While restocking shelves, crewmembers sometimes realized that the store had run out of certain
items. Managers gave them the latitude to make adjustments on these occasions. Gardiner explained
that, “Crewmembers are told to fill empty spots with products they do have.”63 Product displays
shifted constantly so as to keep the shelves looking full. Gardiner commented, “That means stocking
shelves, which could seem like a mind-numbingly tedious job (and it is one) is also a task that
involves making a constant series of adjustments.”64 Store managers too did not have to adhere
strictly to a “planogram” developed by the corporate office. They could adapt how and where
products were displayed based on their understanding of the local clientele.