Have you ever felt you're not being heard in meetings or conversations with your peers? If so, you likely need to work on your assertive communication skills. Assertiveness is a key ingredient for success in the business world, and anyone can learn it. In this post,...
The Canadian Tire Corporation is a Canadian retail staple that operates 503 stores nationally in the automotive, hardware, sports, leisure, and housewares sectors. The company has been successfully providing Canadian consumers across the country with everything from...
The main retail principle to guide your decisions is the value proposition you provide for your customers. The customer is the focal point of your retail operation, and everything you do must revolve around serving them. When in doubt, remember the customer came in to...
"First, you must have entrepreneurs who fully grasp their customers. They understand their product so well because they themselves are customers. The second thing is having an awesome value proposition." Craig Sherman As a business owner, you know that your success...
Just as customers provide referral marketing for businesses they like and trust, companies can return the favor by referring customers to other firms. In the business context, this is called a referral program. 78% of B2B marketers say that referral marketing programs...
If you own or manage a retail business, it is useful to know the four social styles. When you understand an individual's default social styles, you can create more meaningful customer interactions resulting in improved customer experiences. In this post, we'll...
As a business owner, one of your top priorities should be to build customer trust. As will be shown in this article, data from many studies have concluded that organizations that earn the trust of their customers enjoy customer retention rates that are six times...
"The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment." - Anthony Robbins When interviewing candidates for your business, it's important to ask questions that will reveal their level of commitment. Lack of commitment can lead to high employee turnover and...
If you're a retail business owner, you probably know that finding and working with a suitable vendor can be essential to your success. However, before you commit to a partnership, you must ensure that your vendor can align and support your mission and value...
Although the self-checkout kiosk has been around for a while, the pandemic has further accelerated their acceptance, usage and application. As retail business owners and managers, staying up-to-date on what customers expect from these machines is essential. This blog...
"They (labor unions) have raised wages, shortened hours, and provided supplemental benefits. Through collective bargaining and grievance procedures, they have brought justice and democracy to the shop floor." -John F. Kennedy As the owner or manager of a retail...
Canadian employment law for retail businesses is relatively straightforward; there are a few key points that business owners and managers should be aware of. This article examines Canadian employment law essentials for the retail sector. In addition, it provides an...
No question that managing remote employees can be a challenge. But with the right tools in your toolkit, it's doable. This blog will share tips and strategies for keeping tabs on your remote team and ensuring they're productive and happy. Let's get started! Managing...
"The average duration of a bear market since 1950 is roughly 418 days." -Anthony Saglimbene Four Tips to Managing your Retail Business through Fluctuating Demand As a business owner, you are likely familiar with the ups and downs of demand in your industry. When...
Retail Shift Coverage: 5 Practices to Ensure Shifts Are Always Covered Whether you're a small business owner with just a handful of employees or run a large retail chain, having adequate coverage is critical to keeping your customers happy and your business running...
Large and small retail businesses often do not consider incorporating learning styles into their training programs. This article explains how learning efficiency and retention are improved by understanding how people learn and retain new information. The key takeaway...
Like most retail business owners, you're always looking for ways to make your organization run more smoothly. Perhaps one of the most important (but often overlooked) ways to do this is by implementing a Time Off Bidding system. Implementing the right system can help...
We've all been there. You're sitting at your desk, trying to focus on the task at hand, but you can't help but feel overwhelmed by the ever-growing pile of work waiting for you. Your stress levels are through the roof, and you can't shake the feeling that you're...
“The legend of Steve Jobs is that he transformed our lives with the strength of his convictions. The key to his greatness, the story goes, was his ability to bend the world to his vision. The reality is that much of Apple’s success came from his team’s pushing him to...
What is a 9/80 Work Schedule? The 9 80 is a compressed work schedule that takes a two-week pay period and splits it into eight nine-hour days and one eight-hour day. But, employees are still paid for the entire 80-hour work week. This means employees work nine hours a...
Employee time and attendance software allow for more effective workforce management. Time and attendance systems enable managers to know who is present or absent for their shifts and simplify collecting information for payroll and other purposes. If an employee is...
No matter how great your product or service is, you won't make any money if you can't close the sale. In this blog post, we'll share five proven methods to close a sale in retail. Implement these techniques, and you'll see an increase in sales and profits! What are...
“Employees are a company’s greatest asset – they’re your competitive advantage. You want to attract and retain the best; provide them with encouragement, stimulus, and make them feel that they are an integral part of the company’s mission.” – Anne M. Mulcahy, former...
A recent Gallup report found that only 36% of people in the United States are enthusiastic about their work. This means that 64% of the workforce is either bored or unhappy with their job. Employee Engagement Engagement: "to establish a meaningful contact or...
"Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success." - Dale Carnegie. As a business owner, you know that tracking employee time and attendance is critical to running your retail operation smoothly. However,...
In the retail business, shift changes are a regular occurrence. And while they can be a bit chaotic at times, they can also run smoothly with the right scheduling system, policies, and best practices. This blog outlines essential tips for ensuring smooth shift...
"The truth is that stress doesn't come from your boss, your kids, your spouse, traffic jams, health challenges, or other circumstances. It comes from your thoughts about your circumstances." - Andrew Bernstein Too often, we become bogged down by the negative aspects...
"If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!" ― Benjamin Franklin. When it comes to retail, one of the biggest challenges for business owners and managers in planning the product assortment. What should be carried in the store and what shouldn't? How do you decide...
Like most small business owners, you don't have the time or resources to write an employee handbook from scratch. But that doesn't mean you can't create a powerful and practical manual for your business. Check out the sample handbook, covering ten essential policy...
“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” ~Abraham Lincoln "Comp" is an important term to know and understand in the retail business. Comparable sales, or comp, refers to the sales of a retailer's comparable stores or same-store. To...
"We look at the brand not as a piece of advertising, but everything we do communicates who Starbucks is. The place, the physical environment, really has become an extension of the brand and it's very important to the success of the company." - Howard Schultz Is retail...
Are you looking for ways to optimize your staff scheduling? If so, you'll want to read on! Using point-of-sale (POS) data, you can determine the peak business days/times and adjust the staff schedule accordingly. Take it a step further and integrate TimeWellscheduled...
When running a retail business, time and attendance data matter, so it is essential to get it right! That's why it's important to use attendance and staff scheduling software that can help you manage your employees effectively. Scheduling software can make it easy to...
"You walk into a retail store, whatever it is, and if there's a sense of entertainment and excitement and electricity, you wanna be there." — Howard Schultz, CEO, Starbucks. In order to be a successful retail business owner or manager, it's essential to understand the...
Did you know that...? 90 % of employees decide whether to stay or go within that first six months. (SHRM) 82% increase in employee retention after a successful onboarding process. (Sapling) 69% of employees who have a positive onboarding experience are more likely to...
If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer's always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place. - Nora Roberts Retail upselling is important for online sales and brick-and-mortar retail businesses. It...
“You only have to do a few things right in your life so long as you don’t do too many things wrong.” – Warren Buffett As a business owner, you know that one of the most critical aspects of your success is driving foot traffic to your store. But what are the best ways...
"A brand is no longer what we tell the consumer it is—it is what consumers tell each other it is." – Scott Cook, co-founder of Intuit 287% higher purchase rate when marketers use three or more channels in any one campaign versus those using a single-channel campaign....
"Companies across industries have started to lead with purpose, including embracing the circular economy as a greater opportunity to drive growth and competitive agility." Jessica Long - In recent years, the public has become more and more aware of the devastating...
"When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion. " -Dale Carnegie In a retail setting, it's crucial to connect with your customers on an emotional level. Whether you're trying to persuade them to purchase...
"Trust is like the air we breathe – when it's present, nobody really notices; when it's absent, everybody notices." -Warren Buffett It's no secret that building trust with customers is critical for a successful retail store or online shopping business. Earning Trust...
“Solution Selling is designed to help sellers understand and align with how buyers buy.”― Keith M Eades Successful salespeople have the solution sales skills to qualify their customers in terms of if, how and when they will buy. High performing sellers know how to add...
"Price is what you pay. Value is what you get." - Warren Buffett What are the retail prices for the items in your store? How do those prices affect customers? Retail managers and business owners need to be familiar with how pricing works and how to set the right price...
Did you know that retail theft is the most common crime in the US! In fact, 1 out of 11 Americans are shoplifters! On top of that, did you know that 33% percent of people surveyed admit to having shoplifted at least once in their life. That's 1 in 3 people! It's a...
Critical consideration for your retail business - merchandising! It's one of the key elements that can make or break a store. When done correctly, it can create an attractive and inviting shopping environment that draws in customers and encourages them to buy. But...
As a small business owner, you're always looking for ways to save money and streamline your operations. One way to do this is by implementing a cost-effective return to vendor process. This article will outline some tips on making this process as painless as possible...
Did you know that small businesses account for almost two-thirds of all retail sales in the United States? As a small business retail store owner, it's essential to make sure you're doing everything possible to increase sales and grow your business. Here are four...
When it comes to holding an effective staff meeting, having a well-organized agenda is essential. By taking the time to create and follow an agenda, you can ensure that your meeting runs smoothly and that everyone has the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas....
"Let your store associates be active on social. “Friendorsers” are more important than paid models in showing our clothes—social influencers, but also our store associates, who are 100% our customers too." — Emily Watkins Social retail is...
At TimeWellScheduled.com, the thing we do best is, automate and optimize your businesses' scheduling process. Take for example, a schedule of employee availability. It’s an essential document that shows when your employees are available to work. This document is often...
Open Shifts!$? Are you a retail manager struggling to fill an open shift? Are you looking for solutions on how to get it filled? Maybe you're an employee looking for a way to make some extra money? Or, perhaps you need a shift covered? It's no secret that open shifts...
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the era of great resignation, fully one-third of new employees quit after about six months. This is a high figure that must be addressed urgently if businesses want to resolve it. In particular, retail employee...
Business people know that retail is changing at an extremely fast pace. Driven by the global pandemic, regional conflicts, and other disruptions, leaders in the retail industry are looking to AI for solutions more than at any time before. AI systems and software...
If you're a business person, then you know that managing people can be a challenge. There are so many things to think about, from ensuring everyone is productive to dealing with conflict to ensuring everyone is on the same page. One way to make the process easier is...
Are you a business owner who feels like you can never take a vacation because it would disrupt your business? Well, there is good news! There is now vacation tracking software that can help keep your business running smoothly while you're away. In this blog post,...
Employee buddy punching is an expensive problem for many business owners! According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, buddy punching costs US employers upwards of $373 million a year. What's more, Sixteen percent of US employees who track time openly admit to...
Time clocks have been a staple of businesses for decades, but with the advent of new technology, there are now web-based time clocks that offer even more benefits for businesses. This blog post will explore the advantages of web-based time clock software for your...
The managerial process encompasses four management functions, including planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Each function is important in its own right, although they all work in unison for the purpose of achieving organizational goals. In this blog post,...
Have you ever been in a situation where your project was behind schedule and had to fast-track it? Or maybe you're not sure what that even means. This blog post will discuss what fast-tracking is when necessary and how to do it effectively. We'll also share some tips...
Every business needs a media kit. A media kit is a collection of information and materials that you can use to promote your company to the media. Your media kit should include everything from your company profile and mission statement to fact sheets and press...
"The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency".– Bill Gates. Are you looking to...
If you're like most business owners, you're always looking for ways to improve your operations and achieve your goals. Monitoring your key performance indicators (KPIs) is a great way to do this. KPIs are metrics that measure how well your business is doing in...
Are you looking to build relationships with other business professionals in your area? Professional networking can be a great way to expand your circle of contacts, learn from others in your industry, and find potential referral partners. This blog post will discuss...
"Teamwork begins by building trust. And the only way to do that is to overcome our need for invulnerability." – Patrick Lencioni When it comes to business, team dynamics is critical. A well-functioning team can accomplish great things, but a...
What is employee motivation? Motivation is the psychological process that gets employees going, keeps them going, and determines the direction and level of effort they exert at work. If motivation is present, work performance is possible. Motivation and performance...
Did you know the first known recorded timeclock is over 3,200 years old? On Feb 15, 2022, scientists found a 3,200-Year-Old Egyptian tablet providing evidence that ancient Egyptians recorded attendance and absences from work. The timeclock was called an ostracon. An...
When greeting a customer, it's essential to be polite and professional. Use a warm and friendly tone, and greet them by name if you know it. Be sure to greet everyone who enters your store, even if they don't buy anything. A simple hello can make a big difference in...
"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." Walt Disney Are you looking for ways to increase your working efficiency? If so, you're not alone. Many business owners are always looking for new and improved ways to get things done. Fortunately, a few...
A Business Continuity Plan (BCP) lays out the steps and procedures a company will follow before, during, and in the wake of a disaster to maintain maximum functionality during the emergency and get its operations back to normal in the shortest possible time. Every...
"The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails."-John Maxwell. Being a leader in business is more than just having a position of authority. It's about using that power to impact people inside and outside of the...
When making data-driven decisions, businesses need to understand and analyze their data. Thankfully, several different analytics tools can help with this. Companies can quickly get insights into customer behavior, market trends, and more by using the right tool for...
Planograms (POG) are vital merchandising tools most modern retail businesses use. POGs help arrange products on store shelves in the most effective way possible to promote sales. Without a planogram, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for store employees to...
The term "gig" is jargon for "temporary job." You've likely heard it used conversationally, especially when freelancers say, "I've booked a gig." Additionally, you've probably heard of a "gig economy," which means a free market system in which businesses use...
"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new" - Socrates Making changes in your small business can be daunting, but it is critical for growth. Many changes, such as process improvements or new technology...
Most successful companies today have HRIS systems. A human resources information system, or HRIS, is an essential tool. Companies that have successfully implemented HRIS systems include Google, Apple, and Microsoft. These companies have used their HRIS systems to...
"People work for money but go the extra mile for recognition, praise and rewards." - Dale Carnegie. The "great resignation" describes the growing trend of mass resignations in every economic sector. People quit their jobs for many reasons, but most people say they...
Retaining your top employees should be a priority for any manager, regardless of the industry you operate in. High-quality staff will always translate into more profits, higher productivity, and just a better business all-around. There is a significant difference...
When you’re running a restaurant it’s impossible to avoid on-call scheduling, as you never know when things are going to get increasingly busy. A team member could also call in sick at any given time, leaving the team short-staffed and unprepared for the shift! This...
Many industries are facing a shortage of skilled workers these days, especially those that focus on employing “top talent” the most. In particular, the hospitality industry has been hit relatively hard - the pandemic has led to a talent shortage that most business...
There are many instances in life where having more than one set of skills is going to take you much further. Of course, that would seem obvious to some people, but that isn’t always the case. I feel like if you relate this issue to sports, more individuals would...
Bringing your team together through team-building activities is not only a great choice but a popular one as well. I’m sure most of you reading this have been through some sort of tacky team-building exercise in the past, but there are plenty of amazing ones to be had...
Wondering what Human Resources is all about? Please read this blog post to learn more about the basics, including why it’s important and how it helps your business thrive!
Unsure of how to conduct job interviews? This blog post will give you some tips on making the process run smoothly and help you determine whether or not the candidate is a good fit for your company
Teenagers are the workers that keep many businesses afloat, offering them affordable labour at flexible hours (especially during the holidays). The one thing that business owners forget about though is that teenagers are getting smarter over time, and it can be...
Letting your employees know that they’re doing a good job is a simple way to boost both moreale and productivity. Any manager that has been in the game for a while understands the importance of employee morale, and how it can seriously impact the success that your...
Running a business isn’t easy by any means, and most of you reading this already understand that fact. It takes a lot of time and dedication to run a business of your own, but there are fewer things in the world that can make you feel more prideful. Running a...
Running a coffee shop is a popular choice these days, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s tough to do. Many business owners believe that they’ll open up a coffee shop and immediately start raking in the cash, but that’s not how it works at all. As a...
Communication is one of the easiest ways to keep your team members in the loop, as well as improve upon productivity. Whenever you can connect with your team and communicate effectively, you can get your point across without any wasted time. This leads to people...
Scheduling will always remain one of the toughest things to handle as a retail manager, but there are many tricks you can use to ensure that employees are always in high spirits during the Holiday rush. During the Holidays (and more specifically during Christmas)...
Employees are turning towards freelance and remote gigs now more than ever, but there are also more small businesses being developed on top of that. The minimum wage that people in Ontario experience is lackluster to say the least, and that’s mainly due to the living...
Those of you who run a business that is open 24-hours a day should consider working in rotating shifts (if you haven’t already), but this can be applied to just about any company. Whether you’re operating hours are 14 or 16 hours out of the day, it always helps to...
Working through the pandemic, in general, has been tough, but that can ring especially true for anybody who is also a parent. Whether they’ve got toddlers or even college students, the pandemic has pushed many children back into their homes for school - the only...
If you’re struggling to find and retain employees ever since the pandemic, you’re not alone. There’s a reason why remote and gig-based work has become more popular recent, and that’s simply because people are more willing to do it. The economy seems to be bouncing...
There are four total management styles to consider, with each one pertaining to a different sort of managerial process. Some managers will be laid back and allow employees to do their thing, while others will demand greatness and help people reach their true...
Working in the health care sector comes with a lot of pressure. The hours can be long and the shifts never seem to stop coming, which is why we’re going to look at the importance of proper scheduling in the health care sector. Creating manual schedules puts pressure...
Growing a business requires constant learning, from your own experiences and those of others. There are thousands of experts out there willing to share their experiences and all you need to gain access is a library card (People still use those?). The following list is...
Ever since the pandemic managers have been trying to figure out how they can keep their employees engaged throughout the year, regardless of whether they’re working remotely or not. If you aren’t completely sure how to revitalize your team and keep them engaged,...
Some business owners believe in hard work and determination, which translates into less than stellar circumstances for their employees. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t any fair and successful business owners out there that have this philosophy, but there’s a...
We are living through unprecedented times. We don’t know when we’ll be able to stop and look back on them, because we don’t know when they’re going to end. What we do know is that the constant change, the constant dealing with the unknown, is making things tough on...
As we’ve said, nothing beats the knowledge of a seasoned labour lawyer when you’re trying to navigate your way through Canada’s labour laws. But if you can’t afford one as you’re starting out, these snippets should help you gain a basic understanding of your legal...