By Ian Hall, CEO at CCS McLays
As more large household names fell victim to the current economic climate in 2024 and went into administration, 2025 looks set to be another unpredictable year in retail. Brands with an in-store presence require many things to line up to remain competitive and in business.
In times of crisis, many retailers focus on headcount in their efforts to cut costs, as The Centre for Retail Research has revealed that in 2024 nearly 170,000 (169,395) jobs were lost in the retail sector. However, in tackling cost issues, the first step that retail leaders should take is to assess their in-store processes to investigate whether savings can be made. For instance, taking action to streamline processes such as warehousing solutions across hundreds of stores can make all the difference, a strategy that often goes overlooked.
Savvy retailers are going back to basics and reviewing the management of their in-store consumables. From hangers and display sundries to till rolls and other supplies, effective management of these daily essentials can significantly enhance operational efficiency and directly impact the bottom line.
In-store challenges for retail leaders
A myriad of decision-makers – from CFOs to procurement managers, buying directors and retail operations managers – are involved at some level in the in-store consumables decision-making. Under the current economic pressure, all share a common goal, to keep store overheads down and build efficiencies that can weather the storm.
Yet the reality of how things operate in-store behind the scenes is far from ideal. While a brand might buy size cubes from one place, and toilet rolls from another, the overspending and time wasted handling dozens of stock deliveries from multiple suppliers – is huge. The complexities involved in preparing garment displays or re-ordering carrier bags and cleaning materials create an unwanted administrative pressure for store associates. Worse still, the administrative challenges of managing these everyday essential items – from hangers to bags and till rolls often doesn’t rank high on an agenda to fix.
By ensuring consumables are ordered only as needed, stores can reduce wastage, minimise excess inventory, and avoid the operational disruptions caused by running out of essential items. Effective stock control systems also streamline stockroom management, freeing up space and reducing the workload for store managers.
By taking the right approach, retail brands can not only save costs but take the pressure off store managers and associates, allowing them to prioritise the customer experience rather than worrying about stock control and storage of their in-store consumables.
Benefits of a “Retail Detail Review” to streamline consumables
Not only can conducting a review exercise of store consumables deliver significant savings on the consumables budget annually, but each specific area that is analysed can see efficiency gains. For instance, the provision of an optimal warehousing solution can improve processes for delivery, storage and ordering. By considering how they source consumables and where they store them to the number of deliveries they handle each week, stores can make clear cost saving gains.
Addressing the challenges of consumables management with a strategic approach brings significant benefits. Streamlining procurement, improving stock control, and leveraging data not only reduces administrative burdens but also unlocks meaningful cost savings across the business.
By focusing on expert partnerships, procurement improvements, smarter stock control, and data utilisation, retailers can optimise their in-store consumables, boosting efficiency and delivering long-term benefits to their bottom line. Most importantly, with store associates alleviated from the burden of stock control and storage issues, they can prioritise selling, handling customer queries, boosting motivation and productivity, and increasing customer satisfaction.
Key considerations for an effective review of in-store consumables
A comprehensive retail consumables review must be more than a tick-box audit of the current in-store processes in place. A retail detail review should comprise:
- An in-depth discovery session
This process should start with listening and finding out what makes the business tick, who the customers are, what works and what needs improving. It should look into any areas retail managers might have missed. Having met key personnel from the head office and store management to assess how their in-store consumables and packaging are procured, delivered, stored and re-ordered, processes like stock room management can also be investigated.
- Key areas for assessment
A detailed assessment of in-store consumables should cover a performance report, internal staff opinions, brand control, waste reduction, cost reductions and possible sustainability enhancements.
- Recommendations for financial improvement
Financial gains can be made in many areas such as cost savings via competitive sourcing, improved invoicing through consolidation, and control of all miscellaneous spending.
- Suggestions to optimise stock control and quality
The report may recommend ways to optimise stock control, such as re-engineering and enhancement of products, reduction in wastage, ordering online for superior order tracking and visibility, and correct stock levels for the correct season.
Resetting in-store operations for a stronger retail outlook
Only through assessing their current procurement and management of non-core retail consumables and packaging does a retailer have the right information to calculate their actual needs and design a tailored roadmap to enhance processes.
This means reviewing all elements of retail essentials across the organisation. A thorough investigation across all departments of the business will reveal usage patterns, revision timescales, amalgamation and standardisation options, warehousing issues and speed to market.
Engaging a retail consumables expert can offer retail leaders and managers a detailed understanding of their operations whilst unlocking hidden efficiencies that directly impact profit margins. With a tailored report that includes recommendations for improvements and a bespoke roadmap for potential change, retail leaders have the right information to take control of their in-store consumables and making significant cost savings at scale.
Beyond this, the associated benefits of boosting staff morale, smarter decision-making, and increased productivity are all improving the bottom line and helping to build a more resilient retail operation.
