Just came across this new application in iTunes called iRetailer (caution: link takes you to the Apple iTunes store). It is a task organizer and note-taking application that is geared towards retail managers allowing them to divide tasks into categories such as people, operations, and merchandising.
From their description:
I was tired of using note applications that were either too complex or just didn’t do a good job. I built my own app to take care of simple task throughout the day. You have enough to do throughout your day without having to ‘chase notes.’ Have your list with you at all times. I have saved so much time just through the development phase, by using iRetailer.
I don’t know how well the application works, but I can totally support the idea. When I was involved at the store level of retail, I always had a notepad on me that had to-do lists and goals. Sales targets, merchandising objectives, and daily operations coverage were always in my pocket. The concept of an iPhone app is intriguing to me because it centralizes the information a bit more.
Good idea for an app. If anyone tries it out and has feedback on it, I’d love to know.
Circuit City has announced that they are cutting an additional 850 jobs, on top of the previously announced 3,400 jobs that they cut earlier this year. Now they are targetting store executives, cutting some stores down to 3 managers from the 5 that all stores had. They are also cutting 200 jobs at Circuit City corporate.
It is a shame to see any company cut jobs like this. I wonder if Circuit City has taken a look at the root of the problem – what caused the company to get to the point where they need to make this decision? Have they thought about their customer service policies? Their training? Their merchandise assortment?
When I talk to my tech-inclined friends about Circuit City, they all say the same thing: they don’t enjoy shopping there. Prices aren’t good and sales people are undertrained and unknowledgable. This isn’t a problem at one location; this is a problem across the chain. People don’t enjoy shopping there.
The retailer has also announced plans to open 165 new stores, after closing 60 earlier this year. The new stores will be a smaller, redesigned layout that is more customer-focused. Good, but is that too little too late?
No doubt that Circuit City can prove the layoffs as being a financial necessity right now. However, with some better forethough, some revamping, and some twaking of policies over the past few years, Circuit City could have remained competitive in the marketplace. Their underperfomance is nothing new. By constantly evaluating what is working and what isn’t over time, 4,000 people wouldn’t be out of a job today.
Position opens up at a store and hypothetical person A expresses interest in it.
It is asked, “Why do you think you deserve the position?”
“Because I’ve been here two years.”
Wrong answer.
Time and time again I’ve watched people flounder in their career when they are approached about a possible promotion, and when asked the important question of why they deserve it, they answer with a reason why they are entitled to the promotion – not what they’ve done to earn it.
Instead of answering, “Because I’ve been here two years”, follow that up with what you’ve done in that time to earn it. “Because I’ve been here two years, and in that time I’ve overseen a sales growth of 10% per year, I’ve had two years of inventory numbers that have beat expectations, and I’ve trained every new employee to maintain a high level of excellence in their position.”
Employers don’t care about how long you’ve been there, they want to know what you’ve done in that time to WOW them. Two years doesn’t mean anything if the person who has been there six months has better results than you.
If your only answer as to why you deserve a promotion is “Because I’ve been here two years”, and you can’t solidify your results during that time, then you are going to be giving the same answer as to why you deserve a promotion at three years, four years, and five years.
First in maybe a weekly column? Hopefully.
Some quick retail notes for this lazy Sunday:
I hear that the new Abrecrombie & Fitch Back To School Preview floorset is this week. The seasonal transition at A&F is very impressive and seamless. Sales will be strong but it will be tough for A&F to compete with themselves and the high comps they had with BTS 2005 (June, July & August had comps of 38%, 22% & 24% in 2005). Look for solid increases in the gross margin with decreases in markdowns and sales for this upcoming season. This will be another great season for A&F.
Two quickies from the Loss Prevention blog: Cop kills man in grocery store shoplifting and Kroger manager jumps on hood of shoplifters car. I have nothing to say about the unfortunate shooting, but Im sure Krogers corporate management doesnt look fondly on employees jumping on cars to apprehend shoplifters. There has to be more to the story than that.
Last week, the Chicago Sun-Times ran an article showing where some of the former Sears executives have gone: Life After Sears.
And finally, a story from Starbucks showing how a good idea from worker, combined with the support of co-workers, the corporate office and customers can lead to a very positive outcome: Starbucks worker brews plan to get java to GIs in Afghanistan. A Starbucks employee from Maine organized a campaign where her co-workers donated their weekly bag of coffee they recieve as a benefit and, with corporate approval, solicited donations from customers. The result? 106 pounds of coffee sent to troops in Afghanistan. [via Starbucks Gossip]
-
Read more about: abercrombie and fitch, American Eagle, back to school, coffee, customer, donation, kroger, loss prevention, management, oops, positive, Retail, sales, sears, shoplifting, starbucks
-
