KLEINHANDELSTORIES
Retail
tales
HOW TO BE A BETTER RETAIL
BRANCH MANAGER.
BRANCH MANAGERS HAVE A TON OF RESPONSI-
BILITY AND THEY PLAY A VALUABLE ROLE IN THE
OVERALL SUCCESS OF THE BUSINESS.
A good branch manager oversees the operations of all stores within a
given area, and he/she needs to be able to juggle everything from staff
development, compliance and sales to customer satisfaction, all while
serving as an effective bridge between corporate headquarters and
store locations, and more.
Here are a few traits and skills that will help you be a better retail
manager.
FOCUS ON GOALS
As a manager, you have sales goals to meet, and it’s your job to develop
the sales teams from each store. Set expectations for each member,
whether that’s a goal based on something measurable like sales and
executing a company-wide merchandising reset, or something more
abstract like improving customer service?
Setting goals is the first step, but great managers also help their
employees achieve their goals. Ask your supervisors if there are ways
you can help them achieve those objectives, and be sure to coach them
along the way. Track their progress, and if you find that there are issues,
take the time to find out what’s going on — and find a solution.
EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY
Times, they are changing, and those who don’t embrace new techno-
logy will be left in the dust. Adopting new technology can be daunting,
but it’s nearly impossible to be a good manager without taking advan-
tage of the latest systems.
The best managers are data-driven and understand metrics like sell-
through rate, sales per square meter and gross and net profit. Having
the right tech in place means you can make more insightful recommen-
dations that make a real difference to the bottom line.
BE DECISIVE
When working in retail, anything can happen: theft, a disgruntled
manager, frustrated customers waiting in line. Managers should know
how to always be prepared for the unexpected. The ability to evaluate
and assess each situation and make a decision in the best interest of the
business and team, is crucial to the success of your stores.
HANDLE CONFLICT WELL
It’s inevitable that in the high-stress world of retail, there will be some
conflict. Managers need to able to defuse conflict and turn these work
tensions into solutions. Conflict often arises because of an aspect which
makes the employees uncomfortable or unhappy. This makes it critical
that you tackle these issues directly and find a solution that can alleviate
the situation as soon as possible.
SUPPORT AND MOTIVATE THE STAFF
Retail is known for having an exceptionally high employee turnover.
Managers can play a huge role in reducing turnover by co-ordinating
and encouraging staff. This starts by hiring individuals who are a good
fit and share the mission of your store and brand.
Once they’re trained and on-boarded as a valued part of your staff, it’s
your job to make sure the supervisors continue to engage with each
employee every day. Schedule regular one-on-one meetings with your
staff to check in on their progress with their objectives, and to set new
goals when previous ones have been met.
PROMOTE OPEN COMMUNICATION
Remember to listen to your staff, hear their challenges and address
them, and inspire them to always strive for improvement and success.
When staff are encouraged to speak their minds in a respectful way,
there’s less chance of a conflict or resentment in the future. This means
listening to both positive and negative feedback, and making decisions
accordingly.
By creating an atmosphere where your team feels comfortable making
suggestions about better ways to do things, you’re creating a more
efficient and more profitable workplace.
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