WO2008039157A1

WO2008039157A1 - Shelf management system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2008039157A1
Application number: PCT/SG2007/000324
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Bruce Mebruer
Original assignee: U-Marketing Intellectual Properties Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2006-09-28
Filing date: 2007-09-26
Publication date: 2008-04-03
Also published as: CN101548293A; JP2010505183A; TW200825972A

Abstract

A shelf management system and method is described which has a central management station (10) for providing pricing data relating to items available for sale in retail outlets. The station (10) is connected to a store management system (20) at each store via broadband line (16). The station (20) includes a long range transmitter (22) and a number of short range transmitters (24) are located in each store. The short range transmitters (24) receive data from the long range transmitter (22) and then transfer the data to price tags (26) where the price of the respective items can be displayed. The system enables rapid price changing from a central station. Transceivers (65) also monitor withdrawal of stock from the shelves.

Description

SHELF MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a shelf management system and method and, in particular, to an active system and method for retail businesses . The invention has particular application to providing real time responses and changes to shelf pricing of items available for sale and the management of stock levels on shelves so stock can be timely resupplied following shelf withdrawals (i.e. purchases by customers) .

Background of the Invention

Most retailers today have inflexible pricing systems that cannot respond quickly to a desire to change prices at a shelf level of the retail outlet. Usually, shelf prices are changed manually one at a time. However, electronic systems are available and these include costly electronic pricing tags that require physical changes via a portable price transmitter, item by item, or costly global central systems are used for changing prices at the shelf level of a retail outlet.

Some systems require infrared line of sight devices or very short range transmission of signals. Whilst the devices are not particularly costly, the time taken to effect changes by this type of system is lengthy and therefore, these systems are costly in terms of time.

Other systems require wiring and processing hardware. Thus, if a store has 50,000 stock keeping units (i.e. separate items for sale), then 50,000 price tags need to be wired with processing hardware in order to enable the displayed price of items to be changed. This type of system is therefore very costly.

When shoppers make purchases, most electronic point of sale systems are not operated in real time mode. Usually, when retail activity slows in the night, EPOS data is sent and collated at a retailer's central location, such as an EPOS warehouse where inventory and stock management systems update records and provide inventory balances, sale and other information required for purchasing, planning, financial reconciliation, etc. Hence, real time flexibility for resupply of stock which is low or completely out of stock is not provided.

Thus , most conventional systems for price change and inventory control are slow and unresponsive and therefore result in considerable loss of opportunities . Such systems do not allow large scale retail operations to exploit different "moments of consumption" and purchases from shoppers. For example, in the morning, say for a convenience store, breakfast related items will have a higher demand than other items , at noon lunch items will have a higher demand, etc. A fixed price system or a standard product range cannot operate to its full potential due to inflexibility in pricing and static product range. Even with the ability to delivery to stores several times a day, store operations struggle to change prices and respond with the right pricing to match the time of day and therefore a time of day product range strategy cannot be easily achieved.

Summary of the Invention

The object of a first aspect of the present invention is to provide a system which addresses many of the shortcomings of the conventional systems discussed above.

The invention provides a shelf management system for managing shelf pricing changes and stock replacement at a retail outlet, comprising: a central management station having a central processor for providing pricing data relating to items for sale at the retail outlet; a retailer central station having a retailer processor for maintaining an inventory of stock at one or more retail outlets ; a store shelf management system at the or each retail outlet, the system having a store processor, a first receiver and transmitter for receiving a transmission from the central station containing the pricing data, a plurality of short range transmitters and receivers for receiving the price data from the first receiver and transmitter, a plurality of shelf price tags for displaying the price of items available for sale in the retail outlet, the price tags having a price tag receiver for receiving the price data from the short range receivers and transmitters and for altering prices displayed by the tags in accordance with the price data; and a monitor for monitoring stock withdrawal from the retail outlet and for supplying stock withdrawal data to the store processor for transmission to the central processor at the central station for immediately ordering resupply of stock to the or each retail outlet.

Thus, according to this aspect of the invention, pricing data can be altered in real time and immediately from a central station so that pricing changes can be made to meet particular demands for products throughout the course of the day, and also the withdrawal of stock from the retail outlet can be monitored to enable resupply of stock to retail outlets in accordance with the demand for stock at the or each retail outlet. Furthermore, the two-step process of using more short range receiver and transmitters compared to the first receivers and transmitters , which may be long range transmitters and receivers, reduces the costs of the infrastructure.

The present invention therefore provides the ability to - A -

implement a flexible merchandising plan, that is, not just stock resupply but a merchandising plan that can be implemented by time of day or moments of consumption basis so that price changes can be made substantially immediately and stock reordered in real time to thereby provide merchandise for sale, providing the best price opportunity and availability to take advantage of customer requirements .

Preferably a first communication link is provided between the central station and the first receiver and transmitter at each retail outlet.

The first communication link may comprise a broadband line, a dial up line, a wide area network or a wireless transmission network.

Preferably the first receiver and transmitter communicates with each of the short range receiver and transmitters at the retail outlet by RFID format.

Preferably the pricing data is provided from the first transmitter and receiver to the store processor to update the price of items so that when the items are purchased, the updated price of the items is charged to a customer.

The shelf tag may comprise any device which can display a message such as a LED panel, LCD screen or the like.

Preferably the monitor for monitoring stock withdrawal comprises an EPOS checkout connected to the store processor for collecting data relating to purchases made at a checkout and for supplying the data relating to stock withdrawal to the shelf management processor for transmission to the central processor at the central station. However, in another embodiment transmitters and receivers may be provided at the store shelves for detecting withdrawal of product from the shelves and for supplying signals indicative of withdrawal of product to the shelf management processor.

Preferably the store processor supplies the data relating to stock withdrawal to the first receiver and transmitter for transmission back to the central station.

Preferably a second communication link is provided between the central station and the retailer central station for supplying the stock withdrawal data from the central station to the retailer central system to enable resupply of stock to the retail outlet.

Preferably the second communication link comprises a broadband line, dial up line, wide area network or a wireless network between the central station and the retailer central system.

The invention also provides a shelf management method to manage shelf pricing changes and stock replacement at one or more retail outlets, comprising: providing pricing data relating to items for sale at the one or more retail outlets from a central station via a communication link; receiving the price data from the communication link by a first receiver and transmitter at one or more retail outlets; transmitting the price data from the first receiver and transmitter to a plurality of short range transmitters and receivers ; transmitting the price data from the short range transmitters to a plurality of shelf price tags for displaying the price of items available for sale in the retail outlet; monitoring stock withdrawal from the retail outlet and supplying stock withdrawal data to the central station to order resupply of stock to the or each retail outlet.

Preferably a broadband communication link is provided between the central station and the first receiver and transmitter at each retail outlet.

Preferably monitoring stock withdrawal comprises recording stock withdrawal at an EPOS checkout for collecting data relating to purchases made at a checkout and for supplying the data relating to stock withdrawal to the central station.

However, in another embodiment the monitoring may be performed by third transmitters and receivers provided at the store shelves for detecting withdrawal of product from the shelves and supplying signals indicative of withdrawal of product to the central station .

Preferably the stock withdrawal data is provided by a second communication link from the central station to a retailer central system to enable resupply of stock to the retail outlet.

The object of a second aspect of the invention concerns overcoming the problems relating to pricing changes .

This aspect of the invention may be said to reside in a shelf management system for managing shelf pricing changes , comprising: a central station having a central processor for providing pricing data relating to items for sale at the retail outlet; a store shelf management system at the or each retail outlet, the system having a store processor, a first receiver and transmitter for receiving a transmission from the central station containing the pricing data, a plurality of short range transmitters and receivers for receiving the price data from the first receiver and transmitter; and a plurality of shelf price tags for displaying the price of items available for sale in the retail outlet, the price tags having a price tag receiver for receiving the price data from the short range receivers and transmitters and for altering prices displayed by the tags in accordance with the price data.

The first communication link may comprise a broadband line, a dial up line, or a wide area network.

This aspect of the invention may be said to reside in a shelf management method of managing shelf pricing changes, comprising: providing pricing data relating to items for sale at the retail outlet from a central station; receiving the price data at a first receiver and transmitter; providing the price data from the first transmitter to a plurality of short range transmitters and receivers ; and providing the price data from the short range transmitters to shelf price tags for displaying the price of items available for sale in the retail outlet in accordance with the pricing data .

The object of a third aspect of the invention relates to overcoming shortcomings with the reordering of stock.

This aspect of the invention may be said to reside in a shelf management system for managing stock replacement at a retail outlet, comprising: a central station having a central processor; a retailer central station having a retailer processor; a store shelf management system at the retail outlet, the system having a store processor; a monitor for monitoring stock withdrawal from the retail outlet and for supplying stock withdrawal data to the store processor and from the store processor to the central processor at the central station so that when a stock reorder level is reached, the central station supplies a signal to the retailer central station to resupply stock to the retail outlet.

Preferably the monitor for monitoring stock withdrawal comprises an EPOS checkout connected to the store processor for collecting data relating to purchases made at a checkout and for supplying the data relating to stock withdrawal to the shelf management^" processor for transmission to the central processor at the central station .

However, in another embodiment transmitters and receivers may be provided at the store shelves for detecting withdrawal of product from the shelves and for supplying signals indicative of withdrawal of product to the shelf management processor.

Preferably the store processor supplies the data relating to stock withdrawal to a first receiver and transmitter for transmission back to the central station.

Preferably the second communication link comprises a broadband line, dial up line or wide area network between the central station and the retailer central system.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which :

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a system and method according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a block diagram of the system of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 is a block diagram of part of the system of Figure 2. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment With reference to Figure 1, a shelf management system and method according to the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The system comprises a central active shelf management station 10 which is connected to a retailers central system 12 by a communication link 14 which is preferably a broadband line, a dial up line, a wide area network or a wireless network.

The central station 10 is connected to a plurality of retail outlets 5 (two shown in Figure 1) via a broadband communication link such as broadband line 16 schematically shown in Figure 1. However, once again, this communication link could comprise a dial up line, a wide area network or a wireless network.

As shown in Figure 2 , the retail outlets 5 (only one shown in Figure 2) have a store shelf management system 20 which receives data from the central station 10 and supplies the data to a long range receiver and transmitter 22 located in the store environment. The long range transmitter and receiver 22 in turn communicates with a plurality of short range shelf level transmitter and receivers 24 (only one shown in Figure 2) which in turn communicate with a number of local price tags 26 which display prices of items for sale on shelves of the retail outlets .

Thus , in the embodiment of Figure 1 , a single long range transmitter and receiver is provided and a number of short range transmitters and receivers 24 are provided. This two step process of providing data to the local price tags 26 reduces costs as more short range devices 24 and formats for short range transmission of data are provided than long range devices 22.

With reference to Figure 2 , in which only a single store is shown, the store shelf management system 22 has a store management processor 30 and a database 32 which control the long range transmitter 22. The store 5 also has a store EPOS server system 40 which comprises an EPOS processor 42 and a database 44. An EPOS checkout terminal 45 is provided and is electronically connected to the system 20 and server system 40. Typically the retail outlet will have a number of EPOS checkouts 45, all of which are connected to the system 20 and server 40.

The server system 40 is connected to the retailer's central system 12 by a third communication link 50 which again may comprise a broadband line, a dial up line or a wide area network. Data relating to stock withdrawal (that is, purchases made by customers) is acquired at the checkout 45 and is supplied to the server 40 and the system 20. The server 40 can, at an appropriate time (such as overnight) , supply the stock withdrawal data to the retailer central station 12. The system 23 comprises a retailer processor 27 and a database 25 so that data relating to sales made at each of the retail outlets can be recorded in the EPOS system 23 and analysed to provide sales reports and the like. Furthermore, the system 23 can also communicate with the server system 40 to provide data relating to items for sale in the retail outlet 5 and price information, etc.

However, more importantly, the stock withdrawal data is provided from the system 20 to the first transmitter 22 for immediate transmission to the central station 10. This data will be used to re-order stock as will be described later .

The long range store transmitter and receiver 22 communicates with a number of short range transmitters and receivers 24 (only one shown in Figure 2) by an RFID format, and the transmitters 24 communicate with price tags 26 which may be located on a store shelf 48 for display the price of items for sale on the shelf 48.

With reference to Figure 3 the long range transmitter 22 is shown transmitting a signal to short range shelf level transmitter and receiver 24. The receiver and transmitter 24 may be Wi-Fi and/or ZigBee transmitters. These transmitters typically have a broadcast range of about 50 metres . The Wi-FI transmitters use single carrier direct- sequence spread spectrum radio technology which delivers data via packets which are called beacons and which are broadcasted every 100 ms . If ZigBee transmitters are used, a suite of high level communication protocols is used using small, low power digital radios for wireless personal area networks. Thus, the transmitters 24 transmit over a relatively short range to the price tags 26. The price tags 26 include a controller 90 which receives the signal from the transmitter 24 and supplies the received signal to a microcontroller unit 91 which in turn supplies a signal to an LCD driver 92 to drive an LCD display 93 to show the data transmitted in the signal from the transmitter 24. Preferably a radio frequency of 2.4 GHz is used for receiver and transceiver purposes . The radio frequency field generated by the transmitters will cause it to continuously transmit its data by pulsing the radio frequency. The transmission is then captured is then captured by the controller 90 and the price tags 26 which are then triggered to display the data in the signal on the LCD display 93.

In one embodiment the transmitters 22 and 24 are transceivers for receiving and transmitting data . The price tag 26 may also have a transceiver rather than just a receiver for both transmission and receipt of data, particularly if customer feedback is needed at the price tags 26.

Pricing data is established at the central station 10 and is transmitted to the store system 20 via communication link 16 so the data is received by the long range receiver and transmitter 22. The pricing data is then loaded into the database 32 and also into the database 44. The transmitter 22 transmits an RFID format signal to the transmitters and receivers 24 so that the pricing data can be supplied to the price tags 26 so that appropriate ones of the price tags 26 can be updated where necessary with new pricing information contained in the pricing data. For example, each tag 26 may have a unique identification number or code and the price data may include a price data component and a code to match the particular tag 26 which is to be changed to show the new pricing data .

Thus, a LED or LCD display on the tag 26 is altered to give the updated price of a particular item. For example, promotion or pricing can be provided in response to particular requirements, such as time of day. For example, a sandwich offered for sale may have a breakfast price , a lunch price and in the evening, a clearance price after a particular time to attempt to move stock.

Thus , a merchandising product plan can be put in place from the central station 10 in terms of different products offered at different hours of the day but with delivery and merchandising timed to replace existing merchandise and product, hence optimising product offerings, making the offerings more relevant to the likelihood of sale and thereby increasing sales and potential profits . Furthermore, pricing can be based on how long an item has been offered for sale so that freshness can be added as a dimension for purchase as fresh stocks are delivered for sale at particular times of the day.

Whilst the above examples apply to food products which may be offered for sale at particular times and which may be reduced in cost after, say breakfast, lunch or the like, pricing changes can relate to any product and the present embodiment provides the ability to immediately alter pricing in real time to take advantage of particular situations which may influence sales , the desire to clear stock, or the desire to offer general incentives to purchase , etc .

When a person takes an item from the shelf 18 to the EPOS checkout 45. The updated price data for that product is already loaded into the databases 32 and 44 and therefore when that item is scanned or otherwise identified at the checkout 45, the updated relevant price for the product is called up by the processor 42 and provided to the EPOS checkout.

The store server system 40 makes possible the ability to offer targeted incentives to groups of consumers based on loyalty, purchase history, or other criteria.

The central station 10 may include a central station processor 11 and database 13 for maintaining price data which may change throughout the course of the day or may receive commands input from a keyboard or other input device (not shown) so that pricing information for particular items can be fed into the database 13 and processor 11, as desired by operators of the pricing system.

The processor 13 may also include a database for providing data relating to particular consumers so that when particular consumers are identified within the retail outlet 5 , specific offers can be targeted to those consumers. For example, consumers may join a loyalty program provided by the operator of the central station 10, and be provided with an identification number which can be supplied by way of a smart card, mobile telephone or the like so that when consumers are identified or identify themselves by their PIN number in a retail outlet, data relating to the particular consumers is provided to the central processor 11 so the central processor 11 can match the particular shopper involved with particular offers which may be available for that shopper based on the shopper's demographic information, purchase history, attitudinal segmentation or other information which is stored in the database 13 relative to that person .

Furthermore, a shopper could select the lifestyle group he/she wants to belong to in order to receive related/relevant offers . This is an alternative way of self-selection of target group without need for using behavioural segmentation such as purchase history to group shoppers .

In one embodiment consumers may be detected by an RFID transmitter/receiver system which may be the same or a different system to that which produces the price alteration referred to above . When the consumer is identified, data relating to the consumer is supplied to the transmitter/receiver 22 and can be supplied to the processor 30 and database 32 or to the central station 10, so that particular offers relevant to that purchaser can be determined and the selected offer is transmitted to the shelves customer . The selected offer may be transmitted to the consumer by forwarding a text message to the consumer' s mobile telephone if a mobile telephone number is recorded with the consumer's data. Alternatively, information can be forwarded by the long range receiver and transmitter 22 to the short range transmitter and receivers 24 for display on the price tags. In a still further embodiment the consumer may receive a shopping list from a printer (not shown) which contains offers physically directed to that consumer . In a still further embodiment the tags 26 may be in the form of colour LCD screens as well as displaying price data, advertising messages and other audio/visual advertising material may be delivered. The advertising messages may be targeted to specifically identify consumers who are perceived to be interested in a particular product which may be available for advertisement .

The server system 40 identifies products which are withdrawn from the shelves 48 (that is, selected for purchase) so that data relating to purchased product is obtained which can be supplied to the retailer system 12 for inventory purposes. In one embodiment the top 20% of items that contribute 80% of sales may be identified and immediately sent back to the central station 10 via the receiver and transmitter 22 and the broadband line 16. However, if desired, withdrawal data relating to all items can be provided.

In one embodiment of the invention stock withdrawal is monitored by the EPOS checkout 45 when purchase items are scanned at checkout. The data relating to the purchase products is supplied from the EPOS checkout 45 to the server system 40 and to the shelf management system 20 so that data can in turn be forwarded to the central station 10 via the transmitter and receiver 22 and the communication link 16.

In a second embodiment of the invention stock withdrawals may be monitored by shelf withdrawal transmitters and receivers 65 which are located in proximity to the store shelves 48 so that as stock is withdrawn from the shelves, the stock item is detected by one of the transmitters and receivers 65 and so that data can be supplied from that transmitter or receiver to the transmitter and receiver 24 and then back to the transmitter and receiver 22. Alternatively, the shelf withdrawal transmitters and receivers 65 may communicate the data directly to the transmitter and receiver 22. Again, the transmitter and receiver 22 can transmit the data relating to the stock withdrawals to the central station 10 via the broadband line 16 and also supply the data to the system server 40.

The central station 10 is connected to the retailer EPOS system 23 which has the database 25 and a processor 27 by the broadband line 14. The system 23 is connected to the retailer' s inventory system which provides for physical delivery of stock from the retailer' s central warehouse 29 to the various retail outlets operated by the retailer.

The processor 11 and database 13 maintain a stock record for each of the retail outlets and, in particular, the processor 11 and database 13 maintain a closing stock level of each of the items in the predetermined range of items mentioned above. The store closing stock level- is recorded in the processor 11 and database 13 at the central station 10. The store closing stock level is the opening stock level plus any new purchase minus sales (that is, withdrawals from the shelves 48) . The processor 11 maintains a stock reordering level for each item of stock. At a predetermined stock reordering level, a minimum order quantity is sent from the central station 10 via the link 14 to the inventory system 29 at the retailer system 12. The EPOS system 23 is updated from the system 29 during predetermined times of low traffic flow. The reorder is processed at the system 12 and forwarded to inventory 29 for physical delivery of stock to the required retail outlet, as illustrated by line 51 in Figure 2. The inventory 29 may be one or more warehouses in which stock is maintained.

The processor 11 and database 13 at the central station 10 re-updates itself with the amount of stock which is sent to the relevant retail outlet.

At the end of each day, the central station 10 can forward an update to the EPOS system 23 when electronic traffic is low.

This therefore helps manage the most important 20% of items which contribute 80% of the sales so that necessary stock is carried and demand is covered and the likelihood of an out of stock situation occurring during the course of the day is greatly reduced.

Thus , in the preferred embodiment of the invention the store server system 40 communicates with the retailer central station 12, as is generally conventional so that data relating to sales activity, conventional pricing, stock levels, etc. may be transmitted back and forth from the stores 5 to the retailer' s central station 12 for analysis , inventory purposes and management reporting.

The shelf management system 20 interacts with the server 40 and the retailer' s central station 12 to provide immediate updating of pricing throughout the course of the day and stock delivery during the course of the day, so that pricing can be changed in real time and stock delivered immediately as it is required to the various retial outlets 5.

The system 20 is managed by the central station 10 so that new pricing data can be supplied for immediate display on the store shelves 48 as is required, and to enable immediate reordering of stock, should stock levels drop to a predetermined level .

The processor 11 and database 13, by monitoring the stock inventory supplied to the stores and withdrawn from the stores , also enables measurements of sales value per linear space of shelving 48 which is used for display of items , the sales value times price per line space and the margin per linear space .

Productivity measurements in square feet or metres can also be calculated so that reports 60 can be generated by the processor 11 and database 13 as to the amount of space items are occupying and the sales value of those items to determine whether the space is adequate and to optimise shelf space and pricing strategy.

The preferred embodiment of the invention therefore enables frequent price changes to be made in real time that allow retailers to test and implement the most effective price points and shelving space strategies for products .

Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of example hereinabove .

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A shelf management system for managing shelf pricing changes and stock replacement at a retail outlet, comprising: a central management station having a central processor for providing pricing data relating to items for sale at the retail outlet; a retailer central station having a retailer processor for maintaining an inventory of stock at one or more retail outlets ; a store shelf management system at the or each retail outlet, the system having a store processor, a first receiver and transmitter for receiving a transmission from the central station containing the pricing data, a plurality of short range transmitters and receivers for receiving the price data from the first receiver and transmitter, a plurality of shelf price tags for displaying the price of items available for sale in the retail outlet, the price tags having a price tag receiver for receiving the price data from the short range receivers and transmitters and for altering prices displayed by the tags in accordance with the price data; and a monitor for monitoring stock withdrawal from the retail outlet and for supplying stock withdrawal data to the store processor for transmission to the central processor at the central station for immediately ordering resupply of stock to the or each retail outlet.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein a first communication link is provided between the central station and the first receiver and transmitter at each retail outlet.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the first communication link comprises a broadband line, a dial up line, a wide area network or a wireless transmission network .

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first receiver and transmitter communicates with each of the short range receiver and transmitters at the retail outlet by RFID format.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the pricing data is provided from the first transmitter and receiver to the store processor to update the price of items so that when the items are purchased, the updated price of the items is charged to a customer.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the shelf tag comprises a LED panel, or a LCD screen.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the monitor for monitoring stock withdrawal comprises an EPOS checkout connected to the store processor for collecting data relating to purchases made at a checkout and for supplying the data relating to stock withdrawal to the shelf management processor for transmission to the central processor at the central station.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein transmitters and receivers are provided at the store shelves for detecting withdrawal of product from the shelves and for supplying signals indicative of withdrawal of product to the shelf management processor.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the store processor supplies the data relating to stock withdrawal to the first receiver and transmitter for transmission back to the central station.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein a second communication link is provided between the central station and the retailer central station for supplying the stock withdrawal data from the central station to the retailer central system to enable resupply of stock to the retail outlet.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the second communication link comprises a broadband line, dial up line, wide area network or a wireless network between the central station and the retailer central system.

12. A shelf management method to manage shelf pricing changes and stock replacement at one or more retail outlets , comprising: providing pricing data relating to items for sale at the one or more retail outlets from a central station via a communication link; receiving the price data from the communication link by a first receiver and transmitter at one or more retail outlets; transmitting the price data from the first receiver and transmitter to a plurality of short range transmitters and receivers ; transmitting the price data from the short range transmitters to a plurality of shelf price tags for displaying the price of items available for sale in the retail outlet; monitoring stock withdrawal from the retail outlet and supplying stock withdrawal data to the central station to order resupply of stock to the or each retail outlet .

13. The method of claim 12 wherein a broadband communication link is provided between the central station and the first receiver and transmitter at each retail outlet.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the first receiver and transmitter communicates with each of the short range receiver and transmitters at the retail outlet by RFID format .

15. The method of claim 12 wherein monitoring stock withdrawal comprises recording stock withdrawal at an EPOS checkout for collecting data relating to purchases made at a checkout and for supplying the data relating to stock withdrawal to the central station.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the monitoring is performed by third transmitters and receivers provided at the store shelves for detecting withdrawal of product from the shelves and supplying signals indicative of withdrawal of product to the central station.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the stock withdrawal data, is provided by a second communication link from the central station to a retailer central system to enable resupply of stock to the retail outlet.

18. A shelf management system for managing shelf pricing changes, comprising: a central station having a central processor for providing pricing data relating to items for sale at the retail outlet; a store shelf management system at the or each retail outlet, the system having a store processor, a first receiver and transmitter for receiving a transmission from the central station containing the pricing data, a plurality of short range transmitters and receivers for receiving the price data from the first receiver and transmitter; and a plurality of shelf price tags for displaying the price of items available for sale in the retail outlet, the price tags having a price tag receiver for receiving the price data from the ^"short range receivers and transmitters and for altering prices displayed by the tags in accordance with the price data .

19. The system of claim 18 wherein a first communication link is provided between the central station and the first receiver and transmitter at each retail outlet .

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the first communication link may comprise a broadband line, a dial up line , or a wide area network .

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the shelf tag comprises a LED panel or LCD screen.

22. A shelf management method of managing shelf pricing changes , comprising : providing pricing data relating to items for sale at the retail outlet from a central station; receiving the price data at a first receiver and transmitter; providing the price data from the first transmitter to a plurality of short range transmitters and receivers ; and providing the price data from the short range transmitters to shelf price tags for displaying the price of items available for sale in the retail outlet in accordance with the pricing data.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein a first communication link is provided between the central station and the first receiver and transmitter at each retail outlet .

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the first communication link comprises a broadband line, a dial up line , or a wide area network .

25. A shelf management system for managing stock replacement at a retail outlet, comprising: a central station having a central processor; a retailer central station having a retailer processor; a store shelf management system at the retail outlet, the system having a store processor; a monitor for monitoring stock withdrawal from the retail outlet and for supplying stock withdrawal data to the store processor and from the store processor to the central processor at the central station so that when a stock reorder level is reached, the central station supplies a signal to the retailer central station to resupply stock to the retail outlet.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the monitor for monitoring stock withdrawal comprises an EPOS checkout connected to the store processor for collecting data relating to purchases made at a checkout and for supplying the data relating to stock withdrawal to the shelf management processor for transmission to the central processor at the central station.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein transmitters and receivers may be provided at the store shelves for detecting withdrawal of product from the shelves and for supplying signals indicative of withdrawal of product to the shelf management processor.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein the store processor supplies the data relating to stock withdrawal to a first receiver and transmitter for transmission back to the central station.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein a second communication link is provided between the central ^• station and the retailer central station for supplying the stock withdrawal data from the central station to the retailer central system to enable resupply of stock to the retail outlet.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the second communication link comprises a broadband line, dial up line or wide area network between the central station and the retailer central system.