W

Walk the Store v. To visit every aisle and public area of the STORE, typically with a SHOPPING CART to collect RE-SHOPS and POP SHELLS, etc., and a clipboard and/or log book to make notes. A routine task of the STORE MANAGER or M.O.D.: He's walking the store.

Wall-Block v. To fill the HOLE improperly by STACKING PRODUCT HOLE-high in the front, but leaving a void behind such a false facade: Arrgh! Who wall-blocked peanut butter! —n. Any STACK of PRODUCT so arranged.

NOTE: Wall-Blocking is A Very Bad Thing. Don't do it! It obscures the true state of the SHELF when it comes to tracking and ordering INVENTORY, and also gets in the way of whoever has to THROW to that HOLE next, because they have to waste time taking down the wall before they can fill the void behind. Give us a break!

Of course, if the ITEM'S profile fills the HOLE naturally, regular BLOCKING of, say, a cake mix, would always leave a void behind that single FACE. However, that's not the same as a true Wall Block, because in this instance, one gentle nudge is enough to collapse the void, leaving it easy to fill.

Warehouse n. The STORE'S central SUPPLY depot from whence the TRUCK comes and goes.

Water Pallet n. One or more occasional, special PALLETS kept aside to hold jugged and bottled waters of various kinds and sizes. See also PAPER PALLET.

NOTE: While technically BACK-STOCK, CASES on the water 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.

Waybill n. See BILL OF LADING.

Wedge v. See LAY-IN: Wedge it in. See also GO,HIDE, JAM, MAKE IT GO.

Wedgie n. Variant of WEDGE: Pull wedgies forward first.

Where is... ? ~. Perhaps the most frequently heard question you'll hear when you're WORKING out in the AISLES.

NOTE: Here's a list of what I recall as the most-often-asked-for items in my particular STORE, sorted in alphabetical order, along with location information (BE=Back End, FE=Front End, MID=Middle), plus hints:

Item	Aisle	Shelf	Hints
Bulgar (Cracked Wheat)	"Sorry, we don't carry it."	-	If Desperate: 6 MID, Near-East Tabouli (box); Purchase, then discard other contents
Bread Crumbs (1), Shake-n-Bake, Stuffing Mix	0, BE	Section	Between Peanut Butter & Cooler
Bread Crumbs (2)	3, MID	Middle	Cora BRAND, Specialty
Barley, Pearled (1)	6, MID	Top	Quaker, Boxed; among Near-East Mixes
Barley, Pearled (2)	3, MID	Bottom	Bagged, Specialty
Chocolate Syrup (1)	6, BE	Top	Left of Teas
Chocolate Syrup (2)	Dairy/Frozen	On Ledge Above Milk	Back Corner of Store
Chocolate Syrup (3)	Dairy/Frozen	Top	Display, Middle of Last Aisle
Clam Juice (1), BIG	3, MID	Bottom	Very Large Cans, Specialty
Clam Juice (2), small	2, FE	Top	Little Bottle; On Right, Above Tuna
Corn Syrup	3, BE	Top	Above Pancake Syrup
Cracker Jack	Store LOBBY (!)	Clip Strips	On Sides of Soda Display
Food Coloring	1, BE	Top-1	Among Spices
Honey (1)	0, MID	Top	Above Peanut Butter
Honey (2), Organic, Pesticide-Free	1, MID	Upper	Among Organic Foods
Juice	15, MID
Kidney Beans	6, FE	Middle	Among Hispanic Foods
Lemon Juice (1)	Captain's Choice (Seafood)	Atop Rightmost Display Case	Green Bottle, Yellow Cap
Lemon Juice (2)	15, MID	Top	Green Bottle, Yellow Cap
Marshmallows	15, BE	Bottom	Left of Chocolates
Molasses	3, BE	Top	Above Pancake Syrup
Nuts	5, BE	Section	Right of Popcorn
Pine Nuts (1)	0, MID	Top	Among Small Bags of Nuts
Pine Nuts (2)	BULK FOODS	"Island" with Scale	Small Bin among PLEXI Bin-Shelves
Pesto	3, FE	Top	Above Spaghetti Sauce
Raisins	2, FE	Top	Look Near Big Gray Box (Rear of Lottery TV) On Top
Rice	6, MID
Tahini (1)	2, BE	Top	Left of Pickles
Tahini (2)	1, MID	Middle	Among Organic

I think my favorite has to beWhere is Cracker Jack? because—if the CUSTOMER looks like they have a sense of humor—I get to say,I'm sorry, it's not in the STORE—(pause)—But we have it! It's in the STORE LOBBY, on plastic CLIP STRIPS hanging on the edges of the big soda display in the middle.

TheMost Baffling award goes as a three-way tie among Barley, Tahini, and Kidney Beans. People seem to expect Barley to be among Cereals—but, it's not. Likewise, they expect Tahini to be either in Ethnic/Middle Eastern or with Nut Butters—but, it's not. And, when they ask me why Kidney Beans aren't with the other canned veggies, like Green Beans, I just shrug my shoulders and say,Well, I remember where it is by thinking Mexican-style Chili, and that kind of thing. In a similar vein,Bread Crumbs rhyme with Bread, and so on. Try to think of and share a mnemonic trick to help them remember where it is the next time they come back.

WIC n. Women, Infants, Children, is a New York State sponsored supplemental nutrition program which provides nutritious foods, milk, juice, formula and other items to low income pregnant or breastfeeding women, infants and children up to age 5.

NOTE: All WIC-approved PRODUCTS are supposed to be identified with an additional red SHELF TAG with the wordWIC in large, bold letters, the WIC logo, and a brief PRODUCT description that matches the ITEM on the SHELF.

WIC funds are provided as cheques that can only be used to purchase ITEMS from a very specific list of PRODUCTS deemed to promote good health. The WIC program guidelines are both helpful and strict. They often authorize only the purchase of very specific national and STORE BRANDS and sizes, as well as placing requirements on ITEM contents.

For instance, Tuna is listed as aGood Source of Protein, and any brand is allowed, but it must be packed in water, and in 6 to 13-ounce cans only. So, the newer foil pouches are out, and also specifically dis-allowed are any varieties that are oil packed, flavored, or have added ingredients.

For more information about WIC, see:
^{http://www.health.state.ny.us/prevention/nutrition/wic/}

Wi-Fi n. The wireless data link protocol that lets the GUN exchange pricing, INVENTORY and other PRODUCT information with the STORE'S computer.

Window-Cut v. To (carefully!) cut a rectangular, window-like hole in one side of a CARDBOARD CASE, and thereby allow the PRODUCT to be seen and even withdrawn, e.g., from a DISPLAY of STACKED CASES. —n. The hole made by so cutting a CASE: Window-cut these to match the display. See also BASE-CUT, BOX CUTTER, H-CUT, LIFT-CUT, SHARK-CUT, STACK-CUT, TAPE-CUT, TOP-CUT, TRAY-CUT, X-CUT.

NOTE: Cut too deep and you've got STORE DAMAGE—bad, and potentially messy. Three very important things to remember here:

1. Use only a sharp, new blade, so edges are clean and nice.
2. Use only a standard-issue BOX CUTTER with the blade set to proper, shallow cutting depth
3. Before cutting, tip the CASE on its side, so the contents settle down and away from your cut!

Depending on CASE size, the typical window cut essentially removes the entire front side of the CASE except for a small, one- or two-inch strip along the bottom edge. Cut straight and true, and happy are you! If you Window-Cut the CASE'S back by mistake, just take out the PRODUCT and reinsert it LABEL-FORWARD. Don't weaken the CASE by also cutting the opposite side. If you're making tall STACKS, also consider using a little of the CARDBOARD you cut out to make cross-ties between STACKS for additional stability.

Wing n. The PRODUCT DISPLAY or DISPLAY space on either side of an aisle's END-CAP: Kill that wing. See also 3-WAY.

Wing Base n. A long and narrow, low platform that supports a DISPLAY, and goes at an end of an aisle to guard one side of an END-CAP: You'll need a wing base. Most often also requires a DUCK-FOOT SIGN HOLDER.

NOTE: Wing Bases serve at least two important functions:

1. Raise (sometimes limited quantities of) PRODUCT towards the all-desirable CUSTOMER eye-level (See also DUMMY UP), and
2. Get PRODUCT off the FLOOR, so packaging is less likely to be ravaged by the nightly efforts of the CLEANING CREW.

Work n. A job or task. —v. 1. To perform a job or task in exchange for money. 2. To put one or more ITEMS into their correct places in the STORE: Work this pallet next.

NOTE: Where do things go? When you're asked to Work something, here's the cascade sequence:

1. THE SHELF, first and foremost. Ideally, you fill it if you have enough STOCK. Too much? Then, if it's just one or two extras, you may have to either JAM or HIDE the few extra ITEMS nearby. Otherwise, write the STORE CODES on any OFF-SALE CASES destined for BACK-STOCK.



2. SALES DISPLAYS second, if there are any. But, first—check the date on the TAG to be sure they're not due to be KILLED. E.g., if it's going OFF-SALE today, don't add to the DISPLAY.
   
   DISPLAY possibilities include the FAST-WALL, EVZ, END-CAPS, 3-WAYS, WINGS, AISLE-STACKS, and even SHIPPERS. After that, it's the...



3. BACK ROOM for any significant amount of leftover. For SPECIALS or ON-SALE ITEMS, a CASE or so goes on the appropriate SPECIALS RUNNER; large quantity gets STACKED OFF on the SALES WALL.
   
   Otherwise, if it's not ON SALE, but high TURNOVER, it may go to, e.g., the WATER PALLET(S) or the PAPER PALLET(S) to soon be worked again by another SHIFT.
   
   All other OFF-SALE ITEMS get put in the GUN (for which you previously got the appropriate STORE CODES from the SHELF TAGS out in the aisle), and once CODES are on all CASES, go to the OVERSTOCK RUNNERS for modest quantities, OVERSTOCK PALLETS for larger quantities, and eventually into the RACKING for PALLETS of large quantities for which there's no immediate need.

Wrap v. To encircle a pallet's contents in several layers of heavy-duty plastic film, in order to stabilize it during transport: Wrap those crates yet? —n. The rolls of plastic film or the film itself used to Wrap such pallets: Where's the wrap?

NOTE: Also calledShrink Wrap, although not strictly accurate, because it doesn't actually shrink. It just clings tightly, same as the stuff you use in your kitchen, only more so.