Retail Blog
Mixed Reviews for Customer Service Among Retailers
September 06, 2013 | 0 CommentsIf brick-and-mortar stores want to stay on top, they need to improve their customer service. According to the American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ASCI), online retailers are receiving high marks in this area. In the e-commerce arena, more “real” people are answering phones, being responsive to customers’ needs and handling returns in an efficient manner. By contrast, big Main Street retailers have suffered criticism for being too impersonal, having poor rewards programs, overcharging customers, and having poor delivery...
Teaching Seasonal Retail Employees How to Sell
September 06, 2013 | 0 CommentsIf you’re a small retailer ramping up to hire season employees you’re a small retailer who is going to need to train most of these employees how to approach a sale. More than that, as surprising as this may sound, you need to inform your seasonal employees that selling is a part of their job and their continued employment depends on their sales ability. Wow – that sounds harsh. It also sounds obvious....
Skills Acquired in Retail Jobs
September 06, 2013 | 0 CommentsThe skills obtained while employed in a retail position will escalate ones value for future success. The three most valuable abilities acquired while working in retail are customer service, computer skills and multitasking. However, applying for jobs can be time consuming and frustrating. By working with a knowledgeable staffing agency, your job hunting process becomes more productive. Customer Service Skills Jobs in retail are among the most challenging positions a person can have. Dealing with daily customer service issues,...
And Baby Makes Four - Managing at Retail
September 06, 2013 | 0 CommentsAs much as we may love our families, let’s face it, coming together on holidays and special occasions can be challenging. You may even take bets on how long it’s going to take Great Grandpa (Veteran generation) to deliver his “During the Great Depression we knew what work meant” stories. You expect you’ll have to put up with your wife (Boomer generation) taking a call as she’s dishing...
There is No Such Thing as a Dead End Job in Retail
September 06, 2013 | 212 CommentsCoaching front-line retail employees can be challenging. Take Suzy Q. for example. Suzy used to be one of your best employees. A full-time college student intent on maintaining honor level grades, she demonstrated this same level of ambition and initiative every time she walked through the door of your store. Whenever she was on the floor you breathed a heavy sigh of relief because you knew you could expect she’d exceed her goals – which...
Retail Openings on the Upswing
August 08, 2013 | 374 CommentsNew housing starts in 2013 have been a good indicator of other things—namely some interesting developments in retail, such as a surge in physical store openings. From its meetings with multiple retailers and landlords at retail and real estate conventions, RBC Capital Markets estimates that 83,749 stores plan to open over the next 24 months, with 42, 757 stores planning openings within the next 12 months. This forward movement illustrates a five-year high with year-to-date increases of 2.1% and 2.8% respectively, according to RBC. In urban...