Retail Manager Daily’s Post

👩💼 So you think I'm JUST a Retailer 👩💼 I won't judge if you didn't know what I used to do all day, most people have no idea day to day what people do unless they are doing it! Kit Campoy is someone I've followed for a while now and she articulates perfectly why retail leaders shouldn't be overlooked. Below are some of my skills (or superpowers) from which being a #retailer has given me: ⚡ People Management: This is complex as a leader as you're involved in #recruitment, mentoring, #development, training and spend a lot of time giving advice. I have loved building relationships over my career and been privileged to watch many find their next exciting role! ⚡ Operational Management: It takes a lot to run compliant business inside a building! Rota's and resource management need to be planned, maintenance of the site needs to be kept up as well as being compliant with Health and Safety, Food Safety and a plethora of other regulations (business or outside authority). ⚡Data Analysis: Regularly using in house software to look at #sales trends, #shrinkage concerns, stock processing and the pay line. All with a laser sharp focus to improve the figures and set targets. Detailed analysis of the P&L, with potential to challenge unforeseen or irregular costs. ⚡ Customer Experience: An all encompassing driver. #availability of stock, the presentation of the shop, targeting customer feedback, working with the support teams to improve range, dealing with customer complaints. Most of these are used day to day without thinking, at pace and prioritising the most important. I'm pretty sure that skill set is in demand, come chat to me. Am I what you are looking for in your advertised role? #opentoopportunities #transferableskills

Things I've learned looking for a job while working in food service: 1. An understanding manager may be hard to come by. But if you find one, stick around as long as needed. I have had very frank conversations with my managers, who reiterated that providing for your family is primary. No job is worth sacrificing your family over. 2. Food service is easy to get into but hard to leave. Everyone discusses transferable skills, but it's easier to quantify success with precise numbers. Food service has had a penchant for being unhealthy in both external and internal capacities. I've seen people behave in horrific ways towards food service professionals, and if the agitated customer acted that way to a co-worker, they would be fired. I have also watched food service leadership take advantage of their employees and demand all their energy without a single raise in pay *or* force them out of companies. 3. Looking for work is hard work. I'm still looking while working because it's impossible to survive otherwise. It's not about job-hopping but finding sustainable roles. So if you, like me, are still looking—keep going. It's difficult, and every rejection or no response makes it more challenging. I'm still looking. I want to provide for my family outside of regular food service roles to be present with them and lead them well. So, if you're looking for a hard-working, long-term hospitality and customer service leader with a heart to help companies succeed through process development, navigating relationships, and seeking to go the extra mile—let me know! I have led teams, oversaw events for 10K+ attendees, and am a jack-of-all-trades (if I can learn it, I can do it!). #hireme #encouragement #recruitme #peopleroles #customer

My thoughts exactly.

Lead areas in Retail... When you become so good at something you are given more work! Often disguised as a "development opportunity". If you were given one for customer service - it was like the kiss of death. Your results would often fall off a cliff shortly after! And if you were the lead for audits, license to trade, health and safety etc. You'd be the busiest! It wouldn't matter if you hated your lead area. It would be yours to keep for at least a year. Hands up who's got a lead area right now? My last one as a Store Manager was bakery availability, joy! So what's this got to do with changing careers you ask? Well, if you weren't good at "something". You'd go spend time with one of the experts with a lead area in that "something". Yet those seeking a career change from Retail rarely do this for themselves. If you are struggling to secure interviews for jobs in other industries. Why not speak to people who have already done just that and ask them how they did it? Here's how to do it in 5 easy steps... - Search for [Desired Job Title] in the LinkedIn search bar (for example practice manager healthcare) - Select the "People" filter. - Go to All filters and go to "Past Companies", click "+ Add a company" Add loads of similar retail companies from your country (e.g Sainsbury's, Tesco's etc). This will bring up all the people who work in your desired job who used to work in retail. Now you have a list of people to connect with and ask them how they made a similar leap. Do you know what the great thing is about this approach? Because you have something in common (retail) they are more likely to respond to your message. After all, once you've been in retail it will always be part of you even after you've escaped. P.S My practice manager example brought up 80 people that's made a similar leap from retail into healthcare. Imagine what I could learn from 80 people!

Operations

Me: So tell me about your experience working on a Top 4 Supermarket, negotiating JBP's & Promo Plans? Candidate: Oh, I have never worked with a supermarket or done a JBP. But I have lots of transferable skills. My experience lies within Project management of large scale construction projects. Me: 🙄....   Transferable Skills are great and an essential mix of any new role but literally everyone has them. What most hiring managers want are specific skills and experience that relate to the role, especially in sales and national accounts where relationships and customer dynamics are a key aspect.   Recruiting is about managing risk, in the world of consumer goods things move fast and new hires need to be able to get up to speed very quickly. If you are asking for £75k to manage the Tesco account which could be worth over £100m a year and you have less understanding of the dynamics and tactics than the £30k a year grad who does your admin you're not going to be anywhere near as desirable to a hiring manager as the lady who has done the job for 5 years at a peer company, has a detailed understanding of the customer, long standing relationships and is technically expert in the operational aspects of the role.   If your recruiter consistently sends you CV's with little to no relevant experience, maybe it's time to find a new one!

Operations

"Many companies and organizations will expect you to go with cooked food. But there are few will get you in with the raw food and they'll assist you to prepare and cook." The above is analogous to an employer recruiting skilled workforce versus an employer recruiting those with the potential. The former is aimed at immediately meeting targets. They expect you to immediately hit the ground and run. Whilst the latter is focused on developing and cultivating talents, and meeting targets gradually, then pick up speed in the long run.

This is a long post but I find myself compelled to share this because as someone who made retail their career (over 20 years) it taught me very important and valuable skills. This is why your next hire should be a former retail associate whether it be store management, sales associate, LP or inventory control. I would do it all over again. Working in retail can teach a person various valuable skills and lessons, including: 1. Customer service: Dealing with a diverse range of customers teaches patience, empathy, and problem-solving skills. 2. Communication: Effectively communicating with customers, coworkers, and managers enhances interpersonal skills. 3. Time management: Balancing multiple tasks within a fast-paced environment helps develop efficient time management skills. 4. Salesmanship: Learning how to promote products and upsell teaches persuasion and negotiation skills. 5. Adaptability: Adapting to different situations, customer preferences, and store policies improves flexibility and resilience. 6. Teamwork: Collaborating with coworkers to achieve common goals fosters teamwork and cooperation. 7. Attention to detail: Paying attention to inventory management, product displays, and customer needs cultivates attention to detail. 8. Conflict resolution: Resolving conflicts with customers or coworkers in a professional manner builds conflict resolution skills. 9. Stress management: Handling stressful situations during busy periods develops resilience and stress management techniques. 10. Business acumen: Understanding retail operations, such as inventory management and sales targets, provides insights into business principles. #retail #profession #valuableskills #career #iwoulddoitalloveragain

many view the food and beverage industry as a last resort when jobless. However, this sector offers more than just a temporary solution—it’s a dynamic field filled with opportunities for growth and development. For business owners, it’s crucial not to compromise on experience for lower salaries. Skilled professionals bring invaluable expertise and innovation that can drive your business forward. Let’s recognize the true value of talent and experience in F&B, and invest in the people who will elevate our industry to new heights. 🍽️✨