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Packing Theory

n. The scientific discipline that provides a mathematical basis for optimizing the arrangement and stacking of quantities of items within a given space.

NOTE: I acknowledge that this is the deep end, and that I don't know much about it. However, I do know that...

TRUE STORY: Packing Theory was invented by the British Navy, who back in the days of rigging and sail were desperate to maximize the number of cannon balls and kegs of powder stuffed into their ships of war. Seems that the last man, er, boat still shooting tended to win those engagements they kept having with the Spaniards, pirates, etc. Not to mention that resupply was often weeks or even months away.

Well, here in our present context we simply observe that there is often such a thing as A Better Way, but also acknowledge that cramming the most into a given space is not for us as desperate a priority as it was for those sailors way back then. Other things, like the appearance of neatness and visual appeal are equally important to STORE MANAGERS and CUSTOMERS alike, and deserve our diligent consideration.

For a little more about circle packing, with diagrams, see, e.g.,

^{http://mathworld.wolfram.com/CirclePacking.html}

Pad

n. The left-over cookie-sized punched-out center portion of a large circular FLOOR polishing or buffing machine insert used by the CLEANING CREW. See also CLEAN-UP.

NOTE: These things are mighty handy when used for various small cleaning jobs along with RED or BLUE JUICE. E.g., for the periodic cleaning the TAG rails fronting all of an AISLE'S bottom SHELVES, etc.

Paid Sticker

“PAID” Sticker

“Paid” Sticker

n. A special sticker applied to CUSTOMER PURCHASES at CHECKOUT which are either too large to be bagged, or such as food and drink ITEMS which are bought by ASSOCIATES and will be consumed or used personally within the confines of the STORE. Contrast SUPPLY. See also RECEIPT.

Pallet

n. A low, roughly table-sized platform that supports and is used to transport STACKED CASES of various PRODUCTS: “Drop those pallets under the mezz.” See also CHEP PALLET.

NOTE: Pallets are typically made from either wooden ties with cross-laid slats or a single piece of heavy-duty molded plastic. Contents may be bound around the circumference in layers of wide plastic film WRAP to help add stability.

Pallet Board

n. A large piece of CARDBOARD shaped to fit over the full surface area of a PALLET. Used to protect PRODUCT from splinters, nails, etc.

Pallet Corners

n. Long, thick strips of heavy-duty, usually white CARDBOARD that are bent in a 90° angle down their length, and which are placed vertically at each of the four corners of a PALLET before it is WRAPPED, in order to protect the contents against damage.

NOTE: A typical application might be a full PALLET of cereal BOXES intended for a DISPLAY.

Paper PALLET

n. One or more occasional, special PALLETS kept aside to hold CASES of paper towels, tissues, and other paper goods of various kinds and sizes. See also WATER PALLET.

NOTE: While technically BACK-STOCK, CASES on the Paper PALLET are typically not put in the GUN because they are high-turnover, and will not spend any appreciable time in INVENTORY. These PALLETS get worked every SHIFT or so, as often as necessary to keep the SHELF reasonably full.

Park

v. To put something, typically a loaded RUNNER or PALLET, in a specified location, usually with the expectation that it will stay there for more than a little while, but will eventually be moved: “Park that under the mezz.”

Part-Time

n. (An ASSOCIATE who is) not FULL-TIME: “I'm only part-time, on weekends.”

NOTE: Part-Timers are guaranteed to get 16 or more hours per week, depending on need and availability, but less than 40 hours per week, and do not receive all the benefits that accrue to FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.

Peekaboo Shelf

n. Also as “Peek-a-boo...” See TIE-IN SHELF. Also JUMP SHELF.

Perforations

n. A series of partial incisions on some CASES or PRODUCT PACKAGES, intended to allow for easier opening, or to create a DISPLAY CASE to support the PRODUCT on the SHELF.

NOTE: My advice on Perforations: avoid 'em if you can. Test if you can't. Pre-score any uncooperative perforations you're stuck with, so they'll actually work.

Perforations—and many other “easy open” conveniences of packaging with seductive invitations to “open here”—can be a great nuisance. Largely, that's because they don't work.

It's often best to avoid the frustration of wasted time and effort, and rely on an alternative in which you have greater confidence. My personal favorite is the SHARK CUT. With a sharp BLADE, you know that you're going to get a fast and convenient opening. No hassling with tear-outs, awkwardly-shaped openings, etc. SHARK CUT the top of a CASE on three sides, and you've got a lid on top, where it belongs, to prevent any leftovers from falling out the sides.

Thus, whenever possible, I ignore the perforations on CASES of gelatin or pudding snack cups, and on “open here” cases of cake and brownie mixes. I just SHARK CUT 'em. Things just go faster and better that way.

In those instances where I need a DISPLAY CASE, such as foil bags of instant potatoes, pouched tuna products, and so on, I'm always careful to first check the bottom of the CASE for tapes to be cut, so the upper part of the CASE becomes a lid that comes off nicely.

If not, and I'm forced to deal with the Perforations as such, I'll try one, carefully, to see if it cooperates. If not, the best bet is to lightly, or in some instances, completely pre-score the provided line or path of Perforations using your CUTTER, so that they don't tear out with unsightly blemishes, or fail entirely.

Perishables

n. The Produce DEPARTMENT; that is, fruits, veggies, etc.

Phone Features

-. Beyond simple direct dialing, there are extra things you can do using the in-store Norstar® brand phones.

NOTE: However, unless you're a MANAGER, probably the only Phone Feature you should learn how to use is the first one listed: Feature-74 = Hold, also sometimes known as “call parking.”

There's an ordinary Hold button on the phone, yes, but if you use it, the phone is then tied up, and you can't use the phone for anything else.

Consider: sometimes you may get a call, and then want to transfer it to someone else, whom you'll want to PAGE. What to do? Feature-74 call parking to the rescue:

HOW TO: Put a call on HOLD using FEATURE-74

Ask the person on the phone to “Please stay on the line” while you transfer their call.

Press three buttons: [Feature] [7] [4]. The call you were handling is now on hold, and you're free to use the phone for other purposes, such as make a PAGE.

Notice the Holding Line Number on the LED readout on the phone; it's usually either 801 or 802 if there's already another call on hold somewhere else.

Make your PAGE as usual, including the Holding Line Number. For example, “GM, please take the call holding on 801. GM, 801 please.”

Hang up the phone. That call is still on hold, and anyone at any phone call dial the Holding Line Number (e.g., 801) to pick up that call. Meanwhile, you're now free to use the phone again or go on about your business.

Note that you can use Feature-74 to put a call on hold without making a PAGE, and thus you can pick up the call yourself on another phone. That's very handy, for instance, after you've run to a different AISLE to make a PRICE CHECK, or get some other information for a CUSTOMER.

Here are more Phone Features. However, my advice is, except for Feature-74, DON'T USE THEM:

DESIRED ACTION	PHONE BUTTONS TO PRESS

Hold	[Feature] [7] [4]

Background Music	[Feature] [8] [6]
Call Forward	[Feature] [4]
Call Pickup	[Feature] [7] [5]
Conference/Transfer	[Feature] [3]
Do Not Disturb	[Feature] [8] [5]
Exclusive Hold	[Feature] [Hold]
Last Number Redial	[Feature] [5]
Link	[Feature] [7] [1]
Message - Reply	[Feature] [6] [5]
Message - Send	[Feature] [1]
Page	[Feature] [6] [0]
Program External Autodial	[Feature] [*] [1]
Program Feature Autodial	[Feature] [*] [3]
Program Internal Autodial	[Feature] [*] [2]
Ring Again	[Feature] [2]
Speed Dial	[Feature] [0]
Transfer (if equipped)	[Feature] [7] [0]
Voice Call	[Feature] [6] [6]
Voice Call Deny	[Feature] [8] [8]

Cancel Features	[Feature] + [#] + Code

Except for Feature-74 call parking, the other Phone Features are given here just for the sake of reference. Once they were listed on cards on all the phones, but nowadays, most of those cards are missing. Thus, should you for some reason need this information, here it is.

Phone List

n. A directory of in-store telephone extensions.

NOTE: For example, these are the phone extensions I know about where I work.

By DEPT. NAME		By PHONE #
Bakery	264	227	Bookkeeping
Bookkeeping	227	231	Manager
Break Room	232	232	Break Room
Capt. Choice	238	233	Meat
Cheese	251	234	Produce
COC	299	235	Floral
CSM	301	237	Dairy
CSM Desk	300	238	Capt. Choice
Dairy	237	240	Service
Deli	250	242	Pricing
Floral	235	248	Unknown
Grocery, Floor	290	249	Unknown
Manager	231	250	Deli
Meat	233	251	Cheese
Mobile, Mgr #1	314	264	Bakery
Mobile, Mgr #2	315	285	Pharmacy
Personnel	308	290	Grocery, Floor
Pharmacy	285	291	Receiving
Pricing	242	299	COC
Produce	234	300	CSM Desk
Receiving	291	301	CSM
Service	240	308	Personnel
Unknown	248	314	Mobile, Mgr #1
Unknown	249	315	Mobile, Mgr #2

There's also an unused phone back in the Dairy/Frozen back hallway: x295. Plus, there's the series of “call parking” numbers mentioned above under PHONE FEATURES: x801, x802, ... and so on.

Occasionally you might hear a PAGE like, “Security, please call extension 804.” Since it's rare for the call parking lot to fill up beyond 802, for the most part, those are likely to be PAGES intended to spook a suspected SHOPLIFTER.

One last trick: If you need to talk to another STORE, and you know its STORE NUMBER, you can pick up any in-store phone and dial [6] + Store Number to be connected to that store directly.

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