Effective Merchandise Management: A Peek into Kelly Anderson’s Strategy

Written by Justine Gray

Organization is crucial to managing the flow of merchandise in your golf shop, and sometimes a practical aid can make a world of difference. Kelly Anderson, a seasoned merchandiser and creative visual artist at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, NJ, has mastered the art of efficient merchandise management, revolutionizing the way goods are handled and displayed.

At the heart of her strategy lies a simple yet ingenious tool—a map. Displayed on the wall of the merchandise receiving and storage room, this map meticulously outlines the shop floor, divided into distinct numbered zones. Using sticky notes, Kelly marks the location of various merchandise groups, effortlessly keeping track of arrivals and placements. Each color-coded note signifies different aspects, enabling swift identification and allocation.

Orange notes merchandise currently in place on the shop floor. She uses yellow notes to recognize areas that may need a refresh or changes. One could even use different colors to differentiate categories of merchandise.  

The true testament to Kelly’s method came during the Women’s KPMG Championship in June 2023. The Golf Shop was the sole outlet for merchandise on-site during the Championship. Facing an unprecedented surge in merchandise turnover during this time, she relied on her map to navigate the frenzy seamlessly. Its effectiveness was so profound that the entire retail team embraced it as a daily staple.

Beyond immediate needs, Kelly also plans ahead. Adjacent to the map, a calendar outlines upcoming apparel arrivals by month. This serves a dual purpose: keeping the staff abreast of future inventory deliveries and aiding Kelly in strategic planning for visual displays, brand alignments, and color stories.

Having this at-a-glance look at the coming months’ apparel is a strong visual aid allowing the staff to understand the upcoming fashion groups and deliveries – without having to consult a list of style names and numbers they may not know, but having the images of the products grouped together is much more accessible to all team members.

Kelly’s approach to merchandise management isn’t just about organization—it’s about foresight and adaptability. By harnessing simple tools and a keen eye for detail and planning, she demonstrates a commitment to retail and visual excellence.

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