What if your store teams gave better advice, stayed longer and kept customers coming back? That’s what engaged employees do. Yet only 12% of employees in Europe feel engaged at work, according to Gallup. That’s the lowest score of any region worldwide. So there’s plenty to gain in your stores. These five strategies help you get there, each one tested by a retailer.
1. Make it fun with games
Competition, achievement and play are powerful motivators. Games turn learning into something people want to do.
Karl Lagerfeld uses games in its service training. Store teams play the Connection Game, the Delivery Game and the Departure Game. Each one covers a key moment in the customer visit. And it works: every employee who starts a game, finishes it.
2. Give people room to grow
Nobody wants to stand still. Product updates matter, and so does a personal next step. Show your people where they can grow within your organisation.
PVH, the company behind Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, built PVH Play for its store teams across Europe. Everyone gets the same product knowledge, skills and tools to perform at their best. Employees set their own goals, discover new talents and combine online learning with assignments in store.
Hunkemöller faced a different challenge: a flat structure with few senior roles. So it encourages sideways moves, built on skills people can take to a new role. Read how Hunkemöller tackles career development.
Want to set this up yourself? Here’s how to create a growth path.
3. Create space for open dialogue
People who feel heard stay longer and work harder. So ask your teams what they run into, and act on it. That’s how you build a culture where every voice counts.
Hunkemöller started its new onboarding approach on the shop floor. The team asked new starters where they got stuck and what they needed. What they heard became the basis for the training in the Hunkemöller Academy. So new starters learn exactly what they need on the floor.
Read how Hunkemöller listens to the shop floor.
4. Celebrate success together
A “well done” from a manager or colleague goes further than you’d think. Regular recognition lifts spirits and keeps people motivated.
For Rituals, we built The Book of Rituals. Every new starter got a buddy, so there was always someone to ask. Achievements in training and in store each got their own moment of celebration. And employees collected badges for going the extra mile.Want more ideas? Here’s how small gestures make a big difference.
5. Make vitality part of your culture
Retail work takes energy. Long shifts, busy weekends and peak seasons all take their toll. Vitality is about protecting that energy, so people can keep giving their best.
Picnic does this in a smart way. During its busiest periods, it deliberately pauses training. The operation comes first, and employees can focus on customers when it matters most. Read why Picnic stops training when it gets busy.
Looking for more? Three tips to boost vitality on the shop floor.
Ready to boost engagement in your stores?
Engagement grows from small, consistent steps. A game, a growth path, a good conversation, a “well done”, room to recharge. Pick one and start there.
Curious how the TinQwise Retail Academy helps your store teams stay engaged? Book a demo.
