Train Smart, Not Hard: A More Effective Induction Strategy for Retail
There are a growing number of training companies promoting 30-60-90 day induction training period for new hires and offering templates listing the ideal content. This might be great in many companies, but it’s not a smart move in retail stores.
Depending on country, 40% to 50% of store staff hired each year leave in their first year. It can be 70% in the USA. In my experience roughly half of the staff that leave in their first year, leave in the first three months. Hence 30-60-90 day induction plans spend money training people who will leave very soon. A better approach is to identify the essential training that staff must have and do that quickly. For example, everyone should be able to ring up sales at the register and thank people for coming into the store. They are other things they can learn later.
Make a list of all the things a new hire needs to be trained in and structure it so that the more expensive and the more involved training is scheduled for after the point when the store manager believes they will stay longer than the first 90 days. Make it step 1 of their personal career plan, so that they begin to feel a bit more special and a bit more appreciated. One store manager gave staff showing promise, more paid hours, so they could begin to feel financially better off.
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Posted by Brian Hume
25th April 2025
