Do you ever have days when you wish you could clone yourself? An independent retailer always seems to have too much to do – routine management tasks, buying, social media posts, advertising, merchandising, and assisting customers. Add to that the time it takes to respond to requests and problems (or even just to answer the steady stream of emails). It’s no wonder most of us are tired at the end of the day!

The secret to maintaining your energy and enthusiasm is to delegate some of your work to others. Not only do you risk burnout if you try to do everything, but you are probably missing the opportunity to evolve your business in a creative and viable way. That kind of vision work requires time and a peaceful setting in which to reflect.

Delegating effectively is not always easy. A good place to start is by writing your own job description – what you do on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.  You may be surprised at how many tasks you are juggling. Asking someone else to take charge of the less exciting ones (snow shoveling comes to mind) may be a relief, but delegating works best when you also share more meaningful work.

Inviting a team member to take on buying a certain category requires trust, because they will be spending your money on merchandise that may not be exactly what you would have purchased. It helps if your store has a brand vision that you can articulate with others. Mentor new buyers by reviewing their first orders, and encourage them to work with sales reps who know your store. But after the introductory period, you need to step back and give them the freedom to make their own decisions. Remember that not every item that you have purchased has been a winner.

Another task that often can be delegated is social media and advertising, which works well as long as everyone understands what you want the public image of your store to be. Displays can also be created by various staff members – you never know who may turn out to be a skilled visual merchandiser.  Giving employees opportunities to participate beyond customer service helps them feel more a part of the store’s success.

Two key elements of delegation are giving each individual the training and tools they need to do well – and then regularly recognizing their accomplishments.

Happy Retailing,
Carol “Orange” Schroeder