First Day as a Manager

Well it is your first day as a new manager. The question is what do you do first. That of course will depend on what the circumstance was that brought you here. Is this a new store, maybe a natural progression promotion, or are you replacing a manager that was replaced for reason? Lets look at these possibilities.

If you are the manager in a new store situation, you will likely be involved in the hiring process. Remember if you are hiring new help I would look for these traits first. Experience in most cases can be helpful because it transfers. So if you can find similar skills you can use them whether its cashiers, stockers, or department heads, give this serious consideration because it will help get you started well. If you are given responsibility for layout and stocking the store then look for experience this is critical. Many companies have store opening managers that travel and set stores, most times they do the layout and stocking. The important thing here is to make sure you take cues from him for how the company thinks about layouts for the time you are responsible.  Getting a store started out on the right foot many times is the difference in a successful store and struggling store.

If you are taking over the store from a manager that has been promoted then it will probably be best to spend that first day looking over the crew, the store, and the past P&Ls. If the manager before you was promoted then he or she was probably doing things well. So don't jump in like a "bull in a china shop". Look around see what is good and what can be better. Take a few days and let the staff get used to you before you make too many changes. The reason I say this is we know that if you go in with a critical manner they will go on the defensive an not even listen. Communication is critical in the event you are replacing someone that was well thought of and liked. The first few days are important, however if you spend the first few days getting to know the team, it also gives you time to set your plan of action. You also can determine the best way to make any changes, or time to consider if the changes are really needed.

Taking over a store that has been successful is a delicate task because you want to make your mark. But you have to be careful of the previous managers reputation. Be sure those first few days are not wasted because of mistakes that could be hard to correct. So talk to the team, and your staff plan the moves you want to make and be cautious not timid. The 30 day point is important to have your plans made, and the timeliness set for action.

In my early years as a manager I seemed to continually replace managers that were fired or demoted. This will give you a great opportunity to make a fast reputation or continue the mediocrity from the stores past managers. I remember my first store was in post riot Detroit. I went in with a very good training as an assistant manager, so I was prepared. The first week I got to know everyone, the second I started working with my assistant to determine what immediate changes to make. Third and fourth week we made those changes and shortly after that we started to increase sales. The store had a huge invisible waste (shrinkage) and the easiest way I have found to correct waste, is to follow policy. We reviewed the things that had slipped in the past, corrected them and held the team members accountable for their actions. We also became assessable to the team, from a communication level. The increased team work and the people being more receptive to new changes also increased the appearance and customer service in the store.

From the simple fact that store appearance and customer service brings the quickest change in a sales trend. Store managers can attain the fast turnaround in stores that have not been well managed by heeding those two things. Unless there is a physical reason (road construction, or something of that nature) or the shopping area is in a tail spin, I seriously hope you try the simple effective plan. "Clean store, Great Customer Service."

Simple Ideas for the Retail Manager!

Is your store meeting the goals set for you. Are you fighting fires instead of productively looking for new ways to improve your store? Do you spend your time doing things that don't lead to sales? Are you getting the productivity that should lead to increased profits?

Having spent more than 40 years in retail management I would like to help you find simple ways to improve your sales. Make your stores look better. Would you like to see your employee's take more interest, in their jobs, treat the customers better, and improve their own performance?

First of all it starts with you. In these modern days with the companies turning out cookie cutter stores, many times the performance of your store is dependent on you and your ability to make a difference. It is you that manages the store and is the key to the personality of the store. If you think of this logically you will understand that it is you that the people in the store look at for the leadership of the store on an everyday basis. It is not the company that the people turn to on a daily basis it is you.

Things continue to change in the retail world and you need to be able to keep you eyes and ears open to see those changes happening. Change is the one thing you can count on. The boss changes, the policy's change,
the employee's change, your management team changes and we all know the store layouts and assortments are changing all the time. Take it from a guy that started on a cash register that was manually operated and watched as they went electric, and then the computers came and we suddenly had inventory updated with each sale. It has been fun, interesting, frustrating and very rewarding.

I intend to give you some of my own ideas, opinions and things I have seen and done in those years that helped me to have a successful, interesting and rewarding career. I will honestly tell you the things that did not work as well as the things that did. I was not always my boss's favorite manager but in nearly all cases I was the manager that did the best with the cards he was dealt.

So this is a blog for those of you wanting the real experience of years on the sales floor. This is not a blog written by a PHD. So if you are looking for clinical text book style advise this is not where you want to be.
My promise to you is practical real experience and knowledge earned from being where it happens.