Operational Training for Multi-Store Retail Organizations
Retail Operations Consultant
Over the years the members of our consulting team have
created and/or refined operating procedures for the majority of retail firms with
sales over $300 million. That process was very successful, and very valuable,
for the retailers who engaged us. Over time, however, the performance lift
gained will decline unless the retailer continually trains their operational
staff. This decline typically occurs because:
- Natural turnover means well-trained associates no longer make up your store operations team
- Most retail managers and supervisors are ineffective trainers
- Most retail managers and supervisors have a weak understanding of productivity and how to employ the metrics necessary to monitor it
- Most retail managers and supervisors are poor at offering effective performance feedback and associated performance coaching
- Once addressed, trained behaviors often lose focus due to other “operational fires”
Given this scenario, Atlanta Retail Consulting has
developed a unique approach to assist our retail clients to re-gain, or
surpass, the performance levels once achieved by re-training your operational supervision to improve your operating
procedures. The approach we are offering is based on the premise that you already
have reasonably productive operational procedures and labor standards that
approximate Best Practice.
This approach is unique in that rather than suggesting a
re-do of your procedures, we suggest a focus on re-training your operational team Supervisors and Managers to re-establish a deep
understanding of productivity, task
organization, and performance coaching utilizing your current
procedures and labor standards.
The core steps in the approach we recommend is depicted in
the graphic below:
- Receiving
- Processing
- Merchandising / stocking
- Recovery
- Price / signage maintenance
The training would include process planning/organization, proper layout, best use of resources/equipment, employing Best Practice procedures, utilizing performance standards, and giving appropriate positive performance feedback. Other functions (e.g. P-O-G maintenance, cycle counts, RTV, special orders/rain checks, etc.) could be added at the retailer’s discretion.
Deliverables that you could expect from a properly
organized re-training effort include:
- Renewed focus on operational excellence
- Faster operational task completion
- Improved awareness of operational productivity
- Lower cost per unit to perform operational tasks
- Improved sales floor/stockroom in-stock condition
- Improved sales floor condition (recovery/signage/fixture placement, etc.)
- Refined / updated operational procedures manual
We suggest that your senior operations management give this approach significant thought. Our team members who would assist you are individuals who have decades of retail training experience and have assisted retailers of all formats to improve their operational performance.
If you have an interest in this approach, please feel free to contact us at PCF@AtlantaRetailConsulting.com for a more in-depth, no obligation, discussion. WWW.AtlantaRetailConsulting.com.
