Measurement Examples

Let's practice some linear inch measurements!

Example 1: Say that you encounter the display below:

Since the inventory is simply only behind the display items, we consider that they are on the same shelf. Thus, in this picture there are only 4 shelves.

Since the display is split in half, the best way to measure would be to measure one brand sign in this picture. Thus, you would get the measurement for the purple line in the picture.

• Say that the purple line is 15 inches, and you needed to get the linear inches for the left side of the display.
• Notice that the left side of the display contains all items that are Concealer. These items then belong to the category 'Face - Base.'
• Since the purple line is 15 inches and the display is split in half, then the left part of the display is also 15 inches.
• To get the total linear inches for the brand 'Amazing Concealer' and product category: 'Face - Base', you would just multiple 15 inches * 4 shelves, which is 60 inches.

Example 2: Say that you encounter the display below:

• Notice that this display only contains lipgloss and lipstick. Thus, all the items in this display belong to the 'Face - All Other Makeup' category.
• Say that the blue line in the picture is 10 inches. There are 8 shelves in the picture.
• Thus, the total linear inches in this picture is equal to 10 * 8 = 80 inches.
• At the point though we need to take out the empty space there are 8 lipsticks missing at about 1 inch each so our total for this visit would be  80" - 8" = 72"

*Note: Notice that the lipliners in the picture above are in cubbies. Just measure them like they are shelves!

Example 3: Multiple Product Category Displays

If you come across a display that contains multiple categories a good strategy would be the following.

Step 1: Measure the full length of the display.

• Lets us say it for this example it is 96 inches (8 feet)

Step 2: Count the number of shelves in the display

• 4 shelves in our example above

Step 3: Calculate total space 

• 96"* 4 = 384" total linear inches for tarte display

Step 4: Estimate the amount of space that contains product 

• In the example above the top middle shelf look to be basically empty as well a couple slots on the first set of shelves. Using our estimation skills, the display is 90% full.
• Calculation: 384" * (0.90) = 345.6" Full Space for tarte display

Step 5: Break the full space measurement into categories

• Using estimation again break the space into categories
• 33% of the space is Face Base
• 66% of the space is Face - All other Makeup
• Calculation: 345.6 * 0.33 = 114" of Face Base
• Calculation: 345.6* 0.66 = 228" of Face - All other Makeup

Example 4: Display products

Let's say you encounter the "Too Faced" display pictured above, how would measure the linear inches?

Step 1: Ignore the circular product display as it is just samples and would not be included in our counts.

Step 2: Measure the front of the table length.

• For this example this display is 18" in length and only 1 shelf

Step 3: Estimate Full Space

• In this example every color has at least 1 product so the estimation would be 100% full

Step 4: Estimate product Category

• This display is only Face Base = 100% Face Base
• Calculation: 18" X 100% = 18" Face Base for Too Faced 

Example 5: Hard Tools 

Here is an example of how to collect Hard Tool - Appliance space information, hard tools are not broken out by brand (other than the ULTA private label) so the calculation can all be lumped together. 

Step 1: Measure the length of the aisle of hard tools.

• For this example the length of the shelf is 100" inches

Step 2: Count how many shelves are displaying inventory (we do not count the displays in our metrics)

• For this example there are 4 shelves of product

Step 3: Estimate how much full space is consumed

• For this example estimate about 60% full space 

Step 4: Calculation

• (100" * 4) * (0.60) = 240" inches of hard tools

Example 6: Skin Care 

Here is an example of how to collect a skincare brand. 

The "Elemis" display above has testers down the left side of the shelves which should not be included in your metrics.

Step 1: Measure the length of one shelf

• For this example the length is 24" inches

Step 2: Notate how many shelves of product

• For this example there are 3 shelves

Step 3: Estimate how "full" the space is

• For this example the space is 100% full

Step 4: Estimate which categories the product falls under

• For this example 100% of the product falls into "Face - Skincare" category

Step 5: Calculation

• (24" * 3) = 72 inches of total space
• 72" * 100%  full space = 72 inches of total space
• 72" * 100%  category = 72 inches of "Face - Skincare" space

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