shopperpro

Some announced audits may be as simple as answering/observing several areas in the store, but may involve comparing merchandise on display to a planogram. Wikipedia defines a planogram like this:

A planogram is a diagram of fixtures and products that illustrates how and where retail products should be displayed, usually on a store shelf in order to increase customer purchases.

If your audit involves a planogram there will either be one provided with your instructions or you will have to ask the store manager/associate to print one out for you. There should be detailed instructions in how to read the planogram provided in your audit guidelines. Trust me - your first one will be a bit daunting unless you have previous experience with them, but after a few they aren’t so scary.

Make extra sure you take pictures to document your findings. If you say the merchandise in XX area was dusty take a picture to back it up. Be careful – photographing dust can be tricky. The easiest way to show this is to make a ‘clean’ spot with your finger, and then take the picture. If your guidelines for the audit specify that you need to show XX from top to bottom make sure that you don’t cut part of it off when taking the picture.

Like any other aspect of mystery shopping, at first glance the ‘required reading’ can be a bit daunting. Just with anything else take your time, and make sure you understand the instructions and you will do fine.