MISFIT
Retailing is simple without staff
O
ne of the biggest problems with retailing is staff. There are some fantastic members of staff in the shoe trade totally dedicated to the industry and would do anything for their
bosses. On the other side of the coin there are an awful lot who just want to turn up and collect their wage at the end of the week.
As an employer you always try and support your staff as much as possible. You very often leave them in charge of your business whether it be for a few hours, a day or even all the time if you have number of shops.
Over the years I have been in numerous shops and thought, I bet the boss isn’t in today. How often do you see staff sat down talking or stood behind a counter drinking coffee, in comes a customer and the best they receive is a hello? Isn’t it amazing how, the day the boss is running the shop trade is far better? Why? Because he cares for his business and will try everything he can to get a sale.
What really annoys me is when I am told “everything is out” and the assistant doesn’t even bother to try and help. These people are being paid a very fair wage and receiving nearly 6 weeks holiday a year. When was the last time you had 6 weeks paid holiday in a year........ I have never had 4 weeks holiday in my 40 years in the trade and certainly not paid. On the subject of holidays why is it that when staff book a week’s holiday it always includes 2 Saturdays? I thought a week was 7 days and only had 1 of each day in it!!
Then we get the sick note and the staff member is off for 2 months. How are you supposed to run a business and keep their job open? If you contact them too often, you are harassing them. If you don’t contact you are heartless and don’t care.
Some shops have a uniform. This was always my biggest nightmare.... “I can’t wear wool”, “I can’t were synthetic”, “I need a low neck”, “I need a high neck”, “I only wear trousers”, “I need size 8” and “I need a size 22”. Add into this an age difference of 50 years and you have no chance!
12 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • OCTOBER 2013
As we all know the weekends are the busiest times in the shoe trade with more and more shops opening Saturday and Sunday. You pay your rent, rates etc for 365 days so why close for 52 of them. The biggest problem with opening all weekend is staffing the shop. So many shops employ weekend students to solve the problem but surely this is when you need the best staff.
Do staff incentives work or do they cause trouble between staff? I have never been a big fan of bonuses, I prefer to reward staff afterwards if they have had a good week rather than dangle a carrot. It really annoys me when I buy something and the staff member tries to sell me every extra they can, purely because they have a target to achieve not because it will help me.
Do staff incentives work or do they cause trouble between
staff? I have never been a big fan of bonuses, I prefer to reward staff afterwards if they have had a good week rather than dangle a carrot. It really annoys me when I buy something and the staff member tries to sell me every extra they can, purely because they have a target to achieve not because it will help me. If you sell someone a pair of boots for £150 and then suggest they pay another £5 for the cleaner to my mind it’s a bit much. Yes it’s good to offer the correct cleaner but for that price give it to them you will reap the rewards 10 times over in good will.
Before I finish I must say there are some great staff members. Over my 40 years in the trade I have met some lovely people who go way above their call of duty not only to help customers but also to support the owners in the day to day running of the shop.
Readers wishing to send comments or suggestions for Misfit should contact:
Misfitfootwear@hotmail.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40