Retail operations include a variety of elements required for a store’s smooth operations. They include customer service, layout, pricing, design, inventory, methods of payment, etc. Let’s take a closer look.
What do retail operations include?
Retail operations can be simple or complex, depending on the scale and size of your business. You could hire staff to handle each category, but that may not be feasible, especially if the store has multiple locations. They need the same look and feel, so some standardization is in order.
When you hire new employees, open a new location, or carry out day-to-day business, you want to make sure your customers are getting the same level of quality and service across the board. You need a set of procedures to ensure seamless operations in the management process.
Staff training
It starts with setting a standard for screening candidates and involves some of your older and more experienced staff in the interview and training processes. It would help to have an employee manual and guidelines for onboarding new hires. Assign a senior employee to train new staff. Standardize training so that each staff member has the same preparation.
Process automation
Integrating the right technology into your retail operation is the best approach to improving efficiency and establishing the same processes across locations. Weekly schedule templates will make employee scheduling easier. They make it easy to see employees’ scheduling preferences, availability, and time off and help avoid costly overtime. Once you create your schedule, it will be fixed for every subsequent week.
More advanced scheduling tools can manage timecards, monitor inventory, track sales by employee, accept payments, and more. You can enable all your employees to use the system so everyone is using the same point-of-sale in each location. Of course, your employees need passcodes to control access to certain features.
Keep accurate inventory counts
Merchandise handling, warehouse management, and accurate inventory counting are particularly important with omnichannel retail. Automating these systems is an effective way of tracking products across locations.
Cash management
Every retail operation deals with cash management in its own way. Whichever approach you’ve chosen, set rules that cover everything from staff who make bank transfers to staff who use the point-of-sale system.
Supply chain management
You must be able to source materials and products and have them delivered to your retail locations and customers promptly. This is of paramount importance to the success of your operations. Transparency, communication, and diligent tracking make sure you stay on top of logistics.
Customer service
Your customer service policy should detail everything from return policies to greeting guests. You must train employees in this from the start. The employee manual should include customer service guidelines. As you go, you will update policies and guidelines on occasion. When that happens, it’s a good idea to bring staff up to speed.
Cleaning procedures
Keeping the retail location tidy and clean is everyone’s responsibility. Set guidelines for what is expected per shift in this respect. Staff working the closing shift are typically expected to vacuum, sweep, and wash floors. Employees working the midday shifts could spot clean and straighten products on shelves. A scheduling tool can be very helpful for these tasks as well.
Custom workflows for different locations
Some locations might need different operations than others to make sure each has the same level of quality. Temporary employees will undergo a shortened training process. If some stores are part of an omnichannel strategy, the staff might be responsible for processes like fulfilling returns, online orders, or picking up in-store.
Whatever the case may be, customize your training manuals and guidelines to account for the unique circumstances.
