Tips For Boosting Productivity in Retail

As a key decision maker for your business, you know the importance of boosting productivity in retail. However, at Murray Uniforms, we know that actually implementing ideas that make a difference can be a challenge.

Working hard is important, but so is working smart. In this blog, we’ll share our top 5 tips on how to boost employee productivity in retail to help you maximise revenue and minimise costs, from automating tasks to investing in new retail uniforms

What is productivity in retail?

KPIs (key performance indicators) assess employee productivity in retail. These are quantifiable measurements to gauge colleague success and if they’re meeting expectations.

Some KPIs for retail workers include:

• Task completion rate
• Conversion rate
• Time taken to complete tasks, such as how many items scanned
• Transactions per hour
• ATV (average transaction value)
• Customer satisfaction score
• NPS (net promoter score)

You want these to be as high as possible for maximum productivity, but how do you increase productivity in retail stores? It starts with your human resources.

Start With Effective Communication 

Communication is the cornerstone of every healthy, successful relationship. One challenge a lot of retailers face is ensuring effective communication between the corporate office and stores. It is important to streamline communication so all parties are aligned. Good communication results in more engaged employees and therefore increased employee productivity in retail.

Good communication is clear, concise, effective, and empathetic.

A Healthy Work Culture Boosts Productivity in Retail

A good work culture is crucial to retaining your best talent and bringing out the best performance in your employees. A good work culture values inclusivity, ensuring that all employees feel respected, valued, and empowered. When they feel empowered, they are more likely to go the extra mile and share their ideas and they should feel like their efforts are appreciated. Empowered employees feel like they have ownership of what they do.

Just like you survey customers, it’s important to send surveys to employees. Thoughtfully responding to feedback makes employees feel heard and valued.

Offer Flexibility in the Workplace

One of the appeals of working in retail is the flexible hours. This makes it appealing to students, parents, caregivers, and un-retirees. Work-life balance is essential for a healthy working relationship.

One might think that longer hours means higher productivity, but there’s actually diminishing and negative returns. Overworked employees will feel disengaged, fatigued, stressed, and detached. This has negative effects on employee productivity. 

Happy workers are 12% more productive and are less likely to call out sick.

Make the Most of Technology and Automation

Every sector is adopting technology and automation to make work more efficient. Even the simple things like clocking in and out and tills can be automated, freeing up workers to engage with customers, improving the shopping experience. Product information can be displayed on tablets or by using QR codes, saving employee time on answering FAQs.

Technology is a key part of experiential retail. Utilising technology such as AR and VR can help customers visualise products better and makes the experience more engaging.

Automation and technology can optimise business operations too. AI can help analyse data to better understand your customer base, optimise inventory management and demand forecasting, and can make everyday tasks like scheduling and sending out surveys a lot quicker.

Consider a Bespoke Retail Uniform 

A well-fitting, well-designed bespoke uniform creates a professional image, raises brand awareness, and makes it easier for shoppers to find staff in case they need assistance. Staff don’t have a choice with uniform, so it’s important to involve them in the design of the uniform.

Confidence and happiness are important in a role that involves interacting with the public and selling products. Confident employees give an impression of believing in the products they’re selling and inspire customers to buy. 

According to our research report in collaboration with Coventry University, customer facing staff would feel 13% more confident in a well-made, well-fitting uniform that is fit for purpose and staff who wear a well-made, well-fitting uniform that enables them to do their job are 22% happier.

Imagine how much higher your ATV could be when your employees are happy and confident.

Achieve your long term business goals with a bespoke retail uniform from Murray Uniforms

When you work with us to create a bespoke retail uniform that will increase employee productivity in retail, it’s a true partnership. Before we start designing, we get to know your company, its staff, and its needs. We use data from your employees, staff, and key stakeholders alongside our Science of Uniform® research to craft a uniform that will enable your employees to Work Smarter®. 

Our world-class project management results in attentive service and a frictionless process that keeps you in the loop from initial consultation to design to contract implementation to ongoing service.

Book a consultation with us today to help your retail staff feel smart and Work Smarter®.