5 Tips to Maximize Your Retail Staff

Managing an understaffed business has become a common issue that many businesses are forced to deal with. As you work toward filling your open positions, you must continue to operate your business the best you can. To do that, you want to get the most from the employees you currently have. Listed below are a few suggestions on how to maximize your current staff:

• Hire the right person from the beginning. Having a good staff of employees starts with the hiring process. To help maintain your expected level of customer service, make sure each employee you hire understands your business culture. Bringing on enthusiastic employees who are looking to be part of your great work environment will pay dividends in the future. An employee who is vested in your company's success will work to protect your brand and support an atmosphere of success.  
• Cross-train your staff. Look to train your team to be able to perform multiple functions within your business operations. That way, if you end up losing a person or they are out for a day, you can easily shift someone else in to take their place. The more cross-trained your employees are, the more scheduling flexibility you have. This also provides greater job satisfaction for your employees. Many employees enjoy the option to vary what they do each day. 
• Give your staff the right tools for the job. Employees can only do so much with the tools you provide them. Look to replace any outdated equipment to maximize efficiency. Legacy POS systems can be replaced with mobile purchase options that allow your employees to almost be in two places at once. Updated inventory management systems allow employees to be more proactive with stock outs and react quickly to reduce the potential for lost sales. 
• Motivate your employees. Showing appreciation to your staff is a great place to start. When showing that appreciation, it is best to personalize it as much as possible. No two employees are alike. People are motivated for different reasons, and building that into your recognition program is important. Personalizing your appreciation also shows you are not taking a cookie-cutter approach and every employee is uniquely valued. Offering a reward or recognition that shows you care is also a good idea. Ask yourself what your employees really want, and then work to fill that request. The idea that “it’s the thought that counts” really applies here. The more meaningful and relevant the reward, the more valued your employees will feel. 
• Take advantage of business downtime. Most businesses have at least some slower times. Take advantage of this time by completing projects that would be difficult during increased customer traffic. If you have extended business hours due to the holiday season, be prepared for downtime in the early morning hours or late at night just prior to closing. Use this time to recover from the day's business and prepare for the next day’s sales.