Retail Consultant and Trusted Advisor | Merchandising | Product Creation | Sustainability | Corporate Retail Strategy | Speed to Market | Supply Chain | Board Member | RETHINK Retail Global Expert | Retail Voices by NRF
Retail store associates have tremendous skills that can be invaluable in the corporate office. Connecting products to customers while having a front row seat into how the customer is evolving is a huge asset. Retailers should invest in their frontline by training them on the numbers. Sales associates have a great foundation and could make make great buyers. Visual merchants have the skills to execute the merchandising strategy but may need more exposure to selling and the ROI of a product assortment. Corporate must also spend time with customers selling and styling. It helps merchants make better assortment decisions by getting real-time feedback on buys. I started on the shop floor and it’s the best training I had! As a merchant, I spent hours selling and helping customers. It goes both ways. Sheena Butler-Young it’s always great to chat with you and thank you for including my comments. #retail #retailnews #merchandising #sales #stores
👔 While many of today's most prominent retail leaders began their careers on the sales floor, this pathway to the corporate headquarters has become less viable over time, to the detriment of fashion firms. 💼 Programs such as VF Corporation's Powering Potential offer training, mentorship, and a guaranteed corporate job for participating store associates. 📈 Establishing a more robust store-to-corporate pipeline demands transparency from retailers regarding job opportunities for store teams and substantial investments in the development of sales associates for successful transition. Read the full story by BoF's Sheena Butler-Young. #RetailCareer #CareerDevelopment
suzy henderson
7mo
Makes sense! it is your associates on the sales floor that have the complete insight into what the customer is buying; looking for and missed opportunities. They should be consulted through channels by the buying office and corporate level. In my thinking; they are key to the business’ success! Corporate may be aware of what they are selling by sales reports; but do not have insight into what they could have sold…. Visual Merchandisers show how it can be sold…
Barma Uruchima
7mo
Liza Amlani you are absolutely right, the front line is what converts to a customer sale and experience. By investing in our sales associates gives them agility to focus on customer retention and experience, automation is critical to refocus from tactics to experience.👏🏽👏🏽
Brian Librach
7mo
Started in that stockroom and eventually the sales floor too. I also was able to go to the corporate office of a retail brand when my father was the VP of Planning and the merchants would test items with me to see which samples I preferred. It was fun and also informative for the buyers.
Jamie Arena
7mo
Liza Amlani - I am a huge proponent of this. Store ambassadors have a tremendous skill set that only needs the proper mentorship to unlock further potential. From being able to cater messages definitely depending on the customer/situation, to up selling, to training, the list goes on... They have drive that can revival the best! Hire for that!
Great insight as always Liza Amlani 💡💡💡
One missing component from most companies in retail is teaching buyers to be merchants and how to successfully manage a relationship with a supplier. We seem to focus on the visual and the data, but we forget what we buy, when we buy, what we pay, and how much innovation we access is 90% dependent on how we structure the relationship with the supplier. Integrity, accountability, reliability and the skills to develop true partnerships need a place in the curriculum, and it can't be a 30 minute conversation......