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On the Level with Neville: August/September 2009
Show Your Staff the Love |
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Written by Neville MacKay
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After a hard day’s work, it’s always nice to reward yourself with a little treat. David and I just returned home from Peggy’s Cove – we live about five minutes away – and decided we both needed a treat and a bit of a reward after a long week of hair and floral triumphs, tortures and tributes! If you ever get there, have the warm gingerbread and soft ice cream . . . you’ll lose your mind! I mean, really, who doesn’t deserve a little prize after a job well done? Think about what we as florists have to go through; not only do we have to deal with all the ups and downs that business may throw at us, but there’s the emotional rollercoaster our clients are usually on! It’s a wonder we aren’t all in a recovery program!
I believe it is not only important, but essential, to thank and reward not only my good work, but also that of my co-workers. There are so many ways to do this, and I have done many, so I’ll tell you of some . . .pay close attention and please try some out if you haven’t already. (You’ll have to now, if your staff is reading this!)
I work with great people, both in my store as well as across North America. When a good job is done, it needs to be celebrated and rewarded. When I travel, I always take thank-you gifts for those I work with, or at the very least, take the time to let them know how thankful I am. Here at the store, we do all sorts of things and many that aren’t costly at all.
Cash is an incredible motivator, and a little can go a long way to let someone know they are appreciated. A hand-written note in a nice card (with some $$$) can mean a lot, especially if it is unexpected. Gift cards, certificates for coffee and movie tickets are all a lovely treat, and are greatly appreciated.
We set goals here at my store in a different way. I will sometimes see who can sell the most, let’s say, teddy bears in a week or a day, giving the winner a prize. This not only makes staff work towards a goal, but it can shift merchandise at a time when perhaps it isn’t going as quickly as you’d like. Getting everyone to play the game can be a lot of fun, especially if you try to move something that’s been hanging around awhile! We’ve done this with some real old crap, and it is amazing how great a salesperson one can become when there’s a cash prize in the offing!
Sometimes when I am away, I like to throw a sale. One of the most successful ones is the “Neville’s Away!” sale! This gives the staff the opportunity to sell off a lot of older product, and when I get home, I hand out gifts for their efforts. I also, before traveling, leave a little $$ or instructions with my manager Doreen to buy a treat while I’m gone. A run to the coffee shop is a wonderful (and cheap!) thought.
Have you ever given flowers to your staff? Now, I don’t mean just the ones that are old enough to vote, but I mean lovely flowers? Many people in our industry never get to enjoy fresh flowers, which is sad. In fact, many have no idea how long many flowers even last, other than what customers tell them. Give your staff flowers. Give them nice ones! This will not only impress them, but will teach them a lot about flowers. They will be able to share their floral experiences with customers and will have a better idea of where to position a vase or how often to change the water. In fact, think of giving them a “free sample” of a candle, soap, whatever…they’ll be better salespeople if they know first-hand about what they are selling, and will be thankful to you! It’s a win-win situation for everyone.
I’ve talked about my staff on TV, radio, on the Internet and in this magazine and they love it. Public recognition is an incredible way to show you love them. Think about taking a photo of a design they made and posting in on your website along with a note describing it, or perhaps framing it and proudly displaying it in your window. It’s like an upgraded version of “employee of the month.”
Gosh, I’ve even made apple pies to take to work for everyone. (How gay is that?!?) I guess the moral of this story is show your appreciation! Whatever it is, do something to motivate those who work with you. We live in a world of depressing news, boring television (except America’s Next Top Model, because that show rocks) and hard-to-please customers, so whenever we can show our appreciation, it is a wise thing to do. Now, after all this great writing, I think I’ll give myself a foot rub!
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