Method and system for preparing a new store for opening and operation

• US 20030233271A1
• Filed: 06/18/2002
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gleeson, John G., Wilson, William J., Hembd, Dana M., Merritello, John Jr., Schilder, Stephen O., Rein, Jeffrey A., Tiemeyer, Joseph P., Bamberg, Stephen, Wong, Denise K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,533,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.33
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0204 Market segmentation

Abstract

A method and a system for preparing a new store for opening and operation are described herein. The system includes a plurality of network elements and a host computer operatively coupled to the plurality of network elements. The host computer includes a processor and a storage device operatively coupled to the processor. The storage device including information associated with a plurality of virtual stores based on information associated with at least one existing store. One of the plurality of virtual stores corresponds to the new store, and the information associated with the one of the plurality of virtual stores includes information associated with opening and operation of the new store.

Claims

1. A system for preparing a new store for opening and operation comprising:

a plurality of network elements;

a computer operatively coupled to the plurality of network elements, the computer is operable to generate information associated with a plurality of virtual stores based on information associated with at least one existing store, and one of the plurality of virtual stores corresponds to the new store; and

a storage device operatively coupled to the computer,

wherein the information associated with the plurality of virtual stores includes information associated with opening and operation of the new store.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network elements comprises one of a network server, a computer associated with an existing store, a printer, and an access computer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is a host computer, and wherein one of the plurality of network elements is a computer associated with a new store, the computer associated with the new store is operable to receive information associated with opening and operation of the new store.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the information associated with opening and operation of the new store comprises information associated with one of opening inventory, item pricing, shelf price tag, sales prediction, vendor relationship, marketing relationship, and promotional order.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the information associated with opening and operation of the new store comprises information associated with potential sales, and wherein the information associated with potential sales is within a predetermined percentage of information associated with sales of an existing store.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the information associated with opening and operation of the new store is based on information associated with at least one representative, existing store, and wherein the at least one representative, existing store includes one of a store being geographically proximate to the new store and a store being demographically proximate to the new store.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the information associated with opening and operation of the new store is based on information associated with inventory, item pricing, shelf price tag, sales prediction, vendor relationship, marketing relationship, and promotional order of an existing store.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the information associated with opening and operation of the new store is based on information associated with a transfer of inventory from an existing store.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage device comprises a data structure configured to store information associated with opening and operation of the new store.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the computer and one of the plurality of network elements comprises an IBM AS/400 computer.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage device comprises one of a hard disk, a floppy disk, a memory card, a memory stick, a compact disc, a digital versatile disc, a magnetic memory, a read only memory, an erasable programmable read only memory, a random access memory, a magnetic memory, and an optical memory.

12. A method for preparing a new store for opening and operation, the method comprising:

generating information associated with a plurality of virtual stores within a host computer based on information associated with at least one existing store, one of the plurality of virtual stores corresponds to a new store, and the information associated with the plurality of virtual stores includes information associated with opening and operation of the new store;

storing the information associated with the plurality of virtual stores in a data structure within a storage device operatively coupled to the host computer; and

transmitting the information associated with opening and operation of the new store from the storage device to a computer associated with the new store.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of generating information associated with a plurality of virtual stores within a host computer based on information associated with at least one existing store comprises generating information associated with one of opening inventory, item pricing, shelf price tag, sales prediction, vendor relationship, marketing relationship, and promotional order based on information associated with at least one existing store.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of generating information associated with a plurality of virtual stores within a host computer based on information associated with at least one existing store comprises generating information associated with potential sales of the new store, and wherein the information associated with potential sales of the new store is within a predetermined percentage of information associated with sales of an existing store.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of generating information associated with a plurality of virtual stores within a host computer based on information associated with at least one existing store comprises generating information associated with opening and operation of the new store based on information associated with at least one representative, existing store, and wherein the at least one representative, existing store includes one of a store being geographically proximate to the new store and a store being demographically proximate to the new store.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of generating information associated with a plurality of virtual stores within a host computer based on information associated with an existing store comprises generating information associated with the plurality of virtual stores based on information associated with inventory, item pricing, shelf price tag, sales prediction, vendor relationship, marketing relationship, and promotional order of an existing store.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of generating information associated with a plurality of virtual stores within a host computer based on information associated with an existing store comprises generating information associated with the plurality of virtual stores based on information associated with a transfer of inventory from an existing store.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of storing the information associated with the plurality of virtual stores in a data structure within a storage device of the host computer comprises storing the information associated with the plurality of virtual stores in a data structure within one of a hard disk, a floppy disk, a memory card, a memory stick, a compact disc, a digital versatile disc, a magnetic memory, a read only memory, an erasable programmable read only memory, a random access memory, a magnetic memory, and an optical memory.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting the information associated with opening and operation of the new store to a computer associated with the new store comprises transmitting the information associated with opening and operation of the new store to an IBM AS/400 computer associated with the new store.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting the information associated with opening and operation of the new store to a computer associated with the new store comprises updating the information associated with opening and operation of the new store on the computer associated with the new store after the computer associated with new store arrives at the location of the new store.

21. In a new store staging system, a processor operates in accordance with a computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for preparing a new store for opening and operation, the computer program comprising:

a first routine that directs the processor to generate information associated with a plurality of virtual stores based on information associated with at least one existing store, one of the plurality of virtual stores corresponds to the new store, and the information associated with the one of the plurality of virtual stores includes information associated with opening and operation of the new store;

a second routine that directs the processor to store the information associated with the plurality of virtual stores in a data structure within the computer-readable medium; and

a third routine that directs the processor to transmit the information associated with opening and operation of the new store to a computer associated with the new store.

22. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the first routine comprises a routine that directs to the server to generate information associated with one of opening inventory, item pricing, shelf price tag, sales prediction, vendor relationship, marketing relationship, and promotional order based on information associated with at least one existing store.

23. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the first routine comprises a routine that directs to the server to generate information associated with potential sales of the new store, and wherein the information associated with potential sales of the new store is within a predetermined percentage of information associated with sales of an existing store.

24. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the first routine comprises a routine that directs to the server to generate information associated with opening and operation of the new store based on information associated with at least one representative, existing store, and wherein the at least one representative, existing store includes one of a store being geographically proximate to the new store and a store being demographically proximate to the new store.

25. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the first routine comprises a routine that directs to the server to generate information associated with information associated with the plurality of virtual stores based information associated with inventory, item pricing, shelf price tag, sales prediction, vendor relationship, marketing relationship, and promotional order of an existing store.

26. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the first routine comprises a routine that directs to the server to generate information associated with the plurality of virtual stores based on information associated with a transfer of inventory from an existing store.

27. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the second routine comprises a routine that directs to the server to store the information associated with the plurality of virtual stores in a data structure within one of a hard disk, a floppy disk, a memory card, a memory stick, a compact disc, a digital versatile disc, a magnetic memory, a read only memory, an erasable programmable read only memory, a random access memory, a magnetic memory, and an optical memory.

28. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the third routine comprises a routine that directs to the server to transmit the information associated with opening and operation of the new store to an IBM AS/400 computer.

29. The computer program of claim 21, wherein the third routine comprises a routine that directs the server to update the information associated with opening and operation of the new store on the computer associated with the new store after the computer associated with the new store arrives at the location of the new store.

30. A host computer for providing information associated with opening and operation of a new store, the host computer comprising:

a memory including information associated with a plurality of virtual stores, one of the plurality of virtual stores corresponds to the new store, and the information associated with the plurality of virtual stores includes information associated with opening and operation of the new store; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory, the processor being operable to generate the information associated with the plurality of virtual stores and to transmit the information associated with opening and operation of the new store to a computer associated with the new store,

wherein the information associated with opening and operation of the new store is based on information associated with at least one existing store.

31. The host computer of claim 30, wherein the information associated with opening and operation of the new store comprises information associated with one of opening inventory, item pricing, shelf price tag, sales prediction, vendor relationship, marketing relationship, and promotional order.

32. The host computer of claim 30, wherein the information associated with opening and operation of the new store comprises information associated with potential sales, and wherein the information associated with potential sales is within a predetermined percentage of information associated with sales of an existing store.

33. The host computer of claim 30, wherein the information associated with opening and operation of the new store is based on information associated with at least one representative, existing store, and wherein the at least one representative, existing store includes one of a store being geographically proximate to the new store and a store being demographically proximate to the new store.

34. The host computer of claim 30, wherein the information associated with opening and operation of the new store is based on information associated with inventory, item pricing, shelf price tag, sales prediction, vendor relationship, marketing relationship, and promotional order of an existing store.

35. The host computer of claim 30, wherein the information associated with opening and operation of the new store is based on information associated with a transfer of inventory from an existing store.

36. The host computer of claim 30, wherein the information associated with opening and operation of the new store is stored in a data structure within the memory.

37. The host computer of claim 30, wherein the host computer is an IBM AS/400 computer.

38. The host computer of claim 30, wherein the memory comprises one of a hard disk, a floppy disk, a memory card, a memory stick, a compact disc, a digital versatile disc, a magnetic memory, a read only memory, an erasable programmable read only memory, a random access memory, a magnetic memory, and an optical memory.