In May 2022, the number of job vacancies reached a record high of 1.3 million in the UK, and a whopping 3% of roles across the EU went unfilled. This isn’t a trend that’s expected to slow down anytime soon. The problem is prevalent across industries, including in the fashion sector.
Fashion retailers are struggling to find the right people to fill their sales positions. But without talent, service and customer experience begin to fall, harming brands permanently and sending sales into the ground.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to turn talent shortages around. Fashion retailers in the UK are creating plans to make working in retail appear more attractive to job seekers, and here’s how they’re doing it.
Listing Benefits in Job Adverts
In recent years, job advertisements have become far more detailed, particularly when it comes to benefits. Job seekers want to know why they should choose one brand over another. What would make them want to work for you?
Adding all of the perks to the ad makes it easier for them to make the right choice and should put the retailer in a far better position. Some of the common perks being listed on fashion retailer ads include:
- Brand discounts and freebies
- In-house training
- A fun working environment
- The potential to move up the ladder
- Bonuses and holiday pay
- Appealing work hours (usually 9-5 rather than evening shifts)
- Learn more about the retail/fashion industry
The key here is to show how the job is so much more than just a sales position. It’s a foot in the door of the fashion industry or world of antique jewellery and a chance to learn more about how retail works. Cry for the Moon is one retailer that believes in providing employers with the tools and workspace to help facilitate growth for employees. Harry Diamond, Owner of Cry for the Moon says that “In a competitive market, we work hard to create an environment where our team can build their own reputation within the industry, where they can expand their knowledge and gain customer-first experience within their role.”
Working in fashion is a flexible, fun job with a whole lot of levelling-up opportunities! If retailers can market their roles positively, they should see a boost in job applications.
Offering More Flexibility
Fashion retailers are beginning to offer more flexibility when it comes to shifts. As with most other industries, they’ve realised that if you want top talent, you have to work with their needs. Around 60% of workers now rank flexible hours as one of their top demands, so if you want to boost applications, you need to be ready to relax your schedules.
Retailers shouldn’t expect staff to work 9-5, Monday to Friday anymore. Instead, they need to talk to their applicants about which days and hours work for them, and meet their demands where possible to create a more positive, appealing work environment. That could mean four-day work weeks for some and slightly later starts for others. Whatever your team ask for, try and get as close as you can to making it happen.
Bonuses for Talent Referrals
Spreading the word of your vacancy shouldn’t be a tactic that’s overlooked. If you can increase the number of people who know you’re looking for new talent, the chance of finding it increases, too. Encourage staff to let their friends and family know by offering bonuses for referrals. This could mean a small sum of money for everyone they get to come in for an interview or a slightly larger bonus for anyone who recommends an individual who lands the job.
Providing Level-Up Training
Opportunities to progress are a big perk in the retail sector. To make your roles more appealing, be sure you have training and programs in place to help your staff move up the ladder. For example, you could have a free visual merchandising course for sales staff or a yearly trip to a fashion buying seminar. It may not sound like much, but it’ll look great on a job ad!
Final Words
Finding the right people to fill vacancies has always been tough, but these days it’s become particularly hard. Luckily, though, it’s never impossible. By implementing these tips that other fashion retailers are already using, you should make the task of hiring staff a whole lot easier.
