Strengthen Competitions & Reporting with Trusted Data

Smith Oil had strong operational ideas but limited confidence in the data behind them.

Overview

Region: West Virginia Taiga Customer Since: December 2024 Focus Areas: Reporting accuracy, Product competitions, Category Resets Challenge: Smith Oil had strong operational ideas but limited confidence in the data behind them. Competitions were difficult to measure accurately SKU-level visibility across stores was inconsistent Manual reporting made some initiatives not worth the effort Reporting lived in separate systems, limiting trust and clarity

2. Data-Driven Category Resets

“We use real SKU performance to guide our resets. When you trust the data, allocating space becomes straightforward.”

 — Michelle Fluharty

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Vendor conversations are now grounded in consistent, standardized reporting — strengthening negotiation leverage.

  • Candy, salty snacks, and soft drink resets guided by actual SKU movement
  • Store-by-store performance used to allocate shelf space
  • Reduced reliance on vendor recommendations alone

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“Our vendors appreciate the reports. Everyone is looking at the same numbers.”

— Michelle Fluharty

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3. Data Reconciliation & Reporting Confidence

As Taiga integrated data across systems, it uncovered inconsistencies within POS reporting that had gone unnoticed.

  • Transaction-level reconciliation surfaced reporting discrepancies
  • Corrections improved enterprise-wide reporting accuracy
  • Increased confidence in numbers used for pricing, promotions, and performance management

“You don’t realize how much you’re working around the data until you can actually trust it.”

 — Michelle Fluharty

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Result:

Smith Oil moved from fragmented reporting to a unified, reconciled data foundation — enabling clearer decisions and stronger execution across stores.

  • Competitions are measurable and actionable
  • Category resets are performance-driven
  • Vendor discussions are data-backed
  • Reporting is reconciled and trusted
  • Leadership operates with daily visibility instead of month-end summaries

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How Smith Oil Uses Unified Data:

1. Real-Time Product Competitions “We always wanted to run cashier competitions, but we didn’t have a reliable way to track performance. It wasn’t something we could measure efficiently.” — Michelle Fluharty, Secretary-Treasurer, Smith Oil Without clean, reconciled data, even simple product pushes required extra effort to monitor — and decision-making often relied more on instinct than visibility. Cashier competitions are now practical and measurable — used strategically to account for staffing differences. Monthly store-level competitions tied to specific SKUs Real-time product scorecards track daily performance Clear 10% lift targets during competition periods — consistently exceeded Adjustments made during the competition, not weeks later “If a store is trending up or down, we can see it immediately and adjust.” — Michelle Fluharty
Testimonials
“Before Taiga, I don’t know when I would have realized that a major market share shift had happened. Because I check regularly, I could see it immediately. That changed my conversations with both vendors involved.”
Dave Linder
COO, Mach 1 Stores
"Their expertise shed light on intricate challenges, dismantling obstacles and offering creative strategies. I was amazed at how swiftly their methods translated into concrete results, fostering steady growth and measurable success for our business."
Jessica Brown
COO, Future Forward Inc.
"Their insights brought solutions to complex challenges, eliminating roadblocks and igniting innovation. I was astonished by how efficiently their strategies translated into concrete outcomes, securing growth and meaningful success for our company."
Emily Chen
VP of Strategy, Innovate Corp