The Good. Human Resources a key part of Fashion Retail

The single most frustrating and satisfying part of retail is the human resources aspects of running a store. When you've got a good team and personnel with leadership qualities it's easy.

For the most part I've been fortunate at Tru to have some great staff. The core team we have at Tru has been together for well over 2 years and one of my best girls have been with us from the very beginning. I'd love to keep them all but time marches on and the girls lives are progressing as they finish up university or moving forward in their fashion careers. I'm very proud to say that one of my old assistants has now been promoted to be the Manager of Lacoste (a store over from Tru Drama) Congratulations D! The current assistant has a big moment in the future for herself and will be leaving us soon too. I hope she decides to go to Parsons or FIDM, at those fine institutions they'll elaborate on her already formidable merchandising skills.

So with my existing team getting older and moving on I've placed an ad for new hires. What's been surprising is the quality applicants we've had. I don't recall a time when I had 3 good applicants let alone the 7 great applicants out of the 50 plus girls that applied. I've come to realize that the girls who join us have come to work for us have a similar reasons. You're thinking money perhaps? Nope, we don't pay anymore than anyone else. One of the main reasons is fashion... the deep down honest to goodness desire for fashion in all it's forms.

I have friend in the mall that owns a few stores in Oakrdige mall. His attitude and pretty much all other retailers is to tell their employees NOTHING. He's been burned before since one of his employees opened up a competing store and stole his lines. Ouch! However, I think he's forgotten that a very very very long time ago I worked for him too! Yup I used to work in his Robson store for 4 weeks. I recall he didn't like the way I merchandised. It was all his way... which is fine but with no explanation of why. I wanted to learn but it wasn't going to happen there.

I spent my retail career at shops where I thought I could learn the trade. Where did I learn? I've worked at all sort of places, but the best places are boutiques. You certainly won't learn anything at the Gap or H&M. At chain stores you're not going to learn anything about fashion or retailing other than how to fold and watch for shoplifters. Those sorts of businesses are all about inventory and keeping it in stock.

What I personally offer is respect. That is of course that the staff member respects the other staff, customers, product and store. I respect that all my staff have goals beyond working at the store. If they're fashion goals then I will help them any way I can. It doesn't scare me when a staff member wants to open her own store or dreams of their own line. So if you want a high paying job work at Starbucks. Working with us will get you a start in fashion.