Store Labor Management

Click Below to access a sampling of our Retail Whitepaper library:

1. Managing Your Conversion Rate
2. Transferring New Ideas / Procedures Across Your Chain
3. Effective Labor Management
4. Properly Utilizing Retail Benchmarks

Labor Management

The Atlanta Retail Consulting store operations team has assisted clients in every format of retail to improve their labor management. That process is relatively complex and needs to be tailored to the format and capabilities of each specific retail organization. Our labor management experience base ranges from basic spreadsheet based calculations up to and including the new (complex) multi-variable equation solving scheduling systems. We can assist you to improve your labor management effectiveness with…

Sample Deliverables:

Typical Workforce Management Program deliverables include net operating expense reductions of 50 to 100 basis points, improved (on-going) sales revenue, an improved service environment, better trained store associates, and more effective store and field leadership.

• For a national Cosmetics retailer we performed a detailed store operations and workforce management system assessment identifying dramatic opportunities for improvement and a 70x ROI
• At a national Crafts & Notions retailer our team developed new store operating procedures, implemented and tested the procedures in a select group of “model stores”, developed new labor standards, and implemented a new chain-wide Workforce Management Platform – generating a substantial ROI
• For a national Supermarket chain we performed a full workforce management assessment, developed new procedures and labor standards in a model store environment, and provided guidance on a chain-wide rollout process which reduced labor by $20 million annually
• For a recent national Specialty Store chain we developed and implemented new store operating procedures and a new service environment helping them to revive a slump in sales and more effectively deal with competition

WFM Project Approach

All of Atlanta Retail Consulting’s engagements are unique and are structured to reflect the needs of the client organization we are assisting. The approach to be employed is decided up-front with the client, to insure their approval and support. Often we find that our client’s current WFM effectiveness is as shown in the (actual client) graphics shown to the right in the sidebar thumbnails.

A Project Approach that is employed for many of our Store Operations Work Force Management clients includes the following key components (in this general order):

1. Labor Management Strategy Review
2. (Current) Scheduling Process Assessment (Procedures, Process, and System)
3. Revised Labor Management Strategy Development / Refinement – as required
4. Model Store (multiple) Observations & Observed (current) Productivity Level Documentation
5. Best Practices Procedures Refinement / Development
6. New Procedures Testing & Refinement
7. New Labor Standards Development (reflecting new, more efficient procedures)
8. WFM System Install / Configuration or Refinement / Upgrade of Existing System
9. Final Labor Standards / WFM System Testing & Verification
10. Procedures Manual Modification / Development
11. Roll-Out / Transfer Strategy Development
12. Train-The-Trainer Process to Prepare for Roll-Out Oversight
13. “Field Management” Training
14. Schedule Cascade Roll-Out Process to Stores – as appropriate
15. Roll-Out Process Oversight and Results Measurement

Our WFM System expertise includes decades of experience implementing and refining key retail WFM software solutions – ranging from the most basic to more-robust/complex solutions. We can assist you to review and upgrade / implement all of the key solutions available today, such as:

1. Excel based “required hours” solutions
2. Shift-Based Systems
3. Dynamic Multi-Variable Scheduling Algorithms