Store Walk Checklist
Download your store walk checklist
Please fill out the form below to access your free store walk checklist download.
About this store walk checklist
A store walk checklist turns a ‘quick look around’ into a consistent, repeatable standard. It gives operations teams a clear route to follow, what to check, and when to escalate — so issues are fixed early, not found later in complaints, shrink, or failed audits.
This checklist covers preparation checks, in-process checks across the shop floor and back of house, escalation criteria, and close-out actions. The aim is simple: stop guessing. Start knowing what is happening in the store, right now.
What this store walk checklist covers
- Before you start: context, ownership, and known risks
- Front of store first impressions: safety, signage, and queue flow
- Shop floor standards: availability, presentation, and pricing basics
- Safety and compliance checks: the non-negotiables
- Customer experience readiness: service areas and hygiene touchpoints
- Back of house controls: deliveries, waste, and security basics
- Escalation criteria: when to raise issues immediately
- Close-out: actions, owners, due dates, and sign-off
Who it is for
This checklist works for duty managers, store managers, area managers, and any operations leader responsible for consistent standards across locations. Use it for daily routines, peak trading checks, pre-opening readiness, or as part of structured site visits.
How to use it on the frontline
- Walk the same route every time so results are comparable and trends are visible.
- Check what matters most first: immediate safety risks, compliance risks, and anything that stops customers shopping.
- Write actions like tasks (what, where, and the expected standard), not vague notes.
- Escalate with evidence when the issue is safety-critical, a compliance breach, or a repeated failure with no progress.
- Close the loop before you leave: share feedback, confirm owners, and set due dates.
Common problems this checklist helps you catch early
- Blocked fire exits, cluttered aisles, and unmanaged spillages
- Gaps on shelves and promotional bays drifting from plan
- Pricing inconsistencies that create complaints and lost trust
- Back of house backlog that spills onto the shop floor later
- Repeated issues that keep reappearing because nobody owns the fix
Want to run store walks without the guesswork?
Ocasta replaces paper and memory-led checks with structured, consistent checklists that create real visibility for operations teams. Everyone knows what good looks like, what needs doing next, and what must be escalated.
Disclaimer: This checklist is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, regulatory, health and safety, or professional advice. You are responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable laws, standards, and internal policies.
Included questions
Here's what's included in this store walk checklist:
Before you start (7)
Get set up so the walk is consistent, evidence-based, and easy to action — not a vague ‘quick look around’.
-
Text
Date and time of store walk
Use local store time.
-
Text
Store location
Store name or number.
-
Person
Person completing the store walk
Who is accountable for follow-up.
-
Person
Duty manager on shift
If different from the walk owner.
-
Dropdown
Reason for this store walk
Pick the closest match so trends are easier to spot over time.
-
Text
Known risks or exceptions today
Examples: reduced staffing, delivery backlog, maintenance issue, system outage, local event.
-
Yes/No
Last store walk actions reviewed before starting
Avoid repeating issues by checking what is still open and why.
Front of store and first impressions (5)
What customers see first sets expectations. Make it measurable: clean, safe, and easy to shop.
-
Yes/No
Entrance is clear, safe, and free of trip hazards
Check mats, signage stands, cables, wet floor risks, and any clutter.
-
Vibe
External signage and windows look presentable
Rate overall condition: clean, aligned, and not damaged.
-
Yes/No
Promotional material is current and correctly placed
Remove expired posters and correct any mismatched prices or messaging.
-
Dropdown
Trolleys or baskets availability
Choose the best description.
-
Vibe
Queue area feels controlled and customer-friendly
Think: clear flow, no blocked aisles, and signage that makes sense.
Shop floor standards and merchandising (6)
The goal is simple: products are available, easy to find, and correctly presented — without guesswork.
-
Yes/No
Aisles are clear and fully shoppable
No cages, pallets, or stock blocking access unless controlled and signed.
-
Dropdown
Stock-outs and gaps on shelves
Choose the best description for the overall shop floor.
-
Vibe
Shelves are faced up and tidy
Rate the overall standard across key aisles, not just one area.
-
Yes/No
Price labels are present and appear correct
Spot check high-volume lines and promotional bays for mismatches.
-
Dropdown
Promotional displays are set to plan
If not, capture what is different and why.
-
Yes/No
Damaged or unsafe stock is removed from sale
Check for leaks, broken seals, sharp edges, and crushed packaging that could harm customers.
Safety, compliance, and risk controls (5)
If it could hurt someone or create a compliance breach, it gets fixed or escalated immediately.
-
Yes/No
Fire exits and escape routes are clear
No stock, cages, or displays obstructing routes or doors.
-
Yes/No
Emergency equipment is accessible
Think: fire extinguishers, alarm call points, first aid kit, defib (if applicable).
-
Dropdown
Any spillages or wet floor risks
If yes, confirm they are controlled with signage and cleaned promptly.
-
Yes/No
High-risk areas are secure and controlled
Examples: stockroom access, chemicals, sharps, age-restricted products, cash office.
-
Vibe
Manual handling looks safe and consistent
Are teams using the right equipment and avoiding risky lifts?
Customer experience and service readiness (4)
Service issues often come from operational gaps. Spot them early, while you can still fix them.
-
Dropdown
Colleague visibility on the shop floor
Choose the best description for the current trading period.
-
Dropdown
Customer help points and call buttons (if applicable)
Confirm they are working and responses are timely.
-
Vibe
Service areas feel ready for customers
Examples: fitting rooms, returns desk, pharmacy counter, café counter.
-
Dropdown
Customer toilets (if applicable)
Check cleanliness, odour, and basic supplies.
Back of house and stockroom controls (4)
Back of house is where standards slip first. If it is messy here, it shows up on the shop floor later.
-
Vibe
Stockroom is safe and orderly
Clear walkways, stable stacks, and no blocked fire exits.
-
Dropdown
Deliveries and cages are controlled
Are deliveries processed and staged without blocking key areas?
-
Dropdown
Waste and recycling management
Check segregation, overflow, and hygiene risks.
-
Yes/No
Security controls are in place
Examples: restricted access doors closed, keys controlled, high-value stock secured.
Escalation criteria (6)
Use this section to remove doubt. If any of these are true, escalate straight away.
-
Yes/No
Immediate safety risk identified
Examples: blocked fire exit, uncontrolled spillage, exposed electrics, unstable stacking, aggressive behaviour.
-
Yes/No
Compliance breach identified
Examples: missing required signage, uncontrolled age-restricted sales risk, food safety risk (if applicable).
-
Yes/No
Critical system failure affecting trading
Examples: tills down, card payments failing, refrigeration failure, alarm fault.
-
Yes/No
Repeated issue with no progress since last visit
If it keeps happening, it needs a different fix — escalate with evidence.
-
Text
Escalation notes
What happened, where, and what immediate control is in place.
-
Person
Escalated to
Name the person or role (for example, area manager, facilities, IT, security).
Close-out actions and sign-off (6)
Turn findings into action while you are still on site. The standard is clear owners and clear due dates.
-
Text
Top three actions to complete
Write actions in a way someone else could do them without asking questions.
-
Person
Action owner
Who will make sure actions get done (even if others complete the tasks).
-
Text
Actions due date
Use a clear date (for example, 14/02/2026).
-
Yes/No
Feedback shared with the team before leaving
Close the loop: what is good, what needs changing, and what happens next.
-
Dropdown
Overall store status after the walk
Pick the status that matches what you saw and what is now controlled.
-
Signature
Sign-off
Confirms the store walk is complete and actions have been captured.