Heading into the new year, you may be considering how you and your team can hit the ground running. Finding innovative new ways to work and improvements that you can make to your retail business’ overall structure and operations is a great continuous objective for your business. Developing your team’s abilities and improving morale will ultimately help your retail store generate more profits and increase in popularity. To help you identify which areas to focus on, we’ve put together a few of our best tips for developing your retail team.
Treat Your Staff Like Business Partners
If you’ve worked in retail before owning your store, you should be aware of how much knowledge you gain about the store’s operation and customers’ buying habits. This general understanding may even be more highly attuned than that of your manager or the owner of the store. Now that you run your store, it’s essential not to forget that those staff on the front lines, dealing with customers every day, know what’s working and what isn’t. Listening to your employees is important in any business, and retail is no exception. Speak to your staff and ask for their opinions and analysis of everything from sales figures to stock placement. You might be surprised at just how effective their input is.
Overhaul Your Retail Culture
Jumping off from treating your employees as more than just staff, it’s vital to consider shaking up the whole structure of your business by revisiting the culture of your business. Retail cultures are traditionally very much top-down but levelling out this structure by encouraging your team to offer advice and improvements to your business is a great idea. Not only this, but ensuring that you are much more transparent with things in your company could improve morale and encourage your team to be more dedicated to the overall success of the business.
Provide Useful Qualifications
If you haven’t already considered it, providing your team with expert qualifications and training can hugely benefit your business. Investing in training for your team to help them develop sales management skills via online sales and marketing courses is an intelligent choice. It’s worthwhile considering a business development course for your managers and dedicated sales executives to help them to hone their abilities and provide your business with quality retail expertise. Helping your staff improve themselves is also a great way to boost their morale as their sense of accomplishment and career progression will increase considerably.
Focus On Customer Service
Lastly, it’s imperative that you analyse your current approach to customer service. While having a smile and being friendly with customers is encouraging and provides them with a better impression of your retail store, there is far more to this than just a pleasant demeanour. Customer service is so important in retail. Ensuring your team is willing to go above and beyond for the customer can significantly increase the chance of these customers returning or even becoming regulars. Help them out wherever possible, but within reason. However, don’t forget to stand in solidarity with your team in the face of aggressive and unpleasant customers. While you might lose their custom, it’s better to create a positive, supportive atmosphere for your staff and the other customers that hostile visitors may put off.
Leave a Reply