Retail Leaders Do More Than Fold T-Shirts

So.Much.More.

Photo by Clarke Sanders on Unsplash.

Here’s a thought that I posted on LinkedIn a few days ago. Check it out.

FYI, I can’t make this screenshot any smaller 👀.

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This post now has over one million views. (I know, right?)

Every day it racks up more views, comments, and shares. 

When content takes off like that, I pay attention. So, here I am writing about the same topic in a longer form. 

Here we go.

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Much of the work in a retail job goes unseen by the general public. They don't see it, so they don't get it. Their teenage kid can get a job in a retail store, so the work must be easy. A college degree is not required, so anyone can do it. 

(If you're a retail leader, I'll give you a minute to collect yourself and clean up the coffee you spit out amidst your outrage.)

Retail leaders have one of the most misunderstood jobs. 

I cannot tell you how many times people asked me, "Why do you go to work at 6am? The store doesn't open until 10am."

Right.

I guess the truck driver delivering the freight will let himself in and unload everything. I guess the merchandise fairies will put everything away for us, and the cleaning crew we pay will get the store spotless for us. 

Sike! We do all that. I've been the only opener on so many occasions. I'd clock in, run payroll, open the drawers, and then Swiffer the entire store, clean the mirrors, and stock the cash wrap - all within sixty minutes. 

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We also crack open shipment boxes, sort them, and push them to the stockroom so we can spend the next eight hours putting them away in between helping customers.

Running a retail store is the same as being a business owner, except you get zero recognition because no one knows what you do.

We run so many departments it's hard to keep track. 

HR
Payroll
Merchandising
Customer service
IT
Cleaners
Visuals
Schedule writers
Maintenance 

The list goes on and on. Whenever I post something like this on LinkedIn, it gets flooded with comments like, "You forgot…" and then people list ten more things that their job encompasses.

Retail leaders are incredibly savvy. They typically do not have a lot of support, so they do almost everything themselves. Resourcefulness is a top job skill, but you don't learn that in a classroom; you learn that on the sales floor. 

You learn that when you get a rush of customers out of nowhere, UPS rings the back doorbell, and your VP of Stores walks through the front door on a surprise visit. 

Everything you learn in retail is applicable in other industries. 

What better person to hire into your team than one that has led people, managed one thousand tasks, and understands how to get interrupted countless times without losing their cool? Who better to learn on the job than a leader who typically manages random customers coming in with a million questions while they try to set a floor update?

Retail leaders, that's who.

The skills learned in retail can go anywhere. 

If you are a recruiter or your job is to hire people for your company, take another look at candidates with a retail background. Adjust your resume-scanning robots to include these people. They are some of the most brilliant, most hard-working people out there. 

You're welcome. 

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MAILBOX

This message landed in my inbox this week.

“I love your posts. I worked in retail for ten years and went up from associate to Store Manager. I left in 2021 to pursue a different opportunity which never worked out. Since then, I've found it difficult in roles I've held as I've always felt like people didn't understand my value coming from retail."

So many of us feel like this. 

I responded -

"Thank you so much for this kind message. Retail leaders are some of the most savvy people out there and I'm on a mission to make sure more people know it."

Let's move, people! Share the message.

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LEVEL UP

One thing you can do today is to be a better leader.

Treat your delivery drivers, your mall peers, and everyone else you see at work on the regular like superstars.

Treating people well is the right thing to do. Not only that, your team is watching your every move. If they see you yell at the FedEx driver, it will erode their trust in you.

Be cool, people. 

Once you establish a relationship with all these people, everyone will be more inclined to give and go out of their way for each other. And that is what community is all about. 

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Let's Connect

I'll be attending Retail Fest in San Diego on October 4-6. 
Let's meet up for a coffee! 
Reply to this email or send me a DM on LinkedIn. 

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Other ways to get involved & support my work

Get Your Guide

My book, The Retail Leader's Field Guide, is now available in paperback. 🤓

This is the how-to handbook you wish your company had given you.

I spill all my best practices for running productive, cohesive teams.

• Get time back in your week

• Empower others

• Further your career.

Get it Now

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Stay Connected

Do you lead teams in a frontline environment? Do you wish you had access to a group of your peers? A place where you could ask questions, be yourself, and take a breath for five minutes?

Now, you do!

Join us in The Break Room, a safe space for leaders.

Come as you are, ask questions, connect, give, and get advice. This is your space. Take five and vibe. Leave feeling refreshed.

Let's go to The Break Room.

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Thank you for being here. If you dig my writing, please share this email. 

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You're the absolute best.