Description
The Retail Collection includes resources developed or used by the Independent Grocers Task Force to complement its statewide in-store retail trainings, including the Take 5 video series and the Small Bites newsletter archive along with written resources designed to help retailers more effectively source and merchandise local food. Video episode topics include promotions, purchasing, merchandising, in-store displays, signage, sampling, and procurement. The written resources cover purchasing, merchandising, operations, financials, and staffing. Farmers and specialty food producers interested in learning more about best practices in retail merchandising may also find value in the video series.
Resources in this Collection
Small Bites
Small Bites Newsletter Sign Up
Sign up to receive the Small Bites newsletter in your inbox!
Small Bites Newsletter Archives
View the Small Bites newsletter archive of past issues.
Retail Resources
Take 5 Retail Training Videos
A series of 12 training videos. Each is about 5-7 minutes long.
Purchasing Resources
Tips for Building and Maintaining Efficient Relationships with Local Vendors
Tip sheet for building and maintaining efficient relationships with local vendors.
Tips for Purchasing Direct from Local Vendors
Tip sheet for purchasing direct from local vendors.
Merchandising Resources
Merchandising Strategies: Using the 5 Ps of Marketing
Strategies covering the 5 Ps of Marketing: Product, Placement, Pricing, Promotion, and People.
10 Questions to Ask About Produce Display
10 questions to ask to strengthen produce merchandising.
How to Create a Successful Sampling Program
Tips and strategies for creating and managing a successful sampling program.
Cross Merchandising
Tips and strategies for successfully cross merchandising to boost sales and profits.
Impulse and Ed-Cap Fundamentals to Boost Sales
End caps & impulse displays are used to promote new products, feature Vermont, seasonal and popular items while providing customers…
Operations Resources
Independent Grocery Store Audit/Self Assessment
A self assessment tool for whole-store or department evaluation modified from Rural Grocery Initiative in Kansas.
Tips for Receiving
Receiving is critical for managing quality control and product shrink!
Meat Department: The Bell Curve
Price is only one factor in the how-to-buy equation. The most disciplined retailers track not just price but also product…
How Do You Rate? Meat Department
An evaluation of the meat department within an organization.
Financials Resources
Managing Shrink
Shrink: the loss of product due to theft, fraud, error, and faulty processes; it is also expressed as “the difference between…
Produce Financial Worksheet
Use this exercise to increase financial aptitude and better understand the way these categories relate to each other. Enter your…
Staffing Resources
Exercising Your Leadership
“Business, like life, is all about how you make people feel. It’s that simple, and it’s that hard.” - Danny…
Daily Huddle
A daily huddle provides a way to solve minor issues quickly, keeps line staff informed of operational details, allows for…
