Strategies for Retailers to Prosper

Editor’s Note: Abasto is pleased to introduce our new columnist, Jeffrey P. McNulty, founder and CEO of New Retail Ethos, leadership coach, retail analyst, speaker, and international author. Jeffrey has 30 years of experience as an executive leader for several retailers like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Barnes & Noble, PetSmart, ShopKo, Toys R Us, Publix, and Festival Foods, and more than 16 years of experience as a retail analyst.

Jeffrey is the author of The Ultimate Retail Manual: Strategies for Retailers to Thrive & Succeed in the Digital World which is resonating with readers in 20 different countries around the world. He lays out his 10-pillar strategy which contains tangible, actionable solutions for retailers to implement. Welcome, Jeffrey!

I wrote The Ultimate Retail Manual: Strategies for Retailers to Thrive & Succeed in the Digital World because I couldn’t find a retail book that contained all the information I wanted.

I yearned for one that contained an amalgamation of retail concepts that were portable and easily reproducible that would generate consistent and sustained success.

Throughout my 30-year tenure in the retail sector, I read a plethora of books on leadership, merchandising, coaching, revenue generation, human resources, training, mentoring, and motivation. I wanted to read one book that contained all the necessary strategies and information to help me achieve my professional aspirations.

When the 10-pillar system is executed consistently, it becomes a proven blueprint towards achieving “continued” retail and business success. I lived each of the 10-pillars within the manual so I can personally vouch for their efficacy.

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The Ultimate Retail Manual was created to assist any retail employee/leader (from an entry-level employee up to the C-Suite executive), human resource professional, business founder/leader, entrepreneur, college student, high school student, or retail intern with acclimating to an experiential retail environment while supplementing and enhancing their existing retail acumen.

Throughout this column, I will be writing about these 10-pillars, offering advice and guidance for developing the best possible retail practices.

Talent acquisition is the “first pillar” within the manual and is probably the most important one for retailers to focus on.

It is often the greatest detriment to any organization because some executives do not place a remarkably high value on “non-tangible” programs, i.e., programs that do not produce revenue or increase profit.

Every strong and viable retail organization that is top of mind and dominant within their sector, universally, exhibits a fully committed upper echelon talent acquisition program that focuses on acquiring the best and brightest aspirants.

The CEO, all the way down to the entry-level manager within the company, are completely devoted to the entire recruitment process.

In the next articles, I will address the following topics for retailers:

  • Learn the skills that recruiters, human resource professionals, and leaders need to have, to attract and employ the best talent in your organization.
  • Learn how to prepare for the process of the optimal interview.
  • Learn how to conduct the optimal interview.