Great Characteristics For Retail Employees

The ability to talk to anyone? Check. Friendly and approachable? Check. Calm during stressful situations? Check.  The list of great customer characteristics continues when looking for retail employees for your store, but among the checks you want to cross off on your employee check list should include the following:

1. Customer Service Skills

In retail, no matter what sector of retail, it is essential that employees excel in customer service. Among the important customer service qualities that retail employees should have  include the ability to calmly interact with customers under all kinds of situations, including stress. Whether you are dealing with a frustrated customer or a disruptive customer, employees who can effectively react to various situations in the retail enviornment are very valuable for stores to have. In addition to dealing with more stressful situations, it’s also great to have associates who excel with client relationships. Their customer service skills can enhance your business in many ways, including financially and socially.

2. Time Management Skills

Anyone who works in retail knows there is a lot to be done. The list is endless regarding what there is to do. When looking for employees, it is beneficial to find people who thrive being busy and can balance many different responsibilities. In addition, being interrupted is common in retail. You can start a project thinking there will be no foot traffic in the store for awhile and then all the sudden you can get slammed. Understanding this comes with the territory is important for employees to respect.

3. Flexible Working Hours

Store hours should accomodate all consumers, not just  those available during the day from 9 to 5. Because of this, having retail associates who are able to work after 5pm and during the weekends is essential. It’s also a good idea to bring up holiday working hours during your employee interviews so you can anticipate what your staff’s availability will be during holiday seasons.

4. Ability To Take Some Heat

Believe it or not, it takes tough skin to work in retail. Hearing “no thanks” or sometimes even just a big, loud “no” from customers can often hurt one’s feelings. There will be times when associates will have to deal with upset customers and respect store policies despite wanting to. It may mean headaches and tears for some, while others let these situations bounce off of them and move forward. Make sure to discuss these types of situations with your associates so you can help plan ahead  for these potentially upsetting situations later.

5.  Willingness To Take Ownership

Great retail associates should be able to “own” the situation they are in. Good or bad, they should be able to proudly represent your business and deliver outstanding service. If questioned later about something, they should have confidence in their actions and likewise, it’s important you have confidence in them. That said, this takes time to earn. But looking for associates who  you believe will “own” their responsibilities is important for your business to thrive since you can’t always be the face of your business.

What other characteristics do you believe retail employees should have? Let us know. Please comment below.

Shopping With Visual Aides

Magazines. Celeberties. Coupons. Friends. The influence of consumer purchases can go on and on and on and on. You get the idea! Outside of needing something, one of the primary reasons people shop is influenced by visual stimulation outside of themselves. Maybe they like how something looked on their friend – now they want it. Maybe they saw a great purse in a magazine – now they dream about it. Maybe they received a coupon and it is burning a hole in their purse! Whatever the reason, visual aides literally influence why people shop. So rather than ignore this, jump on the band wagon. So what can you do?

Press

Want press? Of course you do. Have press? I hope so! If not, try and get some. By gaining press, potential consumers will learn about your product and ideally, buy your product. Not everyone who sees you or your product in the press will be a customer, but it can lead to conversations with others that may lead to sales as a result. In addition, one press piece can help encourage another press piece and so on. Press helps you. It’s your friend. It’s a visual aide that you can’t buy but will make people want to buy. And consumers? Whether they like the media or not, they are influenced by it. So if youcan, be a part of it.

Store Displays

What are the trends in your area? What is your target market doing for fun? What does your store do to capture all that and more? Using your store to create  visual stimulation through displays can attract new customers and keep old customers coming back. Make sure you keep your store front windows alive and fresh so that customers can be drawn into your store and more importantly, stay in your store. Capture them and keep them engaged visually. Merchandising is a challenge for some and a passion for others. If it isn’t your thing, get help from someone who is good at it because it can make a difference in your sales! Remember, the visual aides in this scenario are your store and your product – make them want what you have to sell.

Employees

While this isn’t true for all stores, the visual impact of your associates often influence your customers. Now don’t get me wrong - I don’t expect beautiful models working in your stores. But I do think well groomed, well taken care of individuals that represent the product you sell will make a difference. Customers see the associates and like it or not, are visually influenced. If you sell clothes and your associates wear your clothes, this is especially the case. Sell art? Your associates need to capture a sense of knowlege and be open for communication. Sell a service? Your associates should be easy to approach. And yes, looks do make a difference here. Visually, consumers will respond to people in different ways. Are your associates visually complimenting your store? If not, have a chat with all of your associates and see what you can do together to make this visual difference. Uniforms, dress codes, body gestures – this will all impact visual perceptions that WILL be made by customers or potential customers… It’s just the way it is.

Don’t ignore the many layers involved in how consumers shop. Visual impressions surround each of us everyday and ultimately will influence purrchases. Make them work in your favor!