Megan Crabtree

Energize Your Retail Team for the Holiday Season With These Creative Initiatives

These five action items can motivate your team and be fun while also providing clients with a higher degree of service.

Published

5 months ago

October 17, 2024

Megan Crabtree Instore October 2024 Issue

THE HOLIDAY SEASON is more than just a sales rush. It’s a prime opportunity to enhance customer experiences, boost team morale, and drive long-term growth. Here are five initiatives to invigorate your team and elevate the holiday shopping experience.

1. HOLIDAY CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CHALLENGE. Create a customer service challenge where sales associates earn points for delivering exceptional service throughout the holiday season. Points can be awarded based on customer satisfaction surveys or positive feedback.
At the end of the season, reward the top performers with attractive prizes or incentives, which could range from gift cards to extra vacation days. This challenge is a win-win, enhancing customer satisfaction while motivating your team.

2. HOLIDAY CROSS-TRAINING PROGRAM. To ensure a seamless shopping experience during the holiday rush, implement a cross-training program for your sales associates. This initiative involves team members from different departments or shifts working together to learn each other’s roles and responsibilities. Cross-training helps build teamwork, improves communication, and prepares your staff to handle any situation that might arise. In return, customers receive consistent and efficient service no matter which associate they interact with.

3. WINTER WONDERLAND VISUAL MERCHANDISING CONTEST. This activity will attract more customers with eye-catching, themed displays. Encourage creativity and collaboration among your staff by organizing a Winter Wonderland visual merchandising contest. Teams can compete to create the most captivating holiday displays. The purpose of this contest is to foster team spirit while enhancing the overall shopping atmosphere. The winning team could be rewarded with prizes or recognition.

4. NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS WORKSHOP. As the holiday season winds down, kick off the year with a workshop focused on setting individual and team sales goals. This interactive session can help align your team’s priorities, boost motivation, and provide a clear roadmap for the year ahead. Encouraging your team to set and achieve new goals fosters a culture of continuous improvement.

5. JANUARY APPRECIATION MONTH. Dedicate the month of January to recognizing and rewarding your employees for their hard work during the holiday season. This could include awards, bonuses, or personalized gifts for those who demonstrated exceptional performance during the holiday rush. By showing appreciation for their efforts, you reinforce a positive work environment and motivate your team to maintain high standards throughout the year.

These initiatives help foster a culture of collaboration, motivation, and success within your team, setting the stage for a prosperous new year. Happy selling, and feel free to share your holiday season success story with me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/megan-crabtree.

Ready to Relocate? Wilkerson Makes Your Move Seamless

When Brockhaus Jewelry decided to leave their longtime West Main Street storefront for a standalone building elsewhere in Norman, Oklahoma, owners John Brockhaus and Brad Shipman faced a familiar challenge: how to efficiently reduce inventory before the big move. Their solution? Partnering with liquidation specialists Wilkerson for a second time. "We'd already experienced Wilkerson's professionalism during a previous sale," Shipman recalls. "But their approach to our relocation event truly impressed us. They strategically prioritized our existing pieces while tactfully introducing complementary merchandise as inventory levels decreased." The carefully orchestrated sale didn't just meet targets—it shattered them. Asked if they'd endorse Wilkerson to industry colleagues planning similar transitions—whether relocating, retiring, or refreshing their space—both partners were emphatic in their approval. "The entire process was remarkably straightforward," Shipman notes. "Wilkerson delivered a well-structured program, paired us with a knowledgeable advisor, and managed every detail flawlessly from concept to completion."