Mad Props to Every Retail Leader Out There
Now and forever
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Now to this week’s article -
In the three years I’ve been advocating for retail leaders online and telling my story, I’ve come across more than a few people who come from retail but now “help people escape” retail.
Um. K.
I don’t know how that makes you feel, but the vibe is off for me.
I get it - the message is clear, but it also feels like you’re assassinating the industry that raised you. It may even be warranted, but it still gives me an ick feeling.
Retail leaders are heroes
These former retail leaders acknowledge how much they learned in retail, how business savvy they now are because of retail, and how much talent other retail leaders can bring to a different industry. Still, they shit on retail while they recruit.
Weird?
I know - retail is super fucking difficult. It can also be rife with terrible managers, awful pay, and a dodgy career path. I lived it for almost twenty-five years. But to now advertise to help people “escape” retail? It doesn’t sit right with me.
Everything I’ve ever written online about retail - even when I call bullshit on corporations because I got a bag of Doritos as a thank-you gift for navigating the pandemic (true story - and the bag was snack-size) - has centered the retail leader as the hero. No matter what.
Recruiters can help people transition out of retail while still acknowledging the good in the industry. When negative language is used, people feel more discouraged and stuck.
Also, what message does that send to the leaders still in retail? I would argue that it perpetuates the stereotype that retail isn’t a “real job” or doesn’t take exceptional talent to do it well.
Extraordinary people are working in retail every damn day. They love it. They love running teams, merchandising, and connecting with their customers. I know because I was one of them.
I’ve been pushed aside, discredited, and disrespected because of my career choice. Guess what? I didn’t care. I knew I could run circles around those other fools. Most retail leaders can too.
“They need you, so they’ll be forced to listen to you.”
The time is now to make a positive change in the retail workforce.
Corporate blew it when we were going through COVID, but now it’s generally impossible to find talent. Do you know what we call that retail team? Leverage.
They need you, so they’ll be forced to listen to you.
Take notes. Make a list of demands. Speak up. Tell them what IS and what is NOT working. Advocate for the sales team, and do not shut up until they pay you more or give you more payroll (and maybe an extra vacation).
And recruiters - think about your verbiage. Here are some examples you can use for free. Please, steal them.
“I help retail leaders use their unmatched skill set in a new industry.”
“If you work retail, you can work anywhere. Find your new adventure.”
“Are you a retail leader? Fantastic! Your future awaits.”
MAILBOX
This message landed in my inbox recently.
“What do you think the retail world’s three biggest struggles are on the digital side of marketing?”
I had to read that message like five times.
I ran retail stores for twenty years - brick and mortar. Marketing was outside my day-to-day things to manage. The only time I dealt with marketing was when I emailed the marketing department and told them that their sign was garbage (professionally, of course.).
This was my response to that email.
“As I have zero professional marketing experience, I can confidently say I have no idea. I ran retail stores as a profession, and now I write content, so marketing is not my area of expertise.”
When you don’t know, say you don’t know.
When someone asks you to work on a project that isn’t in your niche, decline it and recommend someone better suited. When we lift others, we rise. Also, being a bullshitter is exhausting - best to avoid it.
LEVEL UP
One thing you can do today to be a better leader.
Champion your co-workers.
Whether you support your sales team or the other leaders in your district, people will feel it and appreciate it.
This can look like -
When someone in your store has a great idea, try it and give them credit.
Calling another store leader to check in and lend support or commiserate.
Negotiate with your boss to start that visual update at 6am instead of 5am.
To champion people means to advocate for them. When you take action on your team’s behalf, it’s called actionable empathy.
Actionable empathy is what makes good leaders great. You can read about it more in this article I published last year. It’s behind a paywall, but you can read it for free with this link.
A Guide to Actionable Empathy
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You're the absolute best.
I learned so much reading this! Thank you Kit!
This post triggered many memories of my time in hospitality, not only for the lack of respect of such respectable industry from customers, but from fellow workers. It's wrong in so many levels! Thanks my friend, you inspired me to write something I lectured many about in real life 😉