Counting without stopping sales
We plan each store count around its trading pattern. Common options are counting after closing time, before opening, or section by section during quiet hours with clear rules for sales made during the count. The back room and warehouse areas are often counted the day before, so the sales floor is the only part left on count day.
For chains, we schedule several stores in sequence or in parallel so the whole network is counted within the agreed window.
Good preparation by the store makes the biggest difference to speed. We send a short checklist in advance: tidy shelves so each product sits behind its price label, bring all returns and damaged goods to one marked area, finish receiving before the count starts, and make sure the store system is up to date with the day's sales and deliveries.
How a store count runs
Shelves, gondolas, refrigerators and back-room racks are mapped into numbered count areas. Counters scan each item on the shelf and in storage, and a supervisor checks completeness of each area before it is closed. Lines with large differences against the store system are recounted before the team leaves.
Before the store reopens, the store manager receives a short summary of the main differences so that obvious issues, such as a delivery not yet posted, can be resolved while the facts are fresh.
- Store map with numbered count areas
- Sales floor and back room counted separately
- Fridges and freezers counted quickly to protect products
- Recount of large differences before leaving
- Results uploaded to the store or head office system
Supermarkets, pharmacies and specialist shops
Supermarkets combine high SKU counts with fresh products and weighed goods, so we agree how loose and weighed items are counted. Pharmacies need attention to batches, expiry dates and controlled items kept in separate storage. Fashion, electronics and specialist retailers often have size, colour or serial number detail that must be captured exactly. We adapt the scanner set-up and counting rules to each format.
Results for store and head office
Each store receives its final count and variance list, and head office receives a consolidated view across the chain: shrinkage by store and category, items with recurring differences, and stores that need follow-up. Comparing stores counted with the same method and rules makes it easier to see whether a loss is a local problem or a pattern across the network. Any accounting treatment of losses should be confirmed with your local accountant or auditor.
What you receive
- Count plan for each store, timed around opening hours
- Final counted quantities by store, area and SKU
- Variance list against the store or head office system
- Consolidated chain report by store and category
- Summary in English, in Excel and PDF
Common questions
Can you count a store overnight?
Yes. Night counts after closing are common for supermarkets and busy shops, and allow the store to open normally the next morning.
How do you handle sales during a daytime count?
We agree a rule with you, for example counting section by section and recording sales from counted sections, so the result reflects a single point in time.
Can you count a whole chain?
Yes. We schedule stores in Tashkent and the regions in sequence or in parallel and deliver a consolidated report.