Keeping the good ones

Once you have a good hire, the next step is to keep them.

Mermaids of 30A owner Linda Wicker, center, surrounded by two of her "soul sisters.

Creating a memorable store experience for customers goes beyond just carrying interesting merchandise. It’s the greeting customers receive when they enter the store, the help they get when they are trying to find a certain item, and the thank you they get when they leave with their purchase.

The person or people who interact with your customers leave a lasting impression. They help determine whether a customer will come back and what that customer will share about the store with others. That is why having employees who create a welcoming environment is so important.

The Boutique by the Beach in Venice, Florida, has only been open a few months, but already customers have come to know some of the friendly faces inside the store.

“Our manager Shaniqua just does a fabulous job,” says co-owner Tricia Mangrum. “We also have a part-time gentleman that works here named Ron, and we’ve had nothing but wonderful comments. Customers love Shaniqua and say how wonderful she is at the store.”

Mermaids of 30A owner Linda Wicker knows how to create a strong culture among employees at her Mount Dora, Florida store. All the ladies that work in the store are considered a soul sister. Mermaids of 30A has five “soul sisters” not counting Wicker who work in the store: Lisa, Darlene, Dolores, Loraine, and Rhonda.
Wicker even ordered sterling silver “soul sister” rings for all her soul sisters to wear. She also sells the rings at the shop because customers often come in with their own soul sisters or best friends and pick up a set.