On each visit covers were sorted into 16 titles of up to 4 issues each and recorded on our live reporting app. Covers were then destroyed by tearing them completely in half and disposing of them through the stores recycling. This avoided cover’s being counted again on the next visit.

The stand was then tidied and then photographed. CFM sent exports to RSC to show the amount of returns, additional titles found in store with returns were also counted and reported to RSC.

After 5 months, further stores were added to our call file. To ensure the new stores were fully aware of what our visits entailed, merchandisers carried out welcome visits to introduce themselves, go through the process and to show them how to correctly set the display stand to planogram.

CFM received excellent feedback from store managers about the welcome visits, telling us how helpful they had been as they provided great knowledge to store staff to ensure they would have everything prepared for their first round of visits.