It’s not easy managing a retail store. You are responsible for so many moving parts, from the aesthetics and appearance of your store to inventory to scheduling and supervising employees on long shifts. Of course the end goal of all the efforts involved in successful retail management is to satisfy your customers. In order to do this, you must keep your staff happy and motivated. And successful retail management involves teaching employees how to keep customers happy whether or not you are present at the store. To help you and your staff work towards the results your store needs to compete in the market, here are three simple retail store management tips you should always follow:
Schedule staff strategically so they can teach each other
When you are onboarding employees, encourage them to get to know other team members and make sure the rest of your team gives off a positive vibe that will make them more approachable to newcomers for guidance on the job. When you are creating shift schedules, make sure new or less experienced employees have more experienced team members to work with. One of the retail store management tips that help new employees learn the ropes is to find team members you think they have things in common with and assign that team member as their mentor.
Keep in mind the strengths of your different employees when you are creating your schedule. Make sure the skills of the employees working together balance each other out. For example, one employee may have great communication skills with customers, while another is more familiar with the merchandise your store has available. This is key to successful retail store management, because you will have all of your bases covered to ensure the store runs smoothly without you. This will make your job easier and allow you to focus on other things.
Help Employees Adjust to Change
An important aspect of successful retail management is being prepared for change. The demand for your products is bound to change, along with your customer base and the competition you are facing in the marketplace. When store products and procedures need to change to help you compete in the marketplace and meet customer demands, hold team meetings to make your employees aware. Regularly conduct any necessary training on product knowledge, software, how to upsell products, etc. One of the retail store management tips that will help your employees sell new products to customers is to encourage them to use and get familiar with different products every week. At your retail store, promote a culture that is open to and embraces change.
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Show Your Staff You are Relatable and Trustworthy
Be on the lookout for any conflicts developing among employees. When you intervene, make sure you listen to all parties involved and are fully aware of the issue going on. Then discuss possible solutions with each person separately. When helping solve employee disputes, showing neutrality and acting only in the best interest of the store (not favoring any particular employee) is essential to successful retail management. Don’t engage in gossip, and follow through on your word. If you display trustworthy behavior it will be easier for your employees to trust you and come to you with any difficulties they are having.
As a retail store manager, you must be a power of example to your employees. Share the struggles you had when you started out in the retail business and how you overcame them. Making yourself relatable to your employees is an important ingredient for successful retail management. They are more likely to listen to you if they know you have been where they are and you are interested in helping them develop their skills and making their job easier. Show enthusiasm for your brand, and employees are likely to follow suit.
Author: Jessica Cody
Jessica Cody, a native of Fairfield County, Connecticut, has a background in online marketing and public relations. Currently, she works at VHMNetwork LLC in the role of Marketing Analyst. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, where she studied Journalism and Political Science. She is also an avid runner with a passion for the outdoors.
