Dummy Box

Dummy Boxes,
Assembled (Top)
& Flat

Dummy Box

n. A long CARDBOARD BOX, usually plain white, that is used to reduce the amount of INVENTORY that fits on the SHELF, and thereby save the STORE money. See also INVENTORY, MOVE, TURNOVER.

NOTE: The basic idea here is to use an inexpensive “filler” to change the CASE MODULUS of the HOLE. Cutting down the number of CASES or additional partial CASES needed to fill it results in less LOAD standing idle. That's good, because the STORE doesn't make any money when ITEMS sit. Profit comes only when they sell. Doubtless some bright light somewhere has figured out a more optimal balance between the labor cost of filling a shallower SHELF more frequently vs. other factors, and hence Dummy Boxes are definitely here to stay.

They are RECEIVED as a SUPPLY in as a shrink-wrapped stack of flat cutouts. When assembled by folding, each one forms a rectangular prism that is used as a filler or spacer in the back of a SHELF'S HOLE to make it shallower.

Multiple Dummy Boxes may be STACKED vertically to provide a more even back-wall surface, and/or horizontally to further reduce the depth of the HOLE. Whether or not they're STACKED vertically often depends on the size, shape and/or weight of the ITEM that goes in that particular SPOT. Sometimes—especially on the top SHELF—they may be intentionally not STACKED vertically, in order to provide a buffer area for stashing a slight excess of one, two, or a few extras. Be careful, though. They're not capable of supporting much weight, so pilling on pickle jars is a no-no.

TRUE STORY: If you're new, you might be tempted to remove one of these things the first time you find one. I did. Then it was explained to me: they're supposed to be there. Talk about feeling like a dummy!