6 Qualities to look out for in a retail store manager

As a retail business owner, you may not be able to be present at your retail outlet 24/7 or have multiple outlets to look after. Looking to hire a manager to manage your retail business to free up your time? In this article, we share 6 qualities you should look out for when hiring one.

6 Traits of a Retail Manager

1. Organization skills
2. Good communication skills
3. Upbeat attitude
4. Able to keep calm under pressure
5. Firm when needed
6. Sales ability

Organization Skills

Retail managers are in charge of managing a store’s product placement and display, inventory management, staff management, sales management and many more.

The tasks of a retail manager requires strong organization skills to ensure smooth retail operations. In the fast moving retail industry, retail managers with strong management skills can quickly adapt to these changes by facilitating the rebranding of your retail outlet, meeting schedules and budgets, cutting costs and boosting sales.

Good Communication Skills

Retail managers are required to communicate with upper management, suppliers and their team regularly. Hence, good communication skills are necessary to ensure instructions are delivered clearly to prevent miscommunication.

Upbeat Attitude

Your retail manager’s work attitude has a direct impact on your staff’s morale. Hiring a motivated retail manager has a positive influence on your staff’s morale which improves productivity and reduces staff turnover rate.

Able to Keep Calm Under Pressure

It is not uncommon for retail managers to face difficult situations with customers, suppliers or even with their own team. In order for a retail manager to find an effective solution without escalating the situation, they have to be able to remain level headed.

Firm When Needed

Even though retail managers should ensure that they are on good terms with their team, upper management, suppliers and vendors, they must not allow themselves to become people pleasers.

At times, retail managers have to be firm when they have to in order to get things done.

Sales ability

Any retail staff should have sales ability in order to understand customers’ needs and wants and promote or upsell the right products without causing push back by coming across as too aggressive.

Hence, your retail managers have to possess sales ability in order to increase sales for your retail business and to train and provide feedback to new staff in sales.

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