Every retailer wants to know how to hire good people. But not just good people, good people who can also do high-quality work. Too often we hire candidates only to find they have one of these traits or the other, rather than the ideal combination of both. Often they are great people with ho-hum selling skills, or they are somewhat impersonal but can sell the … Continue reading 10 Ways to Find the Right Staffer
Last week at The Running Event, the keynote speaker uttered words every single business owner needs to hear—He said, “Love and business…there’s plenty of room to cultivate both.” Love and business. Two terms that typically don’t get much playing time. Not together, anyhow. But this guy insisted that any business’s future relevance depends on both working as one. The speaker was Walter Robb, former CEO … Continue reading Love and Business
Specialty retail is a performance, and there’s a giant difference between a ho-hum experience and one that earns rave reviews from the harshest critic. Your people wear metaphorical “makeup” so folks can see them from the back row. They exaggerate their movements and animate gestures to make a solid impact on the entire audience. Hopefully they don’t overdo it. Maybe your show’s been running for … Continue reading Unforgettable Retail Performance
There was no question about it, we were going to Carousel, an Armenian restaurant and gathering hall on N. Brand in Glendale. Last time I passed through town we checked it out and were sold on the food and service – even though we figured they sat us outside the main room because our casual attire didn’t compare to everyone else’s formalwear. But this time … Continue reading Carousel Ride
When we know each others’ stories we have a better chance of making a genuine connection. I believe the future of brick and mortar depends on the quality (and authenticity) of your story. Doesn’t matter if you are an owner, a full-timer who wears multiple hats, or an every-other-Saturday part-timer, your story somehow resonates with the brand’s story. So it’s safe to assume that how … Continue reading Your Story is Your Future
Not Just You…You Plus One One of my mentors always claims, “The store is a stage.” And you know what? I believe him. Because when the retail show starts, we can’t afford to be unprepared. If we are, we’ll get booed off. Possibly shut down before our run is though. So, if you are the sort of person who needs three espresso shots before you … Continue reading Amplified
Customer Freedom is Customer Loyalty A sign in a sporting good store asking folks, “Please don’t play with the balls,” is like having one at Costco telling people not to touch the food samples. It doesn’t make any sense to try and keep shoppers from handling a product they might end up buying. Same goes with any products you keep under lock and key. Usually … Continue reading Don’t Touch the Balls
NOTE: I originally published this blog post back in November 2016, but it’s still relevant today (probably always will be). With the big shopping season just around the bend, retailers need to be nipping issues in the bud now. As a retail educator, I spend most of my time reminding store employees how to create/deepen their authentic connections with customers. During my trainings I rarely cover … Continue reading Authenticity
Just Because You Want Change Doesn’t Mean You Will Change Retailers tell me all the time that they want to make ‘a big change’, but rarely do they know what this change looks like. Sure, they exclaim their readiness to rock the boat, but they are too far from water to set sail in the first place. Often folks think I’ll define this change for … Continue reading 4 Steps to Your Big Change
Tom Griffen 