SMITHS PLAYBOOK-2020

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Table of Contents

Merchandising

Pg. 3-12

• Standards • Card Aisle • Registers

Pg. 3

Pg. 4-6 Pg. 7-8

Balloon Inflation • Latex Inflation

Pg. 13-17 Pg. 13-14

• HI-FLOAT® • Foil Inflation

Pg. 15 Pg. 16 Pg. 17

• Specialty Inflation

Helium Safety & Precautions Pg. 18-21 • Regulators Pg. 18 • O-Ring Pg. 19 • Safety and Precautions Pg. 20-21

Helpful Tips

Pg. 22

Balloon Weights

Pg. 23

4-10-19 JAT

Merchandising Standards

Card Aisle:

• Coordinate balloons to match the messages on the cards directly below and surrounding the display. • It is best to only use balloons that have a message associated with them in the card aisle. • Birthday CHARACTER balloons should always be merchandised close to the "BIRTHDAY FOR KIDS" card section. Front Registers: • Non-message balloons, especially CHARACTERS, tend to sell better at the front registers. Leave the message balloons, unless holiday specific, for the Card Aisle. • Merchandise balloons for your local NFL, MLB, etc. teams. • Incorporate holiday balloons on 1–2 registers only.

Important:

• Refer to the quarterly Playbook Supplement for suggestions on merchandising in each location. • You should freshen balloons at least once a week and be sure to keep ALL your displays FULL of product. If you don’t have product on display it certainly will NOT sell. • Always use Reel Weights™ and inserts with all helium balloon displays.

3

Merchandising • Card Aisle

Place ONE oversized shape with a Reel Weight™ and Reel Weight™ Insert attached. Unwind about 18” or until there is sufficient space for the standard size balloons that will be placed below.

Attach the Halo 823020 to the top section of the card aisle. Make sure it is completely attached and straight. Be sure to place it high enough so the balloons will not obstruct the cards . 1

2

Attach FOUR standard size balloons of the same design, with a Reel Weight™, one at a time. Unwind the ribbon until the top of the balloons hit the bottom of the oversized shape balloon above. Make sure the standard balloons COORDINATE with the specialty shape balloon you placed from step 2. 3 - 6

Objective: • Coordinate balloons with greeting cards.

• Balloons are arranged in an organized and coordinated manner. • Creates a much cleaner and organized look for the card aisle. • Provides EASY & REACHABLE access to balloons for our customers.

4

Merchandising • Card Aisle

Insert coordinating 9-14” air- filled balloons. HINT: Use 12” sticks so the displays are more compact and full (this may require cutting the sticks).

Attach the air-filled Tube Display 703 to the top section of the card aisle. Make sure it is completely attached and straight. Be sure to place it high enough so the balloons will not obstruct the cards . 1

2

5 Fully Assembled Halo and Air-Filled Display

5

Merchandising • Card Aisle

Reminders : • Alternate 1 AIR-FILLED display for every 2 HALO displays. • The distance between the displays will vary based on the length of your card aisle(s). • If you have a longer card aisle you can use more than 2–halos and 1–air-filled display. You could feature 3–halos with 1–air-filled display evenly spaced between each halo. • The goal is to have them evenly spaced and merchandised. • Always use Reel Weights™ and Reel Weights™ inserts and adjust ribbon length accordingly. • Clearly price each balloon with the correct UPC/Retail sticker. • Freshen balloons DAILY and keep displays FULL. (Card aisle merchandising suggestions are available in the playbook supplement).

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Merchandising • Registers

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ranking order of importance

Merchandise TRENDS/HOT ITEMS , HOLIDAY , SEASONAL ,

Merchandise the most popular NON-MESSAGE CHARACTER balloons. Give even coverage for boys and girls characters.

or MOVIE balloons.

For stores with fewer registers, focus on the ranking shown above each balloon. This will allow you to focus on the most important suggestions.

8

Balloon Inflation • Latex

How do you inflate LATEX balloons with helium?

LATEX BALLOON VALVE

• Use the plastic push tip valve (usually black) of a helium regulator to inflate LATEX balloons. • This will allow you to fill the balloon until it is

completely full without it automatically shutting off.

1. Place the balloon on the plastic push tip valve. 2. Press the valve forward or backward until you hear helium being to fill the balloon (It helps to hold on to it with your other hand to keep the balloon upright). 3. Let up on the valve when the balloon has reached the ideal size. 4. You don’t want to overfill it, otherwise it may pop. Remove from the valve and pinch the opening.

9

Balloon Inflation • Latex

How do you tie a LATEX balloon? LATEX BALLOONS can be sealed by hand-tying or by using balloon clips or sealing discs. • Hand-tying is the most popular and preferred method, since it has the tightest seal and gives a finished look to the balloon. • If you have a large # of latex balloons to inflate, using sealing discs or clips is a smart option.

HAND-TIE

1. Pinch the top of the tail of the balloon to keep helium from leaking and pull on the tail of the balloon. 2. Tie the end of the balloon in a simple knot. 3. Attach the curling ribbon below the knot.

BALLOON CLIP

1. Pinch the top of the tail of the balloon and twist it two times. 2. Insert your balloon clip directly over and behind the area where you twisted the balloon in step 1. 3. Snap the clip closed 4. Attach curling ribbon BELOW the clip.

SEALING DISC

10 1. Pinch the top of the balloon tail and pull it out so you have space to insert the disc. 2. Insert the disc onto the tail and pull and twist it around the disc so you are pulling the end of the tail back through the slot you initially inserted onto the balloon. 3. Attach curling ribbon BELOW the disc.

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Balloon Inflation • Foil

How do you inflate FOIL balloons with helium?

1. Place the balloon on the automatic speed tip valve of the helium regulator. Using this will automatically stop filling with helium when the balloon is fully inflated. 2. Insert the speed tip valve into the inflation point on the balloon and push down. Helium will begin to flow into the balloon. When the balloon is full the automatic shutoff valve will cut off the helium. 3. Securely tie a length of curling ribbon to the balloon BELOW the inflation point. Don’t forget to attach a balloon weight.

FOIL BALLOON VALVE

• The majority of 17–18" and larger sized FOIL balloons manufactured today have self- sealing valves. As soon as a balloon is filled with helium and removed from the regulator, the self-sealing valve automatically closes. • If you are attaching curling ribbon with a clip weight , remember to attach the curling ribbon BELOW the inflation point, so the balloon can be re-inflated, if necessary. • To apply a Reel Weight™ , attach the tape to the side opposite of the balloon inflation point. No tying necessary

Self-sealing valve

Attach curling ribbon here

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Helium • Regulator Installation

Insert the threaded end of the regulator into the side opening of the tank and hand-

Make sure your helium tank is secure and remove the cap from the helium tank.

tighten the connection. DO NOT use a wrench to tighten as it will cause damage to the O-ring seal.

Turn on the helium tank. If a leaking sound occurs, turn off the tank, release pressure from the regulator by depressing the push valve, and retighten the regulator again.

Check the gauge for pressure and tank levels. Re-order helium when the gauge registers in the yellow zone.

NOTE: It is not necessary to turn off your tank after each use, but be sure to turn off the tank at the end of each day.

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Helium • Safety + Precautions

• Balloons filled with helium are sensitive to hot and cold temperatures and will expand or contract in extreme temperatures. • As an example, a balloon inflated in a warm room and taken outside to very cold conditions will seem to lose helium. • When the balloon is returned to indoor temperatures the balloon should return to its original state. • The opposite is true in hot weather conditions.

CAUTION Just so you know

• Helium is stored in highly pressurized cylinders ranging from 1,800–2,400 pounds per square inch (PSI). • A ruptured helium cylinder can be compared to a missile or the equivalent of two pounds of TNT . • Never use metallic ribbon on helium-filled or latex balloons. If accidentally released into the air, the ribbon could cause electrical failure if caught in power lines. • Every helium-filled balloon should have a balloon weight attached.

PROPER STORAGE Safety First

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Balloon Basics • Helpful Tips

Balloon Basics • Every inflated balloon needs a weight. • Turn OFF the helium tank when not in use. • Use the correct value for inflating balloons. Using the wrong valve can waste helium as well as damage the balloon. • Refer to the Kroger Balloon Playbook for merchandising, best practices, and safety information. When taking orders, what questions should you ask the customer? • What event are you purchasing for? Adult birthday, child birthday (characters), baby, wedding, etc. • Do you want all foil or add coordinating colored latex? • What is your budget? • What color curling ribbon? • Does each balloon need to have a balloon weight, or will it be a larger bouquet? • When do you need the balloons available?

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