|
SE Iowa | Yes...and no. Disclaimer: I farm a little and also manage a retail location. I see both sides of the coin, both good and bad.
There are 3 driving factors to high turnover IMO: Lack of training, lack of leadership, & lack of customer loyalty. I hate to sound like the old dog, but a lot of the fresh out of college kids want $100k, new pickup and a credit card. OT? Weekends? No thanks, they say. My area has a mix of independents, large chains, Coop's, etc. All face the EXACT same recruitment/retainment challenges, but the ones that are growing have one thing in common: they spend time in the country building & maintaining relationships.
I hound my guys to not just show up with a cheap price sheet, my 9 year old can do that. Bring them value, scout their farms without being told to, answer your phone evenings/weekends if your customer is in a pinch. If a customer wants a Kia, we have cheap/no service options. If they want a Ferrari, we can sell/service that as well. But if you aren't asking the right questions and spending time in the country, you'll never grow professionally or financially. Retail of any kind isn't for softies, especially ag.
My 2 cents...flame away... | |
|
Can an app replace a retail salesperson?
