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

• US 7,533,036 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2002
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• 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: Wilson, William J., Gleeson, John W., Hembd, Dana M., Merritello, John Jr., Schilder, Stephen O., Rein, Jeffrey A., Tiemeyer, Joseph P., Bamberg, Stephen, Wong, Denise K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boswell; Beth V
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATS, JUSTIN
• Application Number:
  US10/174,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20030233271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,520 Days
• Field of Search: 705/10
• 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 method for preparing a new physical retail store for opening and operation, the method comprising:

receiving, at a host computer, data from a plurality of network elements, the plurality of network elements including a basic department management server, a central server associated with existing stores, a computer associated with a distribution center, an access computer, at least one existing computer associated with at least one existing physical retail store, and a printer, wherein the received data includes;

initial setup data received from the basic department management server, the initial setup data including information associated with initial items to order, shelf capacity, and a planogram subscription,

a first set of information (1) received from the central server, and (2) associated with upcoming promotions, seasonal ordering, ad bulletins, and group sheets forecasts for the existing stores,

a second set of information (1) received from the at least one existing computer associated with the at least one existing physical retail store, and (2) associated with a transfer of inventory between the at least one existing physical retail store and the new physical retail store, and

a third set of information (1) received from the at least one existing computer associated with the at least one existing physical retail store, and (2) associated with sales of the at least one existing physical retail store;

based in the received data, automatically generating within the host computer a fourth set of information associated with (1) a plurality of virtual stores, one of which corresponds to the new physical retail store, and (2) the opening and operation of the new physical retail store,

wherein the step of automatically generating the fourth set of information includes using the third set of information to automatically generate a model of expected sales of the new physical retail store, wherein the model of expected sales of the new physical retail store is within a predetermined percentage of information associated with the sales of the at least one existing physical retail store;

storing the fourth set of information in a data structure within a storage device operatively coupled to the host computer, the storage device accessible by the access computer;

determining when a computer associated with the new physical store has not arrived at the new physical retail store, is physically in transit, or is otherwise unavailable;

when it is determined that the computer associated with the new physical store has not arrived at the new physical retail store, is physically in transit, or is otherwise unavailable;

updating the fourth set of information within the storage device with any new information associated with the opening and operation of the new physical retail store, the any new information received at the host computer, and

when the computer associated with the new physical retail store arrives at the new physical retail store and is available, transmitting to the computer associated with the new physical retail store the updated fourth set of information retrieved from the storage device via the access computer;

based on the updated fourth set of information, generating an opening order for the new physical retail store; and

transmitting the opening order for the new physical retail store to the computer associated with the distribution center, wherein the opening order is pre-tailored, thereby better fitting a need or a demand of customers to be serviced by the new physical retail store.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically generating, within the host computer, the fourth set of information comprises automatically generating information associated with inventory, opening item pricing, shelf price tag, sales prediction, vendor relationship, marketing relationship, and promotional order.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically generating, within the host computer, the fourth set of information comprises automatically generating the fourth set of information based on a fifth set of information associated with at least one representative, existing physical retail store, wherein the at least one representative, existing physical retail store is geographically proximate to the new physical retail store.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving, at the host computer, data from the central server associated with the existing stores comprises receiving, at the host computer, data from the central server associated with the existing stores and a marketing server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of storing the fourth set of information in the data structure within the storage device comprises storing the fourth set of information in the 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, or an optical memory.

6. A system for preparing a new physical retail store for opening and operation, comprising:

means for receiving, at a host computer, data from a plurality of network elements, the plurality of network elements including a basic department manager server, a central server associated with existing stores, a computer associated with a distribution center, an access computer, at least one existing computer associated with at least one existing physical retail store, and a printer, wherein the received data includes;

initial setup data received from the basic department management server, the initial setup data including information associated with initial items to order, shelf capacity, and a planogram subscription,

a first set of information (1) received from the central server, and (2) associated with upcoming promotions, seasonal ordering, ad bulletins, and group sheets forecasts for the existing stores,

a second set of information (1) received from the at least one existing computer associated with the at least one existing physical retail store, and (2) associated with a transfer of inventory between the at least one existing physical retail store and the new physical retail store, and

a third set of information (1) received from the at least one existing computer associated with the at least one existing physical retail store, and (2) associated with sales of the at least one existing physical retail store;

means for automatically generating, within the host computer using the received data, a fourth set of information associated with (1) a plurality of virtual stores, one of which corresponds to the new physical retail store, and (2) the opening and operation of the new physical retail store,

wherein the step of automatically generating the fourth set of information further includes using the third set of information to automatically generate a model of expected sales of the new physical retail store, and wherein the model of expected sales of the new physical retail store is within a predetermined percentage of information associated with the sales of the at least one existing physical retail store;

means for storing the fourth set of information in a data structure within a storage device operatively coupled to the host computer, the storage device accessible by the access computer; and

means for synchronizing, with the host computer, the fourth set of information at a computer associated with the new physical retail store when the computer associated with the new physical retail store arrives at the location of the new physical retail store.

7. A system for preparing a new physical retail store for opening and operation comprising:

a plurality of network elements, including a basic department management server, a central server associated with existing stores, a computer associated with a distribution center, an access computer, at least one existing computer associated with at least one existing physical retail store, and a printer;

a host computer operatively coupled to the plurality of network elements, the host computer being operable to;

receive data from the plurality of network elements, the received data including;

initial setup data received from the basic department management server, the initial setup data including information associated with initial items to order, shelf capacity, and a planogram subscription,

a first set of information (1) received from the central server, and (2) associated with upcoming promotions, seasonal ordering, ad bulletins, and group sheets forecasts for the existing stores,

a second set of information (1) received from the at least one existing computer associated with the at least one existing physical retail store, and (2) associated with a transfer of inventory between the at least one existing physical retail store and the new physical retail store, and

a third set of information (1) received from the at least one existing computer associated with the at least one existing physical retail store, and (2) associated with sales of the at least one existing physical retail store; and

based on the received data, automatically generate a fourth set of information associated with (1) a plurality of virtual stores, one of which corresponds to the new physical retail store, and (2) the opening and operation of the new physical retail store, wherein the fourth set of information includes a model of expected sales of the new physical retail store, wherein the model of expected sales of the new physical retail store is within a predetermined percentage of information associated with the sales of the at least one existing physical retail store; and

a storage device operatively coupled to the host computer and accessible by the access computer, the storage device is enabled to store the fourth set of information in a data structure,

wherein when a computer associated with the new physical store has not arrived at the new physical retail store, is physically in transit, or is otherwise unavailable;

the fourth set of information is stored in the data structure within the storage device and is updated with any new information associated with the opening and operation of the new physical retail store, the any new information received at the host computer, and

when the computer associated with the new physical retail store arrives at the new physical retail store and is available, the access computer retrieves the updated fourth set of information from the storage device and transmits the updated fourth set of information to the computer associated with the new physical retail store; and

wherein the host computer is further operable to generate an opening order for the new physical retail store based on the updated fourth set of information and to transmit the opening order to the computer associated with the distribution center, wherein the opening order is pre-tailored, thereby better fitting a need or a demand of customers to be serviced by the new physical retail store.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein one of the plurality of network elements is the computer associated with the new physical retail store, and the computer associated with the new physical retail store is operable to receive, from the host computer, the fourth set of information.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the received data further includes a fifth set of information received from at least one existing computer associated with at least one representative, existing physical retail store, and

wherein the at least one representative, existing physical retail store is demographically and geographically proximate to the new physical retail store.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the received data further includes a fifth set of information corresponding to the at least one existing physical retail store, including:

inventory, item pricing, shelf price tag, sales prediction, vendor relationship, marketing relationship, and promotional order.

11. The system of claim 7:

wherein the initial setup data received from the basic department management server further includes a configuration for generating the data structure, and

wherein the data structure is configured to store the fourth set of information using the initial data setup.

12. The system of claim 7, 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, or an optical memory.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the fourth set of information is based on a fifth set of information received from the central server associated with the existing stores, the information received from the central server associated with the existing stores including a pricing and a cost of a seasonal order of the existing stores.

14. In a new physical retail store staging system, a computer program comprising a plurality of routines embodied on a computer-readable storage medium for preparing a new physical retail store for opening and operation, the computer program comprising:

a first routine that directs a processor to receive data from a plurality of network elements, the plurality of network elements including a basic department management server, a central server associated with existing stores, a computer associated with a distribution center, an access computer, at least one existing computer associated with at least one existing physical retail store, and a printer, wherein the received data includes;

initial setup data received from the basic department management server, the initial setup data including information associated with initial items to order, shelf capacity, and a planogram subscription,

a first set of information (1) received from the central server, and (2) associated with upcoming promotions, seasonal ordering, ad bulletins, and group sheets forecasts for the existing stores,

a second set of information (1) received from the at least one existing computer associated with the at least one existing physical retail store, and (2) associated with a transfer of inventory between the at least one existing physical retail store and the new physical retail store, and

a third set of information (1) received from the at least one existing computer associated with the at least one existing physical retail store, and (2) associated with sales of the at least one existing physical retail store;

a second routine that directs the processor to automatically generate, based on the received data, a fourth set of information associated with (1) a plurality of virtual stores, one of which corresponds to the new physical retail store, and (2) the opening and operation of the new physical retail store, wherein the fourth set of information includes a model of expected sales of the new physical retail store, and wherein the model of expected sales of the new physical retail store is within a predetermined percentage of information associated with the sales of the at least one existing physical retail store;

a third routine that directs the processor to store the fourth set of information in a data structure within the computer-readable storage medium;

a fourth routine that directs the processor to determine when a computer associated with the new physical store has not arrived at the new physical retail store, is physically in transit, or is otherwise unavailable, wherein;

when the fourth routine determines that the computer associated with the new physical store has not arrived at the new physical retail store, is physically in transit, or is otherwise unavailable;

the fourth routine updates the fourth set of information with any new information associated with the opening and operation of the new physical retail store, the any new information received from the plurality of network elements, and

when the computer associated with the new physical retail store arrives at the new physical retail store and is available, the fourth routine transmits the updated fourth set of information to the computer associated with the new physical retail store;

a fifth routine that directs the processor to generate an opening order for the new physical retail store based on the updated fourth set of information; and

a sixth routine that directs the processor to transmit the opening order to the computer associated with the distribution center, wherein the opening order is pre-tailored, thereby better fitting a need or a demand of customers to be serviced by the new physical retail store.

15. The computer program of claim 14, wherein the second routine directs the processor to automatically generate the fourth set of information to further include opening inventory, item pricing, shelf price tag, sales prediction, vendor relationship, marketing relationship, and promotional order based on a fifth set of information associated with the at least one existing physical retail store.

16. The computer program of claim 14, wherein the second routine further directs to the processor to automatically generate the fourth set of information based on a fifth set of information associated with at least one representative, existing physical retail store, wherein the at least one representative, existing physical retail store includes one of a store being geographically proximate to the new physical retail store or a store being demographically proximate to the new physical retail store.

17. The computer program of claim 14, wherein the third routine directs to the processor to store the fourth set of information in the 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, or an optical memory.

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

a processor being operable to;

receive data from a plurality of network elements, the plurality of network elements including a basic department management server, a central server associated with existing stores, a computer associated with a distribution center, an access computer, at least one existing computer associated with at least one existing physical retail store, and a printer, wherein the received data includes;

initial setup data received from the basic department management server, the initial setup data including information associated with initial items to order, shelf capacity, and a planogram subscription,

a first set of information (1) received from the central server, and (2) associated with upcoming promotions, seasonal ordering, ad bulletins, and group sheets forecasts for the existing stores,

a second set of information (1) received from the at least one existing computer associated with the at least one existing physical retail store, and (2) associated with a transfer of inventory between the at least one existing physical retail store and the new physical retail store, and

a third set of information (1) received from the at least one existing computer associated with the at least one existing physical retail store, and (2) associated with sales of the at least one existing physical retail store;

based on the received data, automatically generate a fourth set of information associated with (1) a plurality of virtual stores, one of which corresponds to the new physical retail store, and (2) the opening and operation of the new physical retail store,

wherein the fourth set of information includes a model of expected sales of the new physical retail store, and wherein the model of expected sales of the new physical retail store is within a predetermined percentage of information associated with the sales of the at least one existing physical retail store;

store the fourth set of information in a data structure;

determine when a computer associated with the new physical store has not arrived at the new physical retail store, is physically in transit, or is otherwise unavailable, wherein;

when the computer associated with the new physical store has not arrived at the new physical retail store, is physically in transit, or is otherwise unavailable;

update the fourth set of information with any new information associated with the opening and operation of the new physical retail store, the any new information received from the plurality of network elements, and

when the computer associated with the new physical retail store arrives at the new physical retail store and is available, transmit the updated fourth set of information to the computer associated with the new physical retail store;

generate an opening order for the new physical retail store based on the updated fourth set of information; and

transmit the opening order to the computer associated with the distribution center, wherein the opening order is pre-tailored, thereby better fitting a need or a demand of customers to be serviced by the new physical retail store; and

a memory including the data structure, wherein the processor is operatively coupled to the memory.

19. The host computer of claim 18, wherein the fourth set of information is based on a fifth set of information associated with at least one representative, existing physical retail store, wherein the at least one representative, existing physical retail store includes at least one of a store being geographically proximate to the new physical retail store or a store being demographically proximate to the new physical retail store.

20. The host computer of claim 18, wherein the received data further comprises a fifth set of information associated with inventory, item pricing, shelf price tag, sales prediction, vendor relationship, marketing relationship, and promotional order of the at least one existing physical retail store.

21. The host computer of claim 18, 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, or an optical memory.