WH Smith the UK’s most popular High Street stationer, bookseller and newsagent has outsourced the stock counting function in its High Street stores for nearly ten years, eight of which have been in partnership with Orridge.  David Moxon, WH Smith Loss Prevention Operations & Development Manager explains the benefits that outsourcing has brought and how this has evolved to the mutual benefit of both WH Smith and Orridge.

“Outsourcing with Orridge gives us enormous flexibility to be able to create stock count strategies / programmes that are designed to minimise shrinkage”
(David Moxon – Loss Prevention Operation & Development Manager, WH Smith)

Carrying out stock counts allows WH Smith to:

• Maintain product files
• Check availability
• Stock management / accountability
• Identify the rate of loss
• Identify internal theft problems

“WH Smith use third party stocktaking services because it saves time, maintains focus of managers whilst creating independent assessments which are consistent at a professional service level”
(David Moxon-WH Smith)

Benefits of outsourcing:-

• Gains inside intelligence
• Avoids disruption to stores
• Improves product file accuracy
• Accurate reports allowing a comparative analysis

“Outsourcing creates accurate reports highlighting shrinkage percentages on particular products”
(David Moxon- WH Smith)

The benefits of WH Smith using Orridge:-

• Trust 
• Understanding
• Support
• Committed
• Established relationship
• Reputation
• Technology

“Together we have been able to create a number of different stock count solutions that are designed to maximise flexibility of reporting. Thus, gives us enormous flexibility to be able to create stock count strategies / programmes that are designed to minimise shrinkage rather than designed to support the store?”
(David Moxon – WH Smith)