Checklist template

Retail store visit for consumer goods sales representatives

A ready-to-use checklist with 107 items in 6 sections, covering Pre-call planning, Shelf check, Back room check, Orders, Manager meeting, Call close. Use it as-is in InspectLoop, or adapt it to your own standards in minutes.

  • 6 Sections
  • 107 Items
  • 86 Yes / No checks
  • 7 Scored ratings
  • 121 Points

Use this template How audits work

1. Pre-call planning 16 items

  1. The store's sales by item for the last 4 weeks were reviewed before entering the store Yes / No 1 pt
  2. The notes from the previous call at this store were read before the call Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Open commitments from the previous call (display promised, credit owed, tag request) are listed for follow-up Yes / No 1 pt
  4. One written objective for this call is recorded in the call plan (for example a new item, a display or a facing gain) Yes / No 1 pt
  5. The current planogram for this store's cluster is loaded on the handheld or printed Yes / No 1 pt
  6. The retailer's ad calendar for the next 4 weeks was checked for the brand's feature dates Yes / No 1 pt
  7. The list of items authorized for this store is available during the call Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Items authorized since the previous call are flagged for a distribution check Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Shelf strips, price cards and coupon pads needed for the call are in the vehicle Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Sell sheets for the items to be presented are on hand Yes / No 1 pt
  11. The call takes place on the day set by the route plan Yes / No 1 pt
  12. The rep signed the vendor log on arrival as the retailer requires Yes / No 1 pt
  13. The rep wears the vendor badge or company identification required by the retailer Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Name of the store contact the rep plans to meet Short text
  15. Weeks since the previous call at this store Number
  16. Pre-call preparation Rating
    • Objective, sales data and materials all ready 5 pts
    • Objective set but data or materials missing 3 pts
    • No preparation evident 1 pt

2. Shelf check 25 items

  1. Authorized items out of stock in the home section at arrival Number
  2. Authorized items with no shelf tag in the home section Number
  3. Every authorized item with a tag has product on the shelf after the rep's work Yes / No 1 pt
  4. The number of facings per item matches the planogram Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Items follow the planogram sequence from left to right Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Each item sits on the shelf level the planogram gives it Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Each shelf tag sits under the product it describes Yes / No 1 pt
  8. The shelf price of 5 items sampled matches the retailer's price file Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Ad tags for the current feature are posted on the brand's featured items Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Tags from past promotions have been removed from the brand's section Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Product is pulled forward to the front edge of the shelf Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Package fronts face the shopper Yes / No 1 pt
  13. The oldest dated product is at the front of each facing Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Units past their date removed from the shelf during the call Number
  15. Dented, torn or leaking packages have been removed from the shelf Yes / No 1 pt
  16. No competitor product sits in the brand's facings Yes / No 1 pt
  17. None of the brand's products are plugged into another item's facing Yes / No 1 pt
  18. Shelf strips, dividers and pushers supplied by the company are intact Yes / No 1 pt
  19. Every secondary display agreed with the store is still on the sales floor Yes / No 1 pt
  20. Each secondary display is filled to at least half of its capacity Yes / No 1 pt
  21. The price sign on each display matches the price that scans at the register Yes / No 1 pt
  22. Brand facings counted in the main category section Number
  23. Total category facings counted in the main category section Number
  24. New competitor items, price changes and displays seen are recorded in the call report Yes / No 1 pt
  25. Condition of the brand's section at arrival Rating
    • Full, faced and tagged 5 pts
    • A few gaps or missing tags 3 pts
    • Many gaps, missing tags or product out of place 1 pt

3. Back room check 18 items

  1. The rep asked a store employee for permission before entering the back room Yes / No 1 pt
  2. The brand's back stock is kept in the location the store has assigned to it Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Back stock cases are stacked with the item label facing out Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Back stock was found and worked to the shelf for every item that was out at arrival Yes / No 1 pt
  5. No case of the brand rests directly on the back room floor Yes / No 1 pt
  6. The oldest cases are placed where they will be used first Yes / No 1 pt
  7. No back stock is inside the short-date window set by company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Damaged cases are set aside in the store's damage area Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Unsaleable product is counted and listed by item for the credit request Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Display shippers delivered for the current promotion have all been taken to the sales floor Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Point-of-sale materials sent to the store are not sitting unused in the back room Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Back stock on hand is within the weeks of supply set by company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Cases of the brand counted in the back room Number
  14. Top stock above the brand's section holds only items that belong to that section Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Back room counts of 3 items were compared with the store's on-hand figures Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Count differences found were reported to the store's inventory or department lead Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Cartons emptied during stocking were broken down and taken to the baler Yes / No 1 pt
  18. Back stock condition Rating
    • Organized, in date and within supply limits 5 pts
    • Some overstock or disorder 3 pts
    • Heavy overstock, short-dated or damaged stock 1 pt

4. Orders 17 items

  1. The suggested order is built item by item from the shelf count plus the back stock count Yes / No 1 pt
  2. Order quantities cover expected sales until the next delivery plus the safety stock set by company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Quantities for featured items include the expected promotional lift Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Display quantities are entered separately from shelf replenishment Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Every item found out of stock with no back stock is on the order Yes / No 1 pt
  6. No item is ordered while its stock on hand exceeds the weeks of supply limit Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Items being discontinued at this retailer are left off the order Yes / No 1 pt
  8. An authorized store employee approved the order before it was sent Yes / No 1 pt
  9. The order was transmitted before the distributor's cut-off time Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Order or confirmation number Short text
  11. Cases ordered on this call Number
  12. The delivery day was confirmed with the receiving or department manager Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Orders placed on the previous call were checked against what was delivered Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Shorts on the last delivery were reported to the distributor or customer service Yes / No 1 pt
  15. At least one item not yet carried by the store was presented for ordering Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Shelf capacity or minimum settings in the store's replenishment system were raised with the store for items found out on two calls in a row Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Fit of the order to the store's needs Rating
    • Based on counts and covers features 5 pts
    • Based on counts but features or displays missed 3 pts
    • Estimated without counting 1 pt

5. Manager meeting 16 items

  1. The rep met the department manager, the store manager or the person who decides on the category Yes / No 1 pt
  2. Name and title of the person met Short text
  3. The rep opened with the brand's sales trend at this store Yes / No 1 pt
  4. One specific proposal tied to the call objective was presented Yes / No 1 pt
  5. The proposal was supported with a sell sheet or the store's own sales figures Yes / No 1 pt
  6. The rep asked directly for a decision on the proposal Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Objections raised by the manager are recorded in the call notes Yes / No 1 pt
  8. A floor location was agreed for the next display Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Start and end dates were agreed for the next display Yes / No 1 pt
  10. The brand's features in the next 4 weeks were reviewed with their dates Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Shelf problems found were reported to the manager by item and count Yes / No 1 pt
  12. The manager signed the credit or return request for unsaleable product Yes / No 1 pt
  13. The manager was asked about late deliveries, shorts or damaged product since the previous call Yes / No 1 pt
  14. The rep waited or came back later when the manager was busy with customers, instead of interrupting Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Result of the meeting Rating
    • Proposal accepted with a date 5 pts
    • Proposal under consideration 3 pts
    • Proposal refused or no meeting held 1 pt
  16. Working relationship with store management Rating
    • Rep is known and welcomed 5 pts
    • Polite but distant 3 pts
    • Strained or rep is unknown to management 1 pt

6. Call close 15 items

  1. A store employee or the department manager saw the finished section before the rep left Yes / No 1 pt
  2. Before and after photos of the section were taken Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Photos of each secondary display were taken Yes / No 1 pt
  4. The call report was completed before the rep left the store's parking lot Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Each commitment made by the store is recorded with a date Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Each commitment made by the rep is recorded with a date Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Distribution gaps the store cannot fix were reported to the key account manager Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Tag requests left with the store are written on the store's own request sheet or system Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Date of the next planned call Date
  10. Point-of-sale materials replaced during the call were taken out of the store Yes / No 1 pt
  11. The rep signed out in the vendor log Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Time spent in the store (minutes) Number
  13. The call objective was achieved Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Overall quality of the call Rating
    • Objective achieved and section left to standard 5 pts
    • Section left to standard, objective not achieved 3 pts
    • Section left with gaps or no meeting sought 1 pt
  15. Follow-up actions before the next call 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.

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