Retail is the Harvard of Leadership
Best quote ever because it's TRUE
There aren’t too many places in this world where you can get hired into an entry-level position and, within a few years, learn to run a business. Hands-on, in-your-face, mistakes-made, lessons-learned, customer-facing, all-out in charge of a business.
You don’t need a college degree, either.
No one ever looked at my degree after I finished college. I have a merchandising degree, but no one ever cared. I ran retail stores for over two decades, and my promotions came from my work in the stores. Moving up was directly related to my aptitude for operations and genuine care for people.
“Retail is the Harvard of Leadership.” - Randy Scalise
Where else can you start as a part-time employee and run your own store one day? Or one day oversee ninety stores?
Restaurants.
Grocery.
Retail.
People love to shit on retail.
Even people in retail love to shit on retail.
I get it. It’s complicated, difficult, challenging work. Bosses can be demanding and out of touch. Corporate can be so far removed from what the frontline leaders need that they send Doritos when we need bonus money or our office chair replaced.
Retail work is seen by society as “easy.” Not a “real job”. Not a career.
But there is nothing easy about talking to strangers all day, maintaining a positive attitude, and shifting priorities ten times a day. We also get interrupted endlessly and have to put out fires daily.
“Would you like your receipt in the bag? Excellent choice.”
Countless times a day, I would say those words. Ask the same questions one hundred times a day and make it sound novel - I dare you.
Customers don’t see the underside of this work, so they don’t understand how dynamic it is. All they see is employees walking around, folding jeans, or talking to people, so they think that’s all the job is.
It’s not.
It’s full-out running a business.
Sure, the product arrives, and we put it out where the company tells us to put it. Marketing comes, and we change our windows. But items sell through. You don’t get the proper marketing. The signs are the wrong size - whatever. Problems arise every day that need fixing, and you’re the one to figure it out.
Your boss isn’t there, and you don’t have time to wait.
You have a list of crap that you need to do, employees need breaks, and a line is forming at the cash wrap. You need to make a decision and get on with your day. You can email the marketing department later if you need a new sign.
Right now, you gotta go.
Working retail will get you ahead in life.
Working in retail will set you up for any other industry. It will set you up to handle life.
It’s not just the operational aspect; it’s the people. Working with various people on the team and customers walking in the door will establish a baseline for how you work in the future.
Retail forces you to listen to the people around you. It forces you to partner with them and come up with a solution. It could be a customer. It could be a co-worker. But whoever it is - you must get to the other side with them. No one is coming to save you.
Imagine that. Think about the resilience that takes and the resourcefulness.
I agree wholeheartedly with Randy Scalise - Retail IS the Harvard of Leadership. It will prepare you for so much you can’t see ahead of you.
It’s unpredictable, messy, thrilling, and lovely all at the same time.
MAILBOX
This is part of a DM I received recently.
“I can safely say retail is awful. The more you give the less you get and the more they expect.”
There was more to it, but I won’t go on. I haven’t replied. I don’t know if I will.
Shitting on retail is the opposite of what I do.
I get it. Much of my retail career was extremely difficult. I worked my guts out for people that ultimately tried to fire me. Corporate partners looked down upon me. Managers wanted to scare me into working harder. So, I did what I could, or I left.
No career is easy or perfect.
I choose to focus on what I loved about retail. The people I met who influenced me are unique humans and fantastic leaders. So, that’s what I share.
I want to make retail better as a whole for everyone who works on the frontline. I see you. I know that you work miracles every day. Now, turn to the person to your right and pull them up, too.
LEVEL UP
This message came through in The Break Room this morning from one of our seasoned retail leaders and members:
How to thrive during Black Friday:
1. Do a potluck. We all know corporations rarely give us enough money to purchase real food. So use that money for drinks and snacks, but bring in some yummy food from home. The food court will be a madhouse, and 30 minutes will not be enough!
2. Plan your Black Friday zoning and coverage this week and inform your team where they will be. It takes the guesswork out and helps them come prepared. Also, break up shifts so no one is in the fitting rooms for 4 hours on Black Friday. I try to move my part-timers around every 2 hours on crazy days.
3. Have some fun ideas ready to engage the customers in your line. Questions, jokes, whatever! If you can keep them from getting bored, you can keep them from getting upset at the wait. Yeah, you might look like an idiot to a few of them, but most of them will appreciate your effort. 😂
I love this advice so much! I practiced all of these pro tips every year, and they helped tremendously.
Make sure you have plenty of food.
Prepare your team for the day (they may be quite nervous!).
Have fun! Black Friday is a really exciting day to work retail.
Customers are in a good mood, looking forward to the holidays and your store is full of new product to sell.
Everyone is shining.
We also used to do a theme day on Black Friday, so all the employees would wear all black (or whatever). It was another way to make it a team effort.
We'd love to have you along if you’re interested in joining The Break Room. You can sign up here.
Resources
How to Write a Fantastic Schedule, FAST - You need an excellent schedule written every week.
I can help.
Stop guessing. Stop the trial and error. This guide is short and packed with all my scheduling pro-tips!
✓ I’ve stepped into eleven different buildings and had to lead.
✓ I’ve written thousands of schedules.
✓ I’ve hired hundreds of people and promoted leaders from my guidance.
I know what works. Now, you do, too.
Retail Leader Merch
I created merch just for retail leaders. T-shirts, stickers, and notebooks. You’re gonna want to shop it.
Check it out here.
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You're the absolute best.
SO on target!!!! With such an honest look at the pros and cons. Truthful and uplifting simultaneously is not easy and you pulled it off in this article.
I’ve been a district manager in retail for 15+ years and this is probably the best article I’ve ever read in regards to retail. The issues that you covered are 100% spot on, thank you for sharing.