There is a lot that goes into having a great transition before the actual transition.
1.) Have everything mapped well before the transition and pre-tied at least 2 weeks out. This causes the DC to add transition locations to the casepacks, so they're easier to either trap, sort, backstock, flex, etc however your store deals with it. I also like to have the endcaps mapped out early, so I know which endcaps to designate for clearance-I do not like to have to move things around unnecessarily.
2.) Myday is dropping non-carry forward batches up to 6 (I think?) Weeks in advance of the set. You can use these to help purge broken aisles as they're starting to tear. For example, if A35 is broken a few weeks out, I will pull that batch by aisle, so I can get out liabilities before they clearance and hopefully sell them for a higher margin. OR you could use the backroom detail report to show you where your dcode is. The idea is that you never have to pull clearance batches because it's already out on the floor and selling. (in a perfect world). Also, make sure that you have price change done as it's dropping AND that you have the correct flags on it (15% off, 50% off, etc) so that you're drawing a lot of attention to the clearance. When all of my dcode/non-carry forward/clearance is out, i move on to:
3.) When the new stuff starts coming in, I try and flex it where it will be going if there is space. If it is pretied, myday will tell you exactly where the product will be going. I try and keep a printer on my vehicles with labels at this point so I can get the new product out and keep the floor full (PTM=pre-transition merchandising). This maintains presentation and saves labor during the set.
3a.) When the salesplanner freight comes in, I try and set them straight off the truck. When they are planned out, you can address the product and salesplanner right away. For some endcaps, the freight comes in at the same time. If I set the endcap and push the freight straight off the boat, it saves me from having to backstock it and pull it later. Wasted labor for sure.
4.) This is the best time to make sure your backroom profile is correct with your new adjacency. Double check the adjacency and make sure that your backroom aisles are set up to mirror the floor. Ie A35=Section A in your aisle. A36=Section B in your aisle. A37=Section C. Etc etc. If they are not, move the signs around so they are. As you are purging dcode freight and waiting for the new product, your backroom should be emptying out so this saves you more labor.
5.) Set early if you can. Some stores set 2 weeks early, I shoot for at least 1 week if possible. Ideally, the new freight will go truck to shelf. Obviously don't set new salesplanners that are at 15%, but you get the idea. Saving more labor!
6.) Just know that the workload always increases leading into the transition and until the set is done. You get more freight for the set, so your push is heavier (especially repacks in HBA/OTC.) Price changes are heavier than normal to make room for new stuff. Set workload is heavier with revisions, transitions, and salesplanners. You get one for ones like normal, but get batches for clearance and non carry forward that make your pulls larger and etc. I try to keep in mind that those areas that are about to transition are going to need more than a 4 hour shift to get that all done or that you get support from inbound or other DBOs. But not much control that you have over your own schedule here, so.
What have you been doing that feels successful? What do you feel like could be going better when it comes to resets?