Tell Me Something Good About Retail – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of "Tell Me Something Good About Retail," host Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor, and Carol Leaman discuss the post-pandemic retail landscape, emphasizing the critical role of frontline workers. Carol highlights challenges in hiring and training, revealing that 61% of frontline managers report a decline in applicant quality. They stress the importance of effective, engaging training to reduce turnover and burnout. The episode underscores the need for a supportive work environment and the potential for growth within retail careers, advocating for a more human-centric approach to managing retail employees.

1. Introduction to Carol Leaman and Axonify

- Axonify's role in supporting organizations with large frontline populations

- Industries served beyond retail

2. Post-pandemic retail landscape

- Retail's strong comeback

- Challenges in staffing and customer behavior

3. Seasonal hiring challenges

- Decline in applicant quality

- Factors contributing to hiring difficulties

4. Training challenges and solutions

- Issues with traditional training methods

- Axonify's approach to effective, bite-sized training

5. Manager burnout and its impact

- High percentage of managers considering quitting

- Importance of proper training in reducing manager stress

6. Practical ways to reduce turnover

- Examples of ineffective training methods

- Success stories with targeted, engaging training approaches

7. Future trends in retail employment

- Focus on manager support and mental health

- Emphasis on retention and career development in retail

8. Closing thoughts: The good in retail

- Retail's resurgence and opportunities

- Importance of quality customer experience

Key Quotes:

- "Retail has come back stronger than ever." - Carol Leaman

- "35 percent of managers have considered quitting in the last two months." - Carol Leaman

- "The cost of turnover is enormous for retailers." - Carol Leaman

Resources mentioned:

- Axonify's seasonal hiring survey

Call to Action:

- Rate and review the podcast

- Visit Axonify.com or SalesRX.com for more retail insights and training resources

Josh Orr, the founder of Capital Commerce and host of the Retail Initiative Podcast, is one of the leading voices in eCommerce today. He specializes in helping brick and mortar retailers gain traction in their online sales. With his team, he’s helped hundreds of retailers create thriving and profitable eCommerce businesses. Apart from his company’s eCommerce services, you may have seen him on stages at markets and retail events around the US or have taken part in his digital classes or in-person events related to eCommerce marketing.

In this episode of Tell Me Something Good About Retail, host Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor, converses with Josh Orr, founder of Capital Commerce and host of the Retail Initiative podcast. They discuss the integration of e-commerce with brick-and-mortar stores, emphasizing the importance of understanding the customer experience. They also highlight the significance of targeted marketing and creating a seamless shopping experience. The episode underscores the necessity of a human connection in retail and adapting to technological advancements to enhance customer engagement.

CEO and Founder Nolan Wheeler comes from retail loss prevention and store operations with hypermarket, grocery, big box, electronics, and more. Fatigued with the lack of solutions for FLW (frontline worker) and store operations, having watched 25 years of solutions being provided for online shopper, all-while developing few in-store technologies and further creating more friction (locking showcases, display-only, out of stocks), SYNQ went on a mission to respect the customer's time, increase "customer productivity" while making the FLW day more enjoyable and productive.

Bob speaks with Matt Rhodus, Director & Industry Principal NetSuite about the new survey we conducted and the trends in retail pointing the way forward for retail in 2019. 

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Season 2 kicks off as  I speak with Mark Bunny with Ingenico about how to deal with a diner's pet peeve about waiting for a check, Joel Reed CEO, IAM Robots and why there is such a need for robots and I talk data with My Storey-E Co-Founder Idan Sergi about his new app that combines online and offline data for more effective merchandising and selling at the National Retail Federation's Big Show in New York.

Bob Phibbs interviewed Hilary Blair, CEO Articulate Real And Clear on how to prevent misunderstandings with subordinates, how breath and consonants make a big difference when talking with younger co-workers and much more.

Bob Phibbs interviewed Georganne Bender & Rich Kizer, principals of Kizer & Bender, retail consumer anthropologists on the power of events, merchandising and changes in retail.

Bob Phibbs interviewed Jamie Bettencourt with Mood Media as she shares how music and scent can help create the right mood in a brick and mortar store.