Tips on How To Interview Candidate Employees For a Retail Store

Employees are the backbone of any successful retail store or business. They'll not only help to physically run your store, but they'll also represent your brand as a whole. It's the subtle things such as an employee's friendliness and attention to detail that leave a lasting impression on customers. But how exactly do you find hard-working, loyal employees to run your store?

The first step towards finding employees for your store is to accept resumes and applications from potential job candidates. There are a couple of different ways to go about doing so, but it's usually best to create three separate stacks of applications: a 'yes' stack, a 'maybe' stack and a 'no' stack. Once you've gathered a sizable amount of applications in each of these stacks, you'll want to call up some potential candidates for an interview.

Questions To Ask During an Interview

Far too many store owners to hire employees on the spot without first performing an interview. While you might get lucky and find a 'diamond-in-the-rough' employee, the truth is that it's really a toss up. A better way to find employees for your retail store is to perform a followup interview on those with applications in your 'yes' stack. This will give you the opportunity to find out more about the person and decide whether or not they are a suitable match for your store.

Here's a short list of questions to ask candidates during a job interview:

• Why do you want to work with us?
• Do you have retail work experience?
• What are your short and long-term goals?
• How can you help this business succeed?
• What type of education do you have?
• How long do you expect to work with us?
• Are you looking for full-time or part-time employment?
• How many hours can you work?
• Are there any days you can't work?

Answer Candidates' Questions

Of course, a job interview shouldn't be a one-sided process where you are asking all of the questions. At the end of the interview, see if the candidate has any questions for you. Most candidates will have at least a couple questions regarding the job. Be sure to answer these questions accurately and honestly.

Testing

Some store and business owners give candidates a short test during the interview to determine whether or not they are qualified for the job. For instance, it's not a bad idea to test the job candidates  with basic math questions to ensure they are capable of handling money at the register.

Am I Ready To Open a Second Store?

In the world of retail business, more stores translates into more money. This is why so many successful retail entrepreneurs own multiple stores. When you have several different stores under your belt, you'll have different sources of passive income, which is exactly what some owners strive for. But how do you know if you're ready to venture into a second retail store?

Business owners should think long and hard before making the decision to open a second store. If it's not done right, it could turn into a downwards financial spiral that eats up more and more money. When all of your resources are being allocated towards the second store, your original store gets neglected.

Experience

You shouldn't even think about opening a second store until you've had multiple years of experience running the first. Far too many owners open one store after another without gaining basic fundamentals of the process first. Stick with one store, master it, and then you can move on to a second store.

Get comfortable in your position as the owner/manager at your first store, because you'll need plenty of experience here before moving on to a second store. One of the biggest mistakes owners make is rushing the process, which ultimately hurts them in the long run. Perform your job duties to the best of your ability and really strive for excellent with your store. Using this same format in future stores will increase your chances of success.

First Store Success

This is probably common sense to most people, but you should only open a second store after you've experienced success with the first. Go over your store's financial records to determine when it became profitable and for how long. Ideally, you should wait until your first store has turned a solid profit for at least 2-3 years before jumping into a second store.

Capital

Opening a second store requires a fairly significant amount of capital. You'll basically have the exact same expenses as your first store's opening with the exception of a select few items. Either hire a professional account or personally go through your business's financial documentation to determine whether or not you have the capital necessary for a second store. You can always apply for business loans, but the high interest rates oftentimes make them a poor decision.

Employees

Of course, you'll also need a handful of employees to help you open a second store. The good news is that you can oftentimes pull some workers from your first store to give you a hand at the new store. Even if it's only temporary, they can help you find and train new employees at your second store.

Comparing The Different Flooring Options For a Retail Store

One of the many decisions you'll have to make when launching a retail store is choosing a floor type. Since this will have a direct impact on both the aesthetics and function of your store, it's important to choose the right type. Some store owners may try to save a couple bucks by using cheap, low-grade flooring, but unfortunately this typically ends with disastrous results. You have to remember that retail stores see a lot of use and wear from customers constantly coming and going; therefore, you need a durable type of flooring that's able to hold up under this pressure.

Laminate

Laminate has become an increasingly popular choice of flooring in residential and commercial establishments. While it looks similar in appearance to hardwood, laminate is actually stronger and more durable, making it a better all-around choice for retail stores. Its stylish wooden appearance is easy on the eyes and matches with a wide variety of decor styles. If your store currently features similar wooden fixtures, walls or elements, this type of flooring will naturally compliment the atmosphere in an attractive manner.

Polished Concrete

Of course, polished concrete is another popular choice of flooring for retail stores. Most grocery stores and supermarkets choose this type of flooring due to its unique properties. Polished concrete is superior in terms of strength and waterproof characteristics. If an employee accidentally spills a gallon of milk inside the store, the polished concrete will hold up just fine without suffering from any damage.

Although it sounds rather rough and uncomfortable, polished concrete is actually somewhat soft on the surface. Most stores using this type of flooring repolish their flooring on a regular basis, giving it a smooth and shiny surface that's easier for customers to walk on. Beware, though, polishing your floors too much can result in an overly slippy surface that leaves customers vulnerable to slip-and-fall accidents.

Carpet

Another flooring option that shouldn't be overlooked is carpet. In terms of comfort, there's no better choice than carpet. It's soft, springy, and it comes in a countless number of different colors and styles. But the downside to using carpet flooring in your retail store is that it's not as resilient as polished concrete or laminate. Spilled drinks and liquids will soak into the carpet where they are nearly impossible to remove.

Fashion and apparel stores oftentimes use carpet flooring since there's little-to-no chance of spilled liquids. Carpet is also a relatively cheap flooring option, which is another reason why some store owners prefer it.

Planograms: Planning The Way Towards Retail Success

One of the biggest hurdles faced by retail store owners is trying to decide exactly how and where to display product. It's no secret that product placements plays a critical role in the success of a retail store or business. When it's done right, customers will naturally feel more inclined to make purchases; thus, increasing your sales and profits. However, the wrong placement will have an opposite effect by discouraging customers to make purchases. The good news is that visual representations know as planograms can help owners choose the right location for their products...

What Is a Planogram?

First and foremost, let's go over the basics of a planogram, as some people are likely hearing about them for the first time. Although there are dozens of different types of planograms, they all share some basic similarities. A planogram is essentially a visual representation of how product is set up and displayed in a retail store. Nearly every major retailer use them to instruct crews on the proper way to set up product. Rather than trying to guess what the best way to display product is, a planogram will reveal exactly how it should be done.

Shelves, Grid Wall, Slat Wall and More

It's important to note that planograms are used for more than just basic shelving units. They are also used to define product display and placement on gondolas, end-caps, slat wall, grid wall and checkout lane fixtures. Store owners and set crews may have a difficult time trying to organize product on new fixtures which they aren't used to working with. Thankfully, planograms are available to guide them step by step through the process.

Benefits of Using a Planogram

Unless you've used them before, you might be wondering what the benefits of planograms are. Well, planograms for traditional gondolas, for instance, reveal the exact placement for product along with the appropriate heights for each of the shelves. This is a huge benefit that will save you both time and energy in the long run. With each of the shelves designed on a visual planogram, you'll have no problem adding all of the necessary product.

Planograms also reveal SKU numbers along with a short description of each product. If your store is running low on a particular product, you can circle or make a note on the planogram to order more. With the SKU number already printed on the planogram, you don't have to worry about trying to manually write down or remember some long code.

4 Local Advertising Ideas For Retail Stores and Businesses

Investing in local advertising can prove to be a smart investment that results in more customers, sales and ultimately profits. As a retail store owner, you need to constantly promote your business through various platforms. It's no secret that retail stores rely on the sales from local customers; therefore, common sense should tell you that local advertising is the most effective. Here, we're going to reveal 4 local advertising ideas that's sure to give you the most bang for your buck.

#1 - Radio Commercials

Even with all of the technological advancements of satellite radio and MP3 players, most drivers still resort to their local radio stations. You can use this to your advantage by promoting your retail store on a radio commercial. Contact some of the various stations to request a report of their user base along with commercial rates and requirements. Ideally, you want to run a commercial on the radio station that your customers are most likely to listen to.

#2 - Mail Advertisements

You might be surprised to learn that placing flyers on mailboxes is illegal. Thousands of companies risk fines and even lawsuits for this type of promotion. A smarter method of advertising is through the local postal service. Most USPS offices have advertising options for small business owners to use. You can pay the office to have your flyer or advertisement sent out to a given area, which is a highly effective form of local marketing for retail stores. Either call or visit the USPS office in person to ask them about their mail advertising options.

#3 - Television Commercials

Of course, we can't talk about local advertising options without mentioning television commercials. As the old saying goes -- a picture is worth a thousand words -- holds true in retail marketing. As long as you have the capital and resources to create an launch a television commercial, this is definitely one avenue you shouldn't overlook. Not only will you receive direct sales from it, but you'll also increase your brand exposure, which is a huge benefit of television commercial advertising.

#4 - Sponsorship

Another local advertising idea that's frequently overlooked by store owners is sponsorships. Little league baseball and other kids' sporting events will display your store's logo in exchange for a donation. It's a win-win scenario that increases your store's exposure while helping out youth organizations. Call around to some of the youth sports organizations to see whether or not they are looking for sponsors.

How To Improve The Shopping Experience In a Retail Store

There are several steps retail store owners can take to improve the shopping experience in their stores. Whether you run a grocery, convenience, sporting goods, clothing or practically any other type of store, you should constantly work to create a more customer-friendly atmosphere. This will naturally encourage shoppers to make more purchases while improving the overall mood. In this post, we're going to take a look at some simple and effective ways to improve the shopping experience in a retail store.

Add Music

Music is a simple addition that will have a dramatic impact on the shopping experience in retail stores. Many owners seem to overlook the importance of music, which ultimately creates a less enjoyable atmosphere. You don't have to blast the music so customers can no longer talk to one another, but you should play some soft melodies in the background. It's a subtle touch that both customers and your employees will appreciate. If you haven't done so already, check into some of the satellite radio services to see which ones are best suited for your store's clientele.

Keep It Clean

Of course, keeping your retail store clean will also improve the shopping experience of customers. There's nothing worse than walking into a store only to find products strewn across the shelves and floor. Even if you find the product you are looking for, you'll have no idea how much it costs. Go through your store and pick up any missing or misplaced product on a regular basis. It's not a bad idea to designate an employee to cleaning up the store once every couple of hours.

In addition to picking up product, you should also get into the habit of thoroughly cleaning the shelves and windows in your store. For whatever the reason, retail environments seem to naturally attract a lot of dust. Allowing this dust to cake on the shelves and windows will lead to an unpleasant shopping experience. You can prevent this from happening, however, by running over your windows and fixtures with some paper towels and cleaning spray.

Offer Assistance

Helping customers locate specific products in your store will naturally improve their shopping experience. It's frustrating when customers are forced to walk around in circles trying to find a product. And if they can't find it, there's a good chance they will leave. You can keep customers in your store, however, by offering them assistance. See if they need help locating any particular item. It's the small things such as this that raises the bar for other retail stores to follow.

Budgeting Tips For Retail Store Owners

Operating a retail store is no easy task. You'll have countless responsibilities and duties to perform each and every day in order to remain profitable. Whether your retail store sells electronics, clothes, jewelry, groceries or any other consumer goods, you'll need to have a clear budgeting plan to become successful. Here we'll take a look at some budgeting tips for retail store and businesses owners.

Expense Forecasting

Wouldn't it be nice to know exactly how much money your business will spend and how much money it will make in the months to come? Unfortunately, there's no way to tell what the future has in store for you. However, you can use previous sales and number to forecast a prediction for the future. Taking the previous sales, expenses and other data and turning them into a forecast will give you insight on what the future holds for your retail store. While it probably won't be 100% accurate, it will give you an idea of what to expect in the future, and this information can prove to be quite valuable as a retail store owner.

Hire an Accountant

I can't stress enough just how important it is to hire an accountant for your retail store business. When you are busy managing employees, ordering product and dealing with all of the other responsibilities that come along with managing a retail store, you probably won't have a lot of extra time leftover for accounting. This is why it's important to hire a professional accountant to do the job for you. They know the ins and outs of managing expenses and will work to balance your budget. Some store owners may brush off accountants as just another unnecessary expense, but the cost of hiring a professional accountant will prove to be well worth it in the long run.

Watch What You Spend

A third budgeting tip that's helpful for retail store owners is to always watch what you spend. Some people get stuck in the mind set that spending their company's money is different than their own money. The truth, however, is that the more of your company's money you spend, the lower your paycheck will be. Always be aware of what you are buying for your retail store and do your best to make smart purchases. If a wholesale product is overpriced or marked up to an unusually high amount, avoid purchasing it and look elsewhere. There are thousands of product suppliers out there; it's up to you to discover the best ones.

Tips on Cleaning and Maintaining Grid Wall

There's simply no easier or more effective way to display merchandise in a retail store than with grid wall. The simple grid design allows you to easily change product by moving it around using special connecting hooks. If a product doesn't fit, just do some adjusting with the hooks to free up additional room. However, if you plan on using grid wall in your retail store or business establishment, you'll need to know how to clean it; otherwise, it will continue gathering dust and dirt that will eventually transfer onto your store's products.

Unfortunately, far too many owners and manager overlook the importance of cleaning grid walls and peg boards in their store. When you are busy trying to run a successful business, it's easy to forget about simply tasks like cleaning. As a result, the grid wall becomes covered in a thick layer of dust that makes cleaning even more difficult when the time comes. The bottom line is that you need to get into the habit of keeping it clean now to ensure it stays that way in the future.

Glass Cleaner

There are several different ways to clean grid wall, but I recommend using a basic ammonia-based glass cleaner product on it. To do this, first remove all of the product currently on the grid wall and any hooks connected to it. Trust me, you don't want to accidentally get glass cleaner on your product. Once the product is removed, spray down the grid wall with a minimal amount of glass cleaner. You can then wipe it down using clean paper towels to remove any dust, dirt and grime. Continue doing this until the grid wall is nice and clean with no visible dirt covering it.

One of the great things about using glass cleaner on grid wall is the sparkly finish it leaves behind. Chrome and other metallic grid walls will have a mirror-like glow to them once you are done. This creates a nice little attractive element in your store once the products are placed back on it.

Diluted Vinegar

Another option is to clean your store's grid wall using a solution of diluted vinegar with water. You can buy a bottle of distilled white vinegar from the grocery store for a couple of bucks and dilute it with half water. Using this solution, simply go over the grid wall with some paper towels and it will be clean in no time. For the price, there's no cheaper way to clean grid wall in a store.

Avoid These Common Retail Fashion Store Mistakes

Starting a retail boutique fashion store is no easy task to say the least. If you plan on maintaining a successful and profitable business model, you must battle your way through the big-name competitors that have already cemented their stance in the market. For small boutique stores, this can seem like a daunting task with a never-ending uphill battle. Here we'll take a look at some of the most common mistakes made in the world of retail fashion and why you should avoid them.

Mistake #1 - Poor Window Display

Let's face, small fashion stores need to work ten times harder just to bring customers through the doors. Since the store probably isn't a household name like the big-name stores in the business, they must use alternate means to drive customers in. It's an all-too-common mistake to setup the window display poorly or without any real sense of direction, which ultimately results in fewer customers. The bottom line is that you should take the time to create an attractive, functional window display that tells a story. Don't just throw up some of your best-selling items, but instead use eye-catching colors and bold outfits to really draw attention to your store. This will spark the curiosity of nearby pedestrians and shoppers, and hopefully bring them into your store.

Mistake #2 - Not Keeping Up With The Seasons

As the seasons change, your store's inventory needs to change as well. People use the seasons throughout the year as a time to update their wardrobe with different colors and styles. While a plain-colored sweater and jeans may work well for the winter months, it's probably not the best choice for the spring months. Spring is a time when new colors blanket the landscape through blooming plants and flowers; therefore, wardrobe and outfits should mimic these changes. Keep your store's inventory up to date with the ever-changing seasons so it will remain relevant to customers' interests.

Mistake #3 - No Special Sales or Promotions

Sometimes all it takes to drive more revenue for your small fashion boutique is to offer customers special sales and promotions. Customers want to feel like they are getting a good deal on their purchase, and promotions are the perfect way to accomplish this. You can collect customers' email addresses during their checkout and send them 10-20% coupons. After receiving these coupons, customers will hopefully return and spend even more money at your store. It's a win-win situation that helps both your store and the customers.