Mystery shoppers can make their shopping days easier by always being prepared for any type of assignment. It is useful to keep a bag or box with items that may be used while visiting an assigned location. Some shoppers may keep a work bag in the trunk of their car in order to always be prepared.

Here are some examples of items to keep in supply:

While on the Job

• Pen
• Back up pen
• Small notebook or index card to jot down times and descriptions
• Small recorder when jotting down notes isn't possible
• Cell phone to "call home" if you need to leave yourself messages with notes
• Stop watch, sometimes having two is better
• Envelope for receipts. The Container Store has plastic durable ones in a variety of sizes
• Comfortable shoes
• Map or city guide
• Note card with directions and phone number to the restaurant or store
• A print out of your assignments for the day or week, in order to track all of your tasks. If you are shopping a location that is also a chain, it is important to make sure you are visiting the correct address

• Files with name of each company that is shopped
• Guidelines for each assignment
• Addressed envelopes for receipts to be mailed
• If you have a monthly rotation of assignments for the same company, you may want to print out a supply of labels to save time when mailing receipts
• Calendar
• "To-do" list of each weekly assignment
• List of outstanding fees for each company
• List of companies already applied
• List of companies to apply to
• Highlighter
• Box of note cards
• Stapler

Being prepared can make your work load easier.