeled and accurate 5 pts
    • A few labels missing or wrong 3 pts
    • Many labels missing or wrong 1 pt

4. Signage 20 items

  1. The department header or overhead banner is the one for the current season Yes / No 1 pt
  2. Signs of the previous season are gone from the floor, the windows and the hanging positions Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Each feature sign names the item, its size and its price Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Sale end dates printed on seasonal signs match the dates of the current flyer Yes / No 1 pt
  5. The ice melt display has a chart of the lowest working temperature of each product (°F and °C) Yes / No 1 pt
  6. The grass seed display has a sun and shade selection chart Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Coverage charts for fertilizer and grass seed are posted at the lawn care bay, in sq ft and m² Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Spreader setting charts are available at the fertilizer display Yes / No 1 pt
  9. The grill display has a comparison sign for fuel type, cooking area and burner count Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Signs on outdoor pallets are in weatherproof holders Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Outdoor pallet signs give the item number the customer quotes at the register Yes / No 1 pt
  12. A sign at outdoor bulky goods tells customers to pay inside before loading Yes / No 1 pt
  13. A sign at outdoor bulky goods shows where to drive up for loading Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Signs are in the languages required for the store's market Yes / No 1 pt
  15. No handwritten sign is used in the seasonal department Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Signs sit in holders of the matching size, with no tape on fixtures or product Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Vendor shelf talkers are limited to those included in the season's sign kit Yes / No 1 pt
  18. Restricted-product notices for pesticides are posted at the display as local regulation requires Yes / No 1 pt
  19. Number of signs on the sign kit list that are missing from the floor Number
  20. Seasonal signage Rating
    • Complete, current and in place 5 pts
    • A few signs missing or outdated 3 pts
    • Mostly missing or from the previous season 1 pt

5. Stock 20 items

  1. The season's top 20 sellers named by head office are all in stock Yes / No 1 pt
  2. Number of top 20 seasonal sellers out of stock Number
  3. Seasonal overstock in top stock or the back room is labeled with the item number and the received date Yes / No 1 pt
  4. A location list tells floor employees where each seasonal overstock item is kept Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Seasonal stock received this week has been worked to the floor or to its labeled overstock location Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Outdoor pallets of ice melt are covered against rain and snow Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Bags of ice melt on outdoor pallets are free of tears and caked contents Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Seasonal displays were refilled before the store opened today Yes / No 1 pt
  9. The weekend refill schedule for the seasonal department names an employee for each time slot Yes / No 1 pt
  10. The seasonal order is reviewed each week against sell-through and the weather forecast Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Date of the last seasonal order review Date
  12. The store has a storm order list covering ice melt, shovels, generators, sump pumps and tarps Yes / No 1 pt
  13. The manager on duty can explain how to request emergency replenishment before a storm Yes / No 1 pt
  14. On-hand quantities in the system match a physical count for 10 seasonal items Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Each assembled grill on display has boxed stock in the store, or its tag reads "display only" Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Grills and wheelbarrows waiting for assembly are dated, with none older than company policy allows Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Empty positions in the set are left open with their label, not filled with a neighboring item Yes / No 1 pt
  18. The pre-season shipment was checked against the purchase order and shortages were reported Yes / No 1 pt
  19. Pallets of ice melt on hand at the store front Number
  20. In-stock position of the seasonal department Rating
    • Full on all key items 5 pts
    • Some key items low or out 3 pts
    • Many key items out 1 pt

6. Sell-down 21 items

  1. The store holds the sell-down calendar for this season, with the date of each markdown step Yes / No 1 pt
  2. The most recent markdown step was taken on its calendar date Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Clearance seasonal items are gathered in one location Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Clearance tags show the original price beside the clearance price Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Clearance tags are in the color and format of the company standard Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Sell-through by category is reviewed with the district manager each week in the last 6 weeks of the season Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Sell-through of the season to date (%) Number
  8. Orders for the outgoing season stopped on the cut-off date set by head office Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Display units sold as-is carry an as-is tag with a price approved by the store manager Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Every item being packed away is on the head office pack-away list, not on the clearance list Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Packed-away goods are boxed and labeled with the item number, quantity and season Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Pack-away stock is recorded in the system at its storage location Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Pack-away liquids that can freeze, such as deck stain and liquid fertilizer, are stored in a heated area Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Vendor return authorizations for seed packets and returnable chemicals were requested by the deadline Yes / No 1 pt
  15. The remaining set is condensed as stock sells so that shelves stay full at the front Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Unsaleable seasonal goods are written off under the correct reason code before the season's final count Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Number of seasonal items still on hand past their final markdown date Number
  18. Set date of the next season Date
  19. Name of the manager responsible for the seasonal department Short text
  20. Overall rating of seasonal merchandising Rating
    • Excellent 5 pts
    • Good 4 pts
    • Fair 3 pts
    • Poor 1 pt
  21. Comments and corrective actions Comments

About this template

This checklist is part of the Bindy template library. Yes / No checks score 1 point when met; ratings score the points shown for each option. The overall score is the percentage of points earned, with N/A answers excluded. In Bindy you can add photos, assign corrective actions, require sign-off and compare results across sites.

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