Staffing intro

Staffing a successful retail store is probably 50% of the key to the successful part. Every customer that comes back into the store is a testament to the fact that the employees did not piss them off enough to keep them away. I say it like that because, while everyone talks about going above and beyond for customers, most people just want basic courtesy from retail employees. When I shop, I just appreciate a smile, a 'Hello', and a 'Thank You'. I don't need to be led around by the hand in a store or have every single product showcased and demonstrated for me.

So it all boils down to getting a basically solid, courteous employee in the door, through the application/interviewing process, trained, and then onto the salesfloor. But that pathway is filled with mines and pitfalls. My next few posts I will cover some of the things that happen along this path.