B

B n. See B-ITEM, below.

B-Item n. An ITEM that's slated to soon be DISCONTINUED. You can easily recognize them because PRICE CONTROL overwrites their SHELF TAGS with a bold letter "B."

NOTE: Whenever you encounter a B-ITEM, first fill the SHELF. Then, with your MARKER put a large "B" on the CASE of whatever's left over and leave it on the designated shelf in the RACK back by the GATE in RECEIVING.

B1G1 adj. Short for "Buy One, Get One (Free)," meaning a sale ITEM that's two-for-one or half price. Also BOGO.

Back adj. See BOTTOM.

Backdrop n. See SHADOWBOX.

Back Room n. A DEPARTMENT'S storage, preparation and staging area that is off-limits to the public. However, by agreement with the RECEIVER or DEPARTMENT MANAGER certain VENDORS may also be granted relatively free access.

Back-Stock n. Excess on-hand INVENTORY of REGULAR-PRICED ITEMS. —v. To put an ITEM into such on-hand INVENTORY. Also, OVERSTOCK. See also GUN, INVENTORY, NEGATIVE ORDER WORKSHEET.

Badge Number n. A 6-digit number on the back side of the badge or name tag you're given upon being hired. The first 3 digits are the STORE NUMBER, and the last 3 are your EMPLOYEE NUMBER.

NOTE: At the TIME CLOCK you CLOCK IN/OUT and PUNCH for all breaks and meals, etc. using the entire 6-digit Badge Number.

Bale n. A great quantity of CARDBOARD that has been compressed into a large and heavy brick about the size of a side-by-side washer dryer set, and which is held together by multiple stands of iron BALE WIRE: "It's time to tie a bale." See also, MAKE A BALE.

NOTE: When the GATE is open, BALES go onto the TRUCK. Otherwise, they're "parked" short-end forward in front of the GATE, to await arrival of the KEY.

Successive BALES should always go onto the TRUCK on alternate sides, to help balance the trailer. And don't forget: along with their supporting PALLETS, Bales should always be recorded on the SHEET kept at the RECEIVER'S desk.

Baler n. A large power-driven compactor into which waste CARDBOARD is put and periodically compressed to MAKE A BALE.

Bale Wire n. Long, thin yet strong iron wire strands with a loop on one end, used to help MAKE A BALE.

Banana Box n. A heavy-duty, standard-sized BOX or carton with air holes and a tight-fitting lid that's used for shipping bananas.

NOTE: And once empty of bananas, also used for many other purposes.

Bar Code n. The striped UPC code on a PRODUCT LABEL or SHELF TAG.

Basket n. 1. a small, hand-held SHOPPING BASKET. 2. Occasionally, may also mean a regular, full-sized SHOPPING CART, with wheels.

Bay n. The area under or within a large floor-to-ceiling storage RACK, between its supporting pillars.

Bill of Lading n. A WAYBILL. The official document detailing the contents of the TRUCK.

Black RACK n. Low, wide wire racks with two back-tilted shelves that are typically used to DISPLAY modest quantities of PRODUCT in front of FAST-WALL or EVZ DISPLAYS.

Block v. 1. To make PRODUCT on the SHELF more visually appealing by pulling several ranks forward to the front edge. 2. To do so for whole aisles, or the entire STORE. Typically done by NIGHT CREW after they've finished THROWING LOAD. "OK. It's time to start blocking."

Blue Juice n. A trigger spray bottle of blue-colored window-cleaning solution, used in various ways for light-duty cleaning. See also CLEAN-UP. Compare RED JUICE, SPITFIRE^®.

Board n. Short for CARDBOARD.

BOGO n. See B1G1.

Bonus Card n. A plastic card or key chain tag used by CUSTOMERS to obtain on-sale discounts at the checkout registers, and which also provides the STORE with information on their shopping habits. See also STORE CARD.

Bonus Points n. CUSTOMER loyalty program points that are accrued by using a BONUS CARD.

Bottle Run n. The task of taking rolling bins and/or barrels of redeemed deposit bottles and flattened cans from temporary storage at their drop point at the CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK to recycling dumpsters outside the rear of the STORE. Usually done by CART BOYS.

Bottom n. The end of an aisle farthest from the checkout registers: "It's at the bottom of aisle 13." Also, BACK; versus TOP or FRONT.

Box n. 1. A CARDBOARD CASE. 2. The CARDBOARD packaging of a single ITEM. —v. To put into Boxes. See BOX UP.

Box Cutter n. A special utility knife for STOCK CLERKS that's a required and indispensable tool for opening BOXES or other packaging. The standard-issue version comes in both right-handed models, and has a preset stop at the appropriate depth for opening many CARDBOARD CASES without (usually -- be careful!) damaging the contents. A compartment in the handle can hold extra blades, which are sharp, double-ended trapezoids. See also H-CUT, LIFT-CUT, SHARK-CUT, TAPE-CUT, TOP-CUT, TRAY-CUT, WINDOW-CUT, X-CUT.

NOTE: Non-standard all-metal "push-up" style Box Cutters that use regular, rectangular single-edge razor blades are against STORE policy, as they are less safe and by improper use are also far more likely to create accidental STORE DAMAGE.

Box Up v. To put loose quantities of PRODUCT (e.g., such as previously put into SHOPPING CARTS or left on RUNNERS after KILLING a DISPLAY) into MILK CRATES, BANANA BOXES, or other containers, usually as a preamble to putting it into BACK-STOCK.

Break n. 15 minutes of time off to rest and relax. Two Breaks allowed per 8-hour SHIFT: "I'm going on break."

NOTE: NIGHT CREW typically takes their Break all together at the same time, whenever the CREW CHIEF calls it on the PA.

DAY CREW generally take Breaks individually, to allow one another to COVER incoming calls, cashier PAGES for PRICE CHECKS, CUSTOMER questions, etc.

Break Down v. 1. To flatten, as CARDBOARD BOXES: "Break it down so more fits in your basket." 2. To take the nightly LOAD as off-loaded from the TRUCK on PALLETS and redistribute it by CASES onto appropriate RUNNERS for the NIGHT CREW to THROW onto SHELVES by aisle. Usually performed by NIGHT CREW FOREMAN or CREW CHIEF before NIGHT CREW arrives. —n. The task of Breaking Down LOAD: "Who's doing break-down?"

NOTE: To break your BOXES down or not, that is the question. It takes time to do, but gives you more working space on your RUNNER and may save time because you make fewer trips to the BALER.

If you have a RUNNER with a lot of LOAD to THROW, take along a SHOPPING CART, break down your BOARD, and toss it into the CART. It'll help keep you from going crazy. Same plan generally goes for Dairy/Frozen work, which is farther from the CRUSHER, has small CASES, and high TURNOVER.

If your WORKING SPECIALS RUNNERS, it's a judgment call. You'll seldom need a SHOPPING CART. If you do need room, you can usually just break down the BOARD and stuff it filing cabinet-wise between a heavy BOX and the handle on the end of your RUNNER.

However, if space is not an issue, you often won't need to. Just set the whole BOX aside and later toss it in whole, open-side-down, and let the CRUSHER do it's thing.

Break Room n. Where the TIME CLOCK is, and where EMPLOYEE lockers and coat racks are located, along with tables, vending machines and entrances to the EMPLOYEE rest rooms.

Broom n. 1. A long, angled-handle, wide-swath cleaning implement with bristles. A push broom. 2. A straight, medium-handled cleaning implement with bristles, or broom, paired with a DUSTPAN. See CLEAN-UP.

Bucket n. A janitorial set comprised of a MOP and wheeled Bucket with a compression wringer insert: "Get a bucket and clean up that spill in aisle 6." See CLEAN-UP.

NOTE: Whenever the FLOOR is wet or damp, always warn CUSTOMERS verbally, e.g., "Watch out -- the floor may be slippery," and set a caution CONE in place before proceeding with CLEAN-UP.

Bulk n. Loose ITEMS DISPLAYED in barrels or bins and typically sold by weight; e.g., birdseed, candies, rolled oats, etc.

Bulk Foods n. The DEPARTMENT that sells BULK ITEMS.

Butcher Block n. The Meat DEPARTMENT.