5 Things Every Retail Store Manager Should Do Each Day

Retail managers have a lot on their plates practically from before they even step foot inside their store. From trying to keep employee requests under control to remembering that you’re running low on a particular product, it’s easy for the ball to get dropped in more than one area. There are ways for you to manage your time a bit better and it often stems from being able to delegate.

Here are 5 tips to make your day easier.

1. Systematize

Checklist templates from intouchinsight.com can help your staff know exactly what needs to be done each day. From cleaning to general maintenance and safety, having these checklists available will greatly reduce your potential liability and ensure a happy shopping experience for your customers.

2. Trust Your Employees

The more you trust in them, the more likely it is that you’ll develop a real working relationship. Treat them as if they’re incapable and they may either feel that way or resent the experience of working with you. Any manager is really only as good as the team working beneath them, and honesty and trust is really the best way to foster a sense of reciprocity between you and staff members.

3. Increase Your Communication With Customers

Customers don’t appreciate being left out of the loop, and retail has a bit of a reputation for being full of surprises when people step up to the cash register. Whether you’re changing your return policy or sending an email to people on your mailing list, give people real information they can use in a timely manner. It will also save your employees from having to take excess anger that could have avoided with better communication.

4. Understand Your Patterns

Your store has its ups and downs just like any business, but how much do you really understand about who’s coming in and why? What customers want today and what they tomorrow can be exceptionally different, and businesses who can’t keep up may find themselves closing down. By doing your best to get into the customer mindset, you can better decide where to position merchandise, how to price it and determine what needs to be cut from your product line.

5. Keep It Simple

Anything that you can do to simplify your processes is a smart idea. You know your store inside and out, but sometimes people get stuck in a routine that they can’t get out of. Ask someone in the company if they have feedback about how certain procedures are done, and consider making adjustments if need be. Whether that’s how people stock or how customers wait in line, often all it takes for a little insight is the ability to ask for it.