Stephanie Hobbs’ Post

As I found myself transitioning out of retail years ago, I found that I had to sell myself harder than ever before. There can be a disconnect between retail workers and what others consider to be "Corporate America". In actuality-retail workers come to the table with an array of skills and training that some corporations are still trying to train their team on. 1. Time management-Ask any retail worker what all they can fit into a 30 minute lunch break. We can manage how to get across town to feed our dogs, ourselves, and do a quick errand, dash from the parking lot and STILL clock back in with a minute to spare. Or execute and entire floor set in the morning before your doors open for live customers. (IYKYK) 2. Communication/Resilience-Retail workers can go from having a customer screaming in your face to turning back around and answering the phone with the warmest attitude within moments of each other. Bottom line-we can talk to anyone under any circumstance, diffuse a situation or find a solution on the flip on a dime. 3. Managing Personalities-You figure out very quickly who on your teams you can approach in certain ways. Not everyone on the same team listens the same, can be motivated in the same ways and receive feedback in the same ways. Same with your customers. We talk to all different walks of life, all day long. We become experts at reading body language and reading the room. 4. Execution- We learn quickly how to deliver new product to our floors, new sales promotions, window sets, closing a sale...heck we can even salt our own side walks if needed and wrangle 10 ft ladders to change our own light bulbs. Whatever needs to be done. We can get it done. 5. Sales Experience-The sales skills that are developed in retail becomes embedded into our DNA, no matter the product or service that we choose to represent. At the end of the day, we are serving people and making connections. Anyone in retail comes out with a deep understanding that connecting with your customer and building trust is the key component to any sales transaction. It is never about the product or service. It's about how you make them feel during the entire process. We come with compassion, drive, flexibility, trainability, and a smile on our face. So here is your sign-if you are on the fence with a candidate because they don't have direct industry experience....take a leap of faith and hire a retail worker. They are some of the hardest working, fastest learning, outgoing and self starting candidates you will find. #sales #retail #recruiting #womeninsales #omaha #omahajobs #relationships #networking #serviceindustry #servantpartners

Such a great read for anyone who works in retail. To that great post, I’ll add the fact that working in retail cultivates resilience and adaptability. Retail is ever-evolving, with new trends, technologies, and challenges emerging constantly. As an employee, you learn to embrace change and adapt to new environments quickly. You become comfortable with uncertainty, accepting that not everything will go according to plan. This adaptability and resilience eventually become powerful tools, helping you navigate the uncertainties of life, embrace new opportunities, and more than anything, overcome obstacles with grace.

This is a interesting article to think about.

From Retail to Real Estate: Part 2 💫 I’ll stand behind this forever: Retail employees are some of the most disciplined people in today’s workforce. Of course, there’s a bell-curve here like anything else, and those at the bottom of the curve tend to give the industry a bad name. BUT - I challenge you to spend 1 week on a sales floor and you’ll see just exactly how mentally and emotionally sharp you have to be every moment of every day in order to generate success. Those at the top of the bell curve are constantly thinking about what they can control versus what they can’t. They’re always asking themselves “what else?”. I remember never allowing myself to talk about the weather, because you can’t control it. Instead, it was “what else” can I do to create sales today, since foot traffic will be lighter than usual? Another phrase I used often with my teams: “It’s about the behavior, not the number” because your behavior is the controllable. The number will happen when it’s meant to happen. I’ve found this focus on “behavior” to be extremely relevant in building a real estate business, and now I say this to myself every single day. It’s the solutions-driven versus excuse-driven mindset that is necessary to create results, no matter the industry. If you’ve worked with me in the past, comment below! Anyone remember not being allowed to say the “s” word (slow) on the sales floor? 😂 #realestate #retail #success

This article outlines the true reality for retail leaders, an industry that’s been crumbling for years. It was bad when I left my retail career in 2021, I can’t imagine what the challenges look like today. Billion dollar corporations are failing the people who run their businesses day to day while they watch critically from their ivory towers. I’d challenge those leaders to achieve the results they demand of their leaders, with the laughable resources they provide. I say this a lot and I’ll say it again, businesses want great talent on their teams, the greatest talent you will find are the leaders of the retailers you frequent. Take a chance on these leaders who want more and deserve so much more. I’m thankful someone took a chance on me. I knew my skills were transferable to any business, I just needed someone to believe me. “Do you expect to create a remarkable customer experience with your brand when you only allow two people to be scheduled on the floor in a building where you need a minimum of four?” “You're strangling the lifeline of your business. You're clipping the wings of the frontline and then wondering why they can't soar. “ Do better.

Does this sound familiar?

The scenario you've described vividly captures the enduring challenges in the retail sector, particularly when it comes to staffing. It's a stark reminder that the traditional approach to staffing is often flawed, leaning towards understaffing to cut costs, which ultimately compromises both the customer and employee experience. Being the lone warrior on the sales floor, amidst a sea of tasks and responsibilities, paints a picture of resilience, but also a desperate need for change. It's about climbing the ladders, both literally and metaphorically, to bridge the gap between the current reality and the ideal retail environment we all envision. The hashtags #retail and #leadership are more than just tags; they encapsulate a movement towards better working conditions and a call for empathetic, forward-thinking leadership. It's about recognizing the value of every employee and ensuring customers receive the service they deserve. Your narrative is a rallying cry for change, evoking a sense of urgency to address the pressing issues in retail management. Together, let’s champion for a change that elevates the retail industry to new heights, where both customers and employees find value and satisfaction.

All Founders, CEO and Managers needs to learn this. I said something in the comments section that managers needs to understand, but before I go there, let's settle this. 1. It is true that there is need for hierarchy, and there are some decisions that needs to be taken by particular set of people. But, as a Founder, CEO, Manager, it is quite important that you let your employees be aware of what they can do. There are some minor decisions that your employees can take, but because they are not aware of the authority they possess, they fail to take the responsibility, which affect the performance of your business. And, this is sometimes caused by what I said in the comments section which will lead us to- 2. Fear of mistake. At place of work, it is important that we avoid mistakes, but we need to understand that there is no way we can totally eradicate mistakes. When your employees make mistake, you do not have to crucify them for it. There is a way you can handle it constructively. 💜 To ensure that they really understand what you correct them for 💜 To not discourage them next time they have something to contribute that will improve the company's productive. If this two things are in place, the saleswoman would have given room for negotiation which would have caused the buyer to visit the store again. Did you learn something? Let me hear your opinion.

Being a retail manager taught me so much

I came across this article by Kit Campoy and it resonated so much with me and my experience working in the retail industry. So many days, I would be in challenging situations, trying to provide the best service despite limitations. The store would be at capacity of customers, with queues to the fitting rooms that would stretch across the store. Then the delivery arrives, 38 cartons, 10 of which needed to be unpacked, steamed and put on the shop floor within the hour. Wages were stretched, with upper management asking us to make further cuts. We would be tired, stressed and still be putting on a smile for our customers. Regrettably, this is an all-too-familiar reality in the retail world. As a result, retailers on the shop floor are at breaking point. The once-viable "do more with less" approach has become unsustainable. Customers deserve nothing less than an exceptional experience. However, it's crucial to acknowledge that inadequate staffing makes it challenging to deliver that excellence. On the bright side, when stores do have the means to fully staff the sales floor, it's a game-changer. So, retailers, maybe it's time to re-think your wage budgets and find other ways to cut costs before cutting staff. The positive ripple effect is undeniable... customers leave happy, associates can work in a more relaxed environment, and guess what? Sales skyrocket. It's the epitome of a win-win situation. Frontline Recruitment Group - Retail Melbourne Sarah Vockler Alysha Mueller Bianca McMurray Brittney Elso Helena Lo Narelle Platt Tegan Lloyd