Retail Merchandiser Vol 66 Issue 4 | Page 24

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the time that store managers spend recruiting, allowing them to focus more on driving sales and supporting their current team members.
Pre-hire verifications can play an important role in this strategy. Focusing on indicators like past employment tenure helps better ensure that retailers are investing in employees that are more likely to remain throughout the holiday season, and helps managers build a talent bench for the new year with employees who have essentially completed an extended, real-world interview.
3) Balance digital skills with retail fundamentals Today’ s retail associates are expected to be tech savvy enough to pick up new tools in the first days of their new roles, from mobile point-of-sale devices to inventory visibility software. Still, digital literacy is not always enough to ensure success in a customerfacing retail position. Seasonal staff are often the primary touchpoint for customers during peak volume periods, and one poor interaction with a customer can directly harm brand loyalty or reputation when traffic is typically at its highest. The most successful new hires must combine hard skills with strong customer service and reliability. Evaluating candidates for both soft skills and technical agility can help build teams that are more capable of successful, better streamlined retail operations while also helping drive customer loyalty during peak volume.
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