Checklist template

Greeting card and stationery department merchandising

A ready-to-use checklist with 107 items in 6 sections, covering Card pockets, Captions, Envelopes, Seasonal changeover, Out-of-stocks, Condition. Use it as-is in InspectLoop, or adapt it to your own standards in minutes.

  • 6 Sections
  • 107 Items
  • 90 Yes / No checks
  • 6 Scored ratings
  • 120 Points

Use this template How audits work

1. Card pockets 18 items

  1. Linear feet (or meters) of everyday card fixture in the department Number
  2. The everyday card wall follows the current planogram of the card supplier or head office Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Every pocket has a pocket ticket showing the design number and the price code Yes / No 1 pt
  4. The design in each of 20 pockets sampled matches its pocket ticket Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Pockets among the 20 sampled holding a design that does not match the ticket Number
  6. Each pocket holds a single design Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Cards face forward and upright, with the front design toward the customer Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Pockets are filled to the fill line without being so tight that cards bend when removed Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Tall and oversize cards are in the pockets built for them, not folded into standard pockets Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Premium ranges (handmade, embellished, musical) are at eye level as the planogram shows Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Musical and light-up cards have one sample that customers can open Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Value-priced cards are together in their own signed section Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Boxed cards and note card sets are on shelves or pegs below or beside the card wall, not in card pockets Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Gift card holders and money wallets are in the section the planogram gives them Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Spinners and floor displays of cards are those listed on the planogram Yes / No 1 pt
  16. The price code chart is posted on the fixture where codes are used instead of printed prices Yes / No 1 pt
  17. No pocket is covered by a sign, a clip strip or a display placed in front of the fixture Yes / No 1 pt
  18. Order of the card pockets against the planogram Rating
    • One design per pocket, all to planogram 5 pts
    • Some pockets mixed or off planogram 3 pts
    • Widespread mixing 1 pt

2. Captions 17 items

  1. Every section has a header for its occasion (Birthday, Sympathy, Wedding, Baby, Thank you) Yes / No 1 pt
  2. Caption strips above the rows name the recipient or theme (Mom, Husband, Juvenile, Humor, Blank) Yes / No 1 pt
  3. The cards in 10 rows sampled belong to the caption above them Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Rows among the 10 sampled holding cards that do not fit the caption Number
  5. Birthday captions run in the planogram's order (relatives, age-specific, juvenile, humor, general) Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Age and milestone cards are in number order (1, 2, 3 ... 16, 18, 21, 30, 40, 50) Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Anniversary cards are separated into spouse, couple and milestone-year captions Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Sympathy and get-well cards are not placed next to humor Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Cards in a second language have their own captioned section where the store carries them Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Religious cards are grouped under their own caption Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Blank and all-occasion cards are captioned as such Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Caption strips are all of the current style, with no handwritten replacements Yes / No 1 pt
  13. No caption strip is missing, leaving an unlabeled row Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Caption strips are seated in the channel and sit straight Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Cards left by customers in the wrong caption were returned to their pockets today Yes / No 1 pt
  16. The department sign or aisle marker for cards is visible from the main aisle Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Ease of finding a card by occasion and recipient Rating
    • Clear from header to pocket 5 pts
    • Some rows hard to identify 3 pts
    • Customer must search the wall 1 pt

3. Envelopes 14 items

  1. Every pocket sampled has an envelope behind each card Yes / No 1 pt
  2. Cards found without an envelope among 20 pockets sampled Number
  3. Envelopes are the size that fits the card in the pocket Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Envelope colors match those supplied with the design Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Envelopes sit behind the cards, flap side back Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Spare envelopes of the common sizes are kept in the department drawer or at the cash wrap Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Spare envelopes are sorted by size Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Cashiers check for the envelope when a card is rung up Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Cards needing extra postage or a padded envelope are marked as such on the pocket or the card Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Leftover envelopes are removed from pockets where the design has sold out Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Envelopes of boxed card sets are sealed inside the box Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Loose envelopes are not left on the floor of the fixture or in the base drawers Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Envelopes in the pockets are free of creases, stains and torn flaps Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Envelope availability and match Rating
    • Every card has its matching envelope 5 pts
    • A few missing or mismatched 3 pts
    • Many missing or mismatched 1 pt

4. Seasonal changeover 18 items

  1. Seasonal card program on the fixture at the time of the visit Short text
  2. The seasonal card section was set by the date on the seasonal calendar Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Date the current seasonal card section was set Date
  4. The seasonal section is on the fixture or run designated for it, at the front of the department Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Seasonal headers and captions (for example Mother, Grandmother, Wife, From both of us) are in place Yes / No 1 pt
  6. The seasonal planogram was followed pocket by pocket Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Cards of the season just ended were pulled within the number of days the supplier program allows Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Pulled seasonal cards were counted before being boxed Yes / No 1 pt
  9. The seasonal return count sheet or scan file was sent to the supplier Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Return cartons are labeled with the season and the return authorization number Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Return cartons are waiting in the stockroom for no longer than the pick-up period of the program Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Seasonal cards designated for pack-away are stored flat in closed cartons labeled with the season Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Everyday pockets displaced by the seasonal section were restored after it came down Yes / No 1 pt
  14. The next two seasonal set dates are written on the department calendar Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Dated planners and calendars are displayed from the launch date in the stationery calendar Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Past-year planners and calendars are marked down or pulled on the date company policy sets Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Back-to-school and graduation stationery came off the feature fixtures on the end date of the program Yes / No 1 pt
  18. Timing of the seasonal changeover Rating
    • Set and pulled on calendar 5 pts
    • A few days late 3 pts
    • Previous season still up or new season not set 1 pt

5. Out-of-stocks 18 items

  1. Empty card pockets counted on the everyday wall Number
  2. Total pockets on the everyday wall Number
  3. The share of empty pockets is within the limit set by company policy or the supplier program Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Empty pockets keep their pocket ticket so the design can be reordered Yes / No 1 pt
  5. The reorder ticket or reorder card placed behind the last cards of a pocket is pulled or scanned when reached Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Reorder tickets collected since the last order have been sent or scanned Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Date of the last card order or supplier service visit Date
  8. The supplier's merchandiser visits on the agreed schedule Yes / No 1 pt
  9. The merchandiser's last service report is on file in the store Yes / No 1 pt
  10. No unopened carton of everyday cards has been in the stockroom longer than the time set by company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Card overstock is kept in the base drawers under its own section, by caption Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Base drawers were checked for stock before any pocket was left empty Yes / No 1 pt
  13. High-volume captions (birthday general, thank you, sympathy) have no empty pockets Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Pens, refills and ink cartridges on pegs have no empty pegs among the top sellers named by the buyer Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Boxed thank-you notes and invitations are in stock in each count the planogram lists Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Gift wrap, tissue and gift bag pegs are filled to at least half their depth Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Discontinued designs are replaced by the substitute the supplier names rather than left empty Yes / No 1 pt
  18. Fill of the card and stationery department Rating
    • Full, with reorders up to date 5 pts
    • Scattered gaps 3 pts
    • Many empty pockets or pegs 1 pt

6. Condition 22 items

  1. Cards sampled have no bent corners or creases Yes / No 1 pt
  2. Cards sampled are free of fingerprints and dust Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Cards in pockets near windows or spotlights show no fading Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Cards with loose embellishments, torn pop-ups or dead sound modules have been pulled Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Damaged cards are held in the damages envelope or box for supplier credit Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Damaged cards are counted or scanned for credit on the schedule of the supplier program Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Cello-wrapped cards have intact wrapping Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Card fixtures have no broken pockets or missing dividers Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Fixture lights above the card wall all work Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Pocket fronts and shelves are dusted Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Base drawers close fully and do not stick out into the aisle Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Journals and notebooks sold shrink-wrapped have intact wrap Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Each pen style on open display has a working tester Yes / No 1 pt
  14. A clean test pad is provided at the pen display Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Dried-out pens and markers have been removed from the testers Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Boxed stationery has no crushed corners or torn lids Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Rolls of gift wrap are free of tears and crushed ends Yes / No 1 pt
  18. Wax seals, ink pads and stamp sets on display are complete, with no parts missing from the pack Yes / No 1 pt
  19. The floor under and in front of the card fixtures is free of fallen cards and envelopes Yes / No 1 pt
  20. Name of the department lead or manager met Short text
  21. Overall presentation of the card and stationery department Rating
    • Clean, full and easy to shop 5 pts
    • Acceptable with visible faults 3 pts
    • Neglected 1 pt
  22. Corrective actions and comments Comments

About this template

This checklist is part of the InspectLoop 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 InspectLoop you can add photos, assign corrective actions, require sign-off and compare results across sites.

Categories

Related templates

← All templates

Brand standards

At every site, every time

Start Free Contact us