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Roles in retail management have a reputation for featuring a wide range of challenges. Managers need to cope with high levels of responsibility, display unwavering customer service skills, have excellent organisation, and have a smart, responsive approach to people management.
Tackling these challenges on a long-term basis requires the right approach, though. So, if you’re considering a career in retail management or want to improve your skills and prospects, here are six ways you can make sure you’re being the best retail manager you can be.
Stepping Up to the Role of Retail Manager
1. Lead by example
Arguably one of the most important points on this list is to lead by example. If you don’t show your staff how to perform their jobs effectively and professionally and instead display bad habits, don’t be surprised when they exhibit those bad habits themselves.
2. Invest in your employees
Employees need to feel like they are being valued and invested in. To do this, be sure to run 121 sessions on a regular basis with staff to give praise and feedback. Also, provide regular training to increase their skills and make them feel like they are progressing and learning in their careers.
3. Ensure the safety of employees
It’s a legal requirement that retail businesses should prevent workplace accidents and provide a working environment that doesn’t put staff at risk of injury. To keep your employees safe, check the Health and Safety Executive’s website, using their resources and guides to craft solid policies, processes, practices, and risk assessments for your business.
4. Protect your customers
While the correct health and safety procedures will keep customers safe as well as staff, it can be a good idea to ensure your site is covered by shop and retail insurance. The types of cover range depending on your business needs but can include legal expenses and public liability which can help ensure the continuity of your business should something happen to a customer inside your premises.
5. Be organised
Without proper organisation, retail businesses can become inefficient, with higher rates of lost or damaged stock, greater staff attrition, and more damage to fittings and premises. That’s why, as a manager, it’s important you don’t forget to uphold a good standard of cleanliness and tidiness, monitor stock regularly, and support staff with fair and logical rotas.
6. Manage data smartly
Today, with digital systems available for most aspects of store management, it’s important for retail managers to use every bit of data at their fingertips to optimise and improve. That could include tracking store sales and monitoring inventory to work out what sells well and why, and monitoring footfall to see when the shop is busy and when more staff are needed.
With the tips above, you can become better at your role as a retail manager for the good of your career, store, staff, and customers. Got any other tips you think are important? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
