Know Your Stuff For Produce Horticulture

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1 This section will tell you everything you need to know about plants and flowers. Preparation And Equipment Build a zone plan based on the number of your trainees and display it in a clear visible location for the Produce team. A supply of flower bags is in store and they have a permanent storage location. A fully charged hand-held computer with log in details for requesting Shelf Edge Labels. You will be replacing missing Shelf Edge Labels with your trainee(s). Capillary matting is in store and clean matting is on the horticulture fixtures. Introduction The horticulture department is an integral part of the quality perception of our customers. Sales of plants and flowers are generally a luxury purchase and many sales are achieved through impulse purchases. Sales of plants and flowers depend heavily on their presentation, the quality of the products and their price. Product Knowledge How the plants and flowers are delivered minimises the time needed to care for them while in store. However, they are all living products and require special attention in order to maximise their shelf life and maintain quality. Information for customers explaining how to care for the product can be found on individual product labels located on the packaging of the product. For flowers, this will include details on how to display in a vase. For plants this will include how to display in the home or plant in the garden. The product labels will also tell you: The name of the plant or flower. The shelf life of the product. The customer guarantee. What You Need To Know/Do Ask your trainee(s) to choose a horticulture product, read the product care information and feedback to the group what they have just learnt. Cut Flowers There are several types of flower products: Mono Bouquets - contain all the same type of flower either seasonal, for example, tulips or all year round, for example, roses. Mixed Bouquets - contain an arrangement of different types of flowers. Added Value Flowers - flowers already in their own container with water. Flowers are temperature sensitive. They are delivered at +2 C and stock in the back of store must be held at +2 C in ambient areas to maintain their freshness. Most flower bouquets are delivered ready to display in clean buckets containing fresh water. They must be displayed in the bucket they are delivered in to guarantee quality. The stems of the flowers must be kept in the fresh water at all times to achieve shelf life. Display all buckets on the fixture according to the merchandising plan. Do not display on the floor. During replenishment, always remove empty buckets from the fixture first. Dispose of the dirty water down the foul drain and return buckets to the back of the store for collection. Never put fresh products into old buckets. During replenishment, check that buckets already on the fixture that still have bouquets in them contain enough water to keep flower stems immersed. Top up with fresh water if necessary. Never use dirty water from existing buckets. Dirty water will clog the capillary action of the stems and stop the flowers taking up water. Tidy the display regularly during the day and ensure any bouquets displaced from buckets are returned to water. Action reductions daily removing damaged or limp bouquets. Delivery - Trainer Led / Discussion / Practical Location - Store Floor Time - 1 hour 15 Group Size PROKYS - V1-12/12 Silver 10 1

2 Ensure flower bags are available. Clean up any water spillage immediately, never leave a spillage unattended. Some promotional flowers are delivered in presentational boxes for Off Fixture Display. These usually contain a clean bucket with fresh water and should be treated the same way as fixture flowers. There are three different sizes of flower buckets, 25cm, 30cm, 35cm which all use the same lid. The flower buckets have been designed for simple replenishment, to maintain product quality and to be used by our suppliers during assembly. Once they are emptied of dirty water, it is essential that every bucket and lid is marshalled in the backdoor area including damaged ones ready for return to the distribution centre, where they are then sorted, washed and sent out to our suppliers. It is vital that we do not lose any buckets or lids to maintain the amount we have available to enable our suppliers to provide the high volumes of horticulture at the key trading periods. Plants There are different types of plant products: Indoor Flowering and Foliage Plants - simple products with just the pot the plant is grown in. Indoor Added Value plants - products with plants in decorative containers, for example, ceramic pots, tin planters, baskets. They can also have additional packaging such as acetate boxes. Outdoor Plants - products for customers to use in the garden. These can be small plant packs, for example bedding plants up to very large specimen plant, for example, Olive trees. Plants are temperature sensitive. They are delivered at +12 C and must be held at ambient temperature to maintain their freshness. They must never be stored chilled. In winter when ambient temperatures are low, care needs to be taken to avoid chill damage to stock in the backrooms and warehouse by keeping them away from draughts. You should always check packaging guidelines for storage as each product may vary, for example, Christmas Trees can withstand cold temperatures displayed in foyer space. One of the key products in the seasonal calendar for horticulture is Poinsettias at Christmas. Poinsettias are extremely sensitive to cold temperatures. Chill damage is irreversible. Products that are displayed or delivered differently: Outdoor plants are always displayed off fixture in ready merchandised units. Usually these will be on plant trollies although some products are delivered in produce shippers, dolly stands or pallets. Indoor plants are usually delivered in cardboard boxes to be displayed on the horticulture fixture according to the merchandising plan. Some products utilise green trays. Some promotional plants are delivered on ready merchandised plant trollies and should not be put on the horticulture fixture. Show your trainee(s) some example of these that you have in store. Ensure that your trainee(s) is aware of the presentation standards you expect to be maintained. Replenishment 1. List the stock required to fill the horticulture stand including flower bags. 2. Pick the stock onto cages. 3. Take the cage with the picked stock on to the store floor. Do not take more than one cage onto the store floor at a time. 4. Remove a case at a time from the cage. 5. Tidy the fixture. Ensure stock is rotated and price label is visible. Consolidate part full buckets on the fixture. Check buckets contain enough water to keep flower stems immersed. Check that added value plants have moist compost, if not water carefully from the top without getting the container or foliage unduly wet. Complete a Would I Buy It check to ensure only the best quality flowers are on sale for our customers. PROKYS - V1-12/12 Silver 10 2

3 6. Remove and stack empty buckets. Pour old water into one bucket to return to the warehouse. Clean spillages immediately. Complete this replenishment process with your trainee(s). Explain how at each stage an impression can be made on customers through keeping the area tidy, full, presented and having flower bags available. 7. Display the stock on the fixture. Follow merchandise plans. If any product is out of stock, follow Merchandising To Sell procedures facing over with adjacent products and covering the price on the Shelf Edge Label with an out of stock label. Display added value flowers on dry fixtures, for example, flowers in containers with water. Display added value plants on dry fixtures, for example, plants in ornamental containers, such as baskets and ceramics. Clear capillary matting from debris and moisten with clean water. Display ordinary plants, for example, plants in plastic pots with holes in the base, on shelves lined with capillary matting. 8. Check that correct Shelf Edge Labels and Point Of Sale are displayed for every product. 9. Load cage with rubbish, empty buckets and bucket containing old water. 10. Remember to fill the flower bags. 11.Return to the warehouse, pouring buckets containing old water down the foul drain. Ensure all the buckets and lids are left in the returns area of the warehouse ready for collection. Put the plastics and cardboard in the appropriate areas. Flower buckets and Lids must never be disposed of. All buckets and lids must be returned, including any damages. 12.Repeat steps 1 to 11 regularly throughout the day as part of Present, List, Pick and Fill replenishment in your zone. Managing Quality Capillary matting is available to line the plant shelves on the horticulture fixture. If the matting is wet, plants can take up moisture through their roots. Matting should not be used for plants in trays or added value plants because the roots have no access to the matting through the pot. Wet capillary matting can also damage the decorative containers. Plants will deteriorate in boxes and on trollies in the backrooms and warehouse. Put products on display as soon as they are delivered to store. Before replenishment, clear away compost and debris that may have accumulated on the fixtures to keep them clean, tidy and to allow plants to take up water easily. Stock rotation ensures the freshest product is always on display. Product shelf life ranges from 5 days to 14 days depending on product. A Tesco week date code format may also be displayed, for example, Display Until Wk 32 Wed. Individual plants are often within trays for easy display. Always handle using the tray when replenishing the horticulture fixture and avoid handling foliage or flowers directly to prevent damaging the product. If you need to handle individual plants, wherever possible hold plants by their pots. Take special care when handling ceramic and glass pots to avoid breakages. Make sure your hands are clean when handling ornamental containers to avoid marking the surfaces. All plants are labelled with customer care information on how to look after plants. Read this information for all new plants and plants that you are not familiar with; it will help you and our customers to make the right choices in looking after them. All plants are delivered well watered and ready for display. Normally they will not need additional watering, however, in unusually warm weather they may need additional care. PROKYS - V1-12/12 Silver 10 3

4 Managing Do not over water plants. It is just as bad for the plant as allowing it to become too dry. You can test how wet or dry a plant is by doing the thumb test; press your thumb onto the compost, if it is damp and sticks to your thumb, the water level is fine. Remember that you can always add more water, but you cannot take it away. is managed in the same way as the Produce department. It is: Pre and post-sorted in the back rooms. Included in the zone plans. Replenished using the Present, List, Pick and Fill method. Faced over with adjacent products where there are gaps. If you need to water plants: Added value plants should be watered directly onto the compost in the pot taking care not to get flowers and ornamental containers wet. Plants without ornamental containers that are displayed in trays should be watered directly into the tray and not the product. Plants without ornamental containers that are not in trays and displayed on matting should be watered directly onto the mat and not the product. Ensure the mat is fully moist all over but avoid puddles of water, clean up any spillages immediately. The perception and sale of horticulture is driven by quality and the way it is presented. It is therefore important that this area is well presented at all times giving the impression of an abundance of flowers and plants and implementing Would I Buy It process. Demonstrate the thumb test to your trainee(s) and take action based on the result. PROKYS - V1-12/12 Silver 10 4

5 Checking You Know Your Stuff 1. What information does the product label display? - Product care guidance. - Name of the plant or flower. - Shelf life of the product. - Customer guarantee. 2. Why should dirty water not be used in flower buckets? This stops the capillary action of the stem and prevents water being taken in by the flower or plant. 7. How can you identify if a plants needs watering. Use the thumb test, if the soil sticks it is fine. 8. Why do you need to return flower buckets and lids including damaged ones? Our suppliers need to re-use them for peak trading periods. Damaged ones can be taken out of circulation and replaced. Remember each module must be logged separately, dated and signed for by you and your trainee, when completing the Training Record Card write the version number and date of each training card in the box provided. 3. What is the ideal temperature that plants and flowers should be kept at? Ambient, about +12 C. Each plant or flower may vary so check product labels. 4. Why should you use fresh water for plants and flowers? Dirty water clogs the capillary action of the stems and stops the flowers taking up water. 5. What causes most waste on Poinsettias at Christmas? Chill damage caused by cold or draughty conditions. Where You Can Get More Information/Support Merchandise to Sell Poster. Produce Pocket Guide. Love Campaigns. Produce Toolkit. Your Line Manager. 6. What method is used to replenish the horticulture department? Present, List, Pick and Fill. PROKYS - V1-12/12 Silver 10 5

6 Refresher Preparation And Equipment Build a zone plan based on the number of your trainees and display it in a clear visible location for the Produce team. A supply of flower bags is in store and they have a permanent storage location. A fully charged hand-held computer with log in details for requesting Shelf Edge Labels. You will be replacing missing Shelf Edge Labels with your trainee(s). Capillary matting is in store and clean matting is on the horticulture fixtures. Explain Tidy the display regularly during the day and ensure any bouquets displaced from buckets are returned to water. Action reductions daily removing damaged or limp bouquets. Ensure flower bags are available. Clean up any water spillage immediately, never leave a spillage unattended. Plants will deteriorate if they are not put on display as soon as they are delivered to store. Before replenishment, clear away compost and debris. Keep them clean and tidy to allow plants to take up water easily. Always handle using the tray when replenishing. Avoid handling foliage or flowers directly to prevent damaging the product. The horticulture department is an integral part of the quality perception of our customers. Sales of plants and flowers are generally a luxury purchase and many sales are achieved through impulse purchases. Sales of plants and flowers depend heavily on its presentation, the quality of the products and their price. The product label displays: Product care guidance. Name of the plant or flower. Shelf life of the product. Customer guarantee. Replenish using Present, List, Pick and Fill. Display all buckets on the fixture according to the merchandising plan. Always use fresh water for flowers and plants. Never use dirty water from existing buckets as it can clog the capillary action of the stems and stop the flowers taking up water. Do not over water plants. It s just as bad for the plant as allowing it to become too dry. You can test how wet or dry a plant is by doing the thumb test; press your thumb onto the compost, if it is damp and sticks to your thumb, the water level is fine. Remember that you can always add more water, but you cannot take it away. Ask your trainee(s) to choose a horticulture product, read the product care information and feedback to the group what they have just learnt. Show your trainee(s) some examples of these that you have in store. Ensure that your trainee(s) is aware of the presentation standards you expect to be maintained. Complete this replenishment process with your trainee(s). Explain how at each stage an impression can be made on customers through keeping the area tidy, full, presented and having flower bags available. Demonstrate the thumb test to your trainee(s) and take action based on the result. PROKYS - V1-12/12 Silver 10 6