Product knowledge
Merchandiser Test: Shelf Layout, Price Tags and Rotation
- Who it is for
- Merchandisers, shelf stockers and sales associates responsible for shelf layout on the sales floor
- When to run
- After training, when hiring an experienced employee, and every six months
- Size
- 17 questions · ~13 min
- Pass mark
- 80%
| Name | Position | Date | Result |
Shoppers see a merchandiser's work every day: products are where people look for them, there are no gaps on the shelf, the price tag matches the till, and short-dated milk isn't hidden behind fresh stock. This test checks that the employee understands why planograms and rotation matter, keeps an eye on price tags and dates, and doesn't put themselves or shoppers at risk on high shelves.
The questions suit grocery and non-food stores, as well as supplier merchandisers who cover several outlets. Two questions are marked as critical: about displaying chilled goods and working at height. Add questions about your own planograms and photo report standards, and the test becomes part of your training.
Planogram and Shelf Layout
-
1
What is a planogram? Choose one answerAnswer: d. A planogram shows where each product goes, how much space it takes and how the shelves look as a whole. Thanks to it, the layout is the same in every store of the chain, shoppers find products quickly, and suppliers get the shelf space they agreed on.
-
2
What does a "facing" mean in shelf layout? Choose one answerAnswer: c. A facing is what the shopper sees on the shelf: how many packs of a product stand in the front row facing them. The number of facings is set by the planogram, and it directly affects whether the shopper notices the product.
-
3
Which shelf level usually sells best? Choose one answerAnswer: b. At eye and hand level (the "golden shelf"), products are noticed and picked up most often, so that's where the store puts what it most wants to sell. Bottom shelves usually hold large and heavy items, top shelves slower sellers. The exact allocation is set by the planogram.
-
4
A product that belongs on the shelf per the planogram has run out. What should you do? Choose one answerAnswer: d. An empty space on the shelf is a lost sale, so first check whether there's stock in the stockroom. If there isn't, tell the person responsible for ordering. You must not spread the neighboring product or fill the gap with anything: the gap goes unnoticed, the product isn't reordered, and the layout drifts from the planogram.
-
5
If the planogram seems inconvenient, the merchandiser may rearrange products their own way so the shelf looks neater. True or false?Answer: False. Planograms are built around sales, supplier agreements and the layout across the whole chain. Suggestions for improvement go to the person in charge, and the layout is changed only after approval.
-
6
Which shelf layout rules are correct? Select all correct answers. Choose all correct answersAnswer: a, c, d. A neat shelf, with products facing forward and pulled to the edge, looks full and helps shoppers quickly find what they need. Damaged packs aren't hidden at the back: they are taken off sale and processed according to store rules.
Rotation and Expiry Dates
-
7
How should you put out a new batch of milk if there is still stock from the previous delivery on the shelf? Choose one answerAnswer: b. Rotation means the product with the nearest expiry date is in front and the fresh stock behind. If you put fresh stock in front, the older stock will sit until it expires and be written off.
-
8
You're putting out chilled products, but there isn't enough room in the refrigerated display. What should you do? Choose one answer Critical questionAnswer: d. Chilled products spoil quickly without refrigeration, which is dangerous for shoppers. Products are not left on the sales floor at room temperature, and the display is not loaded above the load line: cold air stops circulating and the top rows warm up. The surplus goes straight back to the cold room.
-
9
Which products must be removed from the shelf immediately? Select all correct answers. Choose all correct answersAnswer: a, b, c. Expired, damaged and unlabeled products must not be sold; they are removed and processed according to store rules. Products with a short but unexpired date stay on sale: they are placed in front or marked down if the rules allow.
-
10
An expired product can stay on the shelf if it has been discounted and looks fine. True or false?Answer: False. Selling expired products is prohibited in almost every country, and a discount doesn't change that. Appearance says nothing about product safety. Such products are taken off sale immediately.
Price Tags and Promotions
-
11
What does a merchandiser check when looking at a price tag? Select all correct answers. Choose all correct answersAnswer: b, c, d. A tag under the neighboring product or showing the price of a different size is one of the most common causes of disputes at the till. So you check not only the price, but also which product the tag belongs to and where it is placed.
-
12
The price on the tag doesn't match the price in the system. What should you do? Choose one answerAnswer: a. Shoppers rely on the price tag, and a difference at the till leads to a complaint and, in many countries, an obligation to sell at the tag price. A wrong tag is replaced right away with a current printed one and reported to the person in charge: if the error is in the system itself, they fix it. Prices must never be corrected by hand.
-
13
A promotion ended yesterday, but the promo price tag is still on the shelf. What should you do? Choose one answerAnswer: c. After a promotion ends, the promo tag promises a price that no longer exists at the till. Tags are changed on the day the promotion ends, and the merchandiser keeps track of promotion dates.
-
14
A promo price tag can be put up the day before the promotion starts so you don't spend time on it in the morning. True or false?Answer: False. Shoppers will see a price that isn't valid yet, and a dispute will start at the till. Promo tags go up on the day the promotion starts, usually before the store opens.
Tidiness, Safety and Reporting
-
15
You need to stock a top shelf you can't reach. What is the right way to do it? Choose one answer Critical questionAnswer: c. Falls from height are among the most common serious injuries on the sales floor. Only a step ladder in good condition is used for work at height; stand on it securely and don't reach far to the side. Shelves, boxes and trolleys aren't designed for this and tip over easily.
-
16
What needs to be done after stocking shelves? Select all correct answers. Choose all correct answersAnswer: a, c, d. Trash and boxes in the aisle spoil the look of the store and are dangerous: shoppers and staff trip over them. The job is done when the shelf is stocked and the area around it is cleared.
-
17
How should you take a photo report of the shelf layout? Choose one answerAnswer: a. A manager or supplier judges the layout from the photo report without visiting the store. So the photos must show the products and price tags, and problems — gaps, damage, wrong tags — are shot close up. Old or selective photos make the report useless.
Your result
· Pass mark is 80%. Correct answers and explanations are shown below. A mistake in a critical question fails the test regardless of the score.
Use the test as a starting point and align answers with your standards and local regulations.
Answer key · Merchandiser Test: Shelf Layout, Price Tags and Rotation
- d
- c
- b
- d
- False
- a, c, d
- b
- d
- a, b, c
- False
- b, c, d
- a
- c
- False
- c
- a, c, d
- a
jeCheck · https://jecheck.io/en/templates/tests/merchandiser-planogram
Frequently asked questions
The test has 17 questions and takes about 13 minutes. The pass mark is 80%; a mistake in either of the two critical questions means the test is failed.
Yes: questions on planograms, rotation, price tags and photo reports are the same for store staff and manufacturer merchandisers. Add questions about your brands and display requirements.
In jeCheck you can assign the test to merchandisers and regularly check shelf layout with planogram and price tag checklists. If inspections keep showing the same mistakes, assign the test again.
Related checklists
Merchandising and pricing
Planogram Compliance Checklist
How to audit shelves against the planogram: assortment and facings, product sequence, display quality, endcaps and checkout zone, and a compliance score.
Merchandising and pricing
Price Tag Audit Checklist
How to audit store price tags: price changes and promotions, shelf vs. register price, required details, placement, hang tags and electronic shelf labels.
Food safety
Grocery Date Check and Stock Rotation Checklist (FIFO/FEFO)
Grocery store date checks: perishables, bread and produce, dry and canned goods, FEFO rotation on shelf and in the back room, markdowns and write-offs.
Food safety
Food Labeling and Date Marking Checklist
Kitchen food labeling check: prep labels with use-by times, opened packs, thawing, FIFO, dry storage, the service line and discarding expired items.
Food safety
Walk-In Cooler and Freezer Inspection Checklist
Kitchen refrigeration check: cooler and freezer temperatures, raw vs. ready-to-eat storage, loading, door gaskets, ice buildup, condenser and temp log.
More tests
Product knowledge
Storekeeper Test: Receiving, Storage and Stock Counts
Storekeeper test with answers and explanations: receiving and discrepancies, shelf life, FIFO and FEFO, racking, stock counts, mix-ups and safety.
Sales
Cashier Test: Payments, Refunds and Checkout Security
Cashier test with answers: checking banknotes, giving change, voids, refunds, card payments, scams and age checks for restricted goods.
Sales
Sales Associate Test: Working with Customers
Sales associate test with answers and explanations: sales stages, customer questions, objections, checkout, returns, conflicts and security.
Run assessments in jeCheck
Assign tests to positions and locations, set deadlines and pass marks, get results and certificates.