Term	Definition
Allotment	Forced additional product sent to the store for display and sales at the demo site.
Bar codes	The symbol of the Universal Product Code (UPC). A code pattern of bar stripes of different widths that can be read by an electronic scanner. These codes are used for identification on manufacturers product, cases and coupons.
Broker	A commissioned sales agent or independent business that represents manufacturers in a market area.
C-Store/Convenience Store	Free standing convenience stores on the outer parking lot of a major retail outlet.
Can Code	A manufacturers code that identifies the date, location and shift of product was made.
Commodity Code Number	The number assigned by the retailer to each item accepted by the retailer and warehoused by the retailer. This number is usually on a tag just under the product on the shelf in the store.
Cross Merchandising	A retail promotion practice where complementary items are displayed together or adjacently to increase sales of those items, i.e. salsa and chips, salad dressing in produce.
Cut-In	A shelf management term - to allocate space on the shelf for new and promotional items.
DSD	Direct Store Delivery product is usually delivered to the store by a route driver because it is not stored in the grocery chains warehouse.
Display	Arrangement of merchandise usually accompanied by printed signage, placed away from the product's shelf location, to attract consumers.
Distributor	Business that warehouses products provides a selling function to retailers, and ships and invoices goods.
Dry Groceries	Non-perishable, packaged grocery products.
EP	Event Personnel - Used at events to demonstrate products to consumers.
ESL	Electronic Shelf Labels - the actual label placed on shelf to identify one item, transmitted from a space management program via the retailer.
End Aisle Display End Cap	A mass display of products located at the end of the shopping aisle.
Expiration Date	Stamped date on a product that shows the last date the item can be offered for sale.
Eye Level	The best shelf position of merchandise that offers the most visibility to shoppers.
FSI	Free Standing Insert - Groups of manufacturers coupons and advertisements printed as a separate insert, usually included with the Sunday newspaper. Many in store events run during the same weekend of distribution of the insert.
Facing	A single item on the shelf. The total number of rows of packages of an item visible on the shelf.
Front End	The area of the store where the checkouts and customer service is located.
General Merchandise	All other products sold in a grocery store other than perishable, dry groceries and HBC products.
Generic Product	Unbranded consumer product, packed in plain packaging, sold at lower prices than advertised brands.
Health and Beauty Care (HBC)	Toiletries and home remedy products sold in stores.
High Profile Event Personnel	Those persons who meet the requirements requested by the manufacturers for specialty events. They may include multi lingual persons, cosmetic experts, hair stylists, chefs, models, or high tech knowledgeable persons.
House Brand	The private label brand of a chain, retailer, or distributor.
Impulse Item and Buying	Unplanned purchases; purchases made on the spur of the moment; purchases not on a shopping list.
IN-Pack Promotion	A premium or coupon that is included in a product packaging.
Instant Redeemable Coupon (IRC)	A coupon attached to a product where shoppers can immediately redeem it for that item at the checkout counter.
In-Stock	Product on the shelf that is available for purchase.
In-Store Advertising	Various forms of advertising used on the store premises. Banner, signs, product, displays, etc.
"Just in Time" Ordering	Retailers ordering product to arrive close to promotion date, so as not to warehouse and have product remaining in their inventory after promotion has been completed.
MROD	The event Must Run On Date, per client specifications. Agency/EP are not paid unless the event is run on date.
MROW	The event Must Run On Weekend/ Agency/EP are not paid unless the event was executed on a weekend date.
Managers Special	Products usually on a special display that the store manager offers at a reduced price.
Manufacturer Branded Merchandise Display	A merchandising technique where products by the same manufacturer are displayed together usually in the same category, such as all Nabisco cookies or all P&G laundry soaps.
Manufacturer's Rep	A sales person who is an employee of a single manufacturer.
Markdown	A price reduction of an item below the shelf price usually for a special sale period or to move product nearing shelf expiration date.
NARMS	National Association for Retail Marketing Services is a trade association of over 488 member companies. The association promotes and establishes the benefits associated with service merchandising and marketing organizations, as well as establishing industry standards for merchandising and marketing performance, along with providing critical industry research and educational information.
National Marketing Companies	The design and selling arm of the national sampling demonstration business, who call on manufacturers to encourage them to spend marketing dollars for in-store events utilizing local demo agencies to staff events. Seventy five percent of the sampling promotions come from national marketing companies and are then executed by local demonstration companies or 3rd Party Agencies
New Distribution	Authorization of a new product not carried in stock previously.
Non Foods or General Merchandise	Products sold in grocery stores other than dry groceries, perishable or HBC items. Generally associated with items sold in other retail outlets such as appliances, drugs, toys, etc.
Open Date	Perishable products contain a "sell by" date that is visible to the consumer, the date shown is the last date the item should be sold at retail.
Over the Counter	Health, Beauty care and drug items that do not require a medical prescription for purchase by consumers.
Out of Stock (OOS)	Merchandise normally carried in the store, which has been sold out and unavailable for sale. You know the product is carried in the store because shelf price tags are present.
Packout	To fully stock a shelf to capacity with an item.
Perishables	Product with a shorter shelf life than a nonperishable product that requires refrigeration or special handling, such as produce, dairy, or deli items.
PhoneLinks	Usually, marketing companies establish a toll free telephone number for demonstrators to use to report completion of an event in a very timely manner.
Plan-o-gram	A schematic diagram or printout showing the exact location and number of facings for each product on a shelf.
POP or POS	Point Of Purchase/ Point Of Sale - Materials supplied by manufacturers to be used during the in store event to attract and stimulate the consumer to purchase the product.
Principal	The individual manufacturer that a broker represents.
Private Label	A brand or label owned by a retailer or wholesaler for exclusive distribution in the retailers chain.
Produce	All fresh fruits and vegetables.
Product Recall	The removal of a product from all distribution channels due to various reasons.
Receiving clerk	A supermarket employee at each store who verifies incoming products, usually knows location of product in the backroom.
Reset	Removing or revising an existing product arrangement on a retail shelf to accommodate new or replacement products, new packaging, new shelving, or an improved configuration as determined by the retailer.
Restock	To replace or replenish merchandise to maintain complete stock on the shelf.
ROI	Return On Investment - A method used by manufacturers to determine if a promotion was successful. Sales during an in-store demonstration are an indicator if the event was successful.
Seasonal Item	An item with greater consumer acceptance at one time of the year than another.
Secondary Display	An additional display for a product outside its regular shelf position or main area of display.
Shelf Life	The amount of time a product remains at satisfactory quality and freshness calculated by the date, per the manufacturer.
Shelf Price	The retail price marked on a package and on the shelf price tag.
Shelf Stable	Any food product that requires no refrigeration or other preservative measures to maintain quality and freshness.
Shelf Tag	A label placed in the channel strip containing item description, store order code, size and unit price to identify an items location on the shelf.
Shelf Talker	Point of sale signage designed to hang over the edge of a shelf, or attach to the price channel, to deliver a promotional message and call attention to a product.
SKU	Stock Keeping Unit. A unit term used by retailers and manufacturers to identify individual product size, flavor, color or varieties. Each SKU carries a separate manufacturer and UPC Code number for identification
Tear Off Pad	Promotional offers in pad form, sometimes affixed to P.O.S. materials, intended to be torn off by the consumer.
Temporary Price Reduction (TPR)	A short-term reduction in price on a product's regular shelf price.
Third Party	Local and Regional demonstration companies that hire, train, and provide manpower used to demonstrate products at in-store and special events.
UPC	Universal Product Code number assigned to each product by the manufacturer, usually with a black bar code on the package. This number helps identify to the demonstrator that they are promoting the correct product.
Venue	The location of where an event is being held, i.e. supermarket, sports stadium, concert hall, or public place or park.