Increase Employee Productivity This Holiday Season

Many independent retailers are use to being in their stores all day, everyday ALONE. Yet as the holidays approach and your stores get busier, it’s likely that you are planning to introduce some seasonal staff to your team. Beyond making it a priority to train them on your store expectations, including customer service standards, check out procedures, selling techniques and other sales and operational support they will need to know about, you want to make sure you keep them motivated, engaged and productive.

Below, gain 3 tips on helping your staff deliver memorable customer experiences and memorable sales for your store, as well.

1. Keep your management voice energetic, uplifting and encouraging versus run down, tired and overwhelmed. This time of year can take the best of many of us, but your sales team is looking up to you to lead the mood in your store. Always keep this mind during ALL your communication with them.

2. Introduce fun selling games and interactive challenges among your team. This will create healthy competition to get your staff motivated to sell more and win whatever contest it is you have in place. Whether it’s “Wheel of Fortune” themed, “Stock Up Your Sales”, or “Counting Up Your Commission”, there are countless ways to have fun while encouraging your team to sell more. Prizes can include bonuses based on sales, tickets to your local movie theater, a gift certificate to a favorite local coffee shop, inventory from your store or whatever else you think your staff would enjoy.

3. Incorporate a “team picks” display in your store that lets each of your staff highlight their favorite gift item. This offers a great conversation starter for them to share with your customers, and it can be fun to see the diversity among your team. As a bonus to your customers and your team alike, have pre-wrapped items ready to go, such as candles or other gift favorites from your store employees. While this may not seem like much of a motivation tactic, it’s amazing how incorporating an employee’s personal favorites into your store displays can get them more engaged, talking and yes, selling.

Finally, never forget to show your appreciation and offer praise for a job well done.

Want more tips on supporting your employees this holiday season?

Check out more articles from Retail Minded below! 

Leading Your Team With “JOY” This Holiday Season

3 Ways to Improve Employee Orientations

Holiday Hires: Are You Treating Yours Nice?