That reminds me of things about shelves, going on all the time, not only during a crisis: let's call them War and Science.
1. "War" among manufacturers regarding shelf space, as there's a multitude of products versus limited shelfing space.
It seems to me the supermarkets favor the big companies; their products stake up the front.. That's not fair for competition. The shopper has a lot to lose this way; competition is of utmost importance, as it influences prices and quality.
When looking for the products I'm used to buy, I sometimes notice how the bigger companies just 'swallow' the smaller ones and this process starts on the shelf. Small manufacturers's merchandise gradually disappears ; later on, I find out that the small company has gone out of business or 'persuaded' to merge with the bigger one.
2. "Science" - planogramming - space planning.
A 'planogram' is a diagram showing how and where a product should be placed on shelves in order to increase customer purchase.
Many supermarkets and pharma stores employ experienced people for this specific job.
Planogramming sounds like a nice job to me. I know there's a lot of software products that help building and reading a planogram. I suppose there's also the possibility of formal training somewhere. It's worth it for those already in the retail business or wishing to join this sort of business.
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