How to Ace Your Next Corporate Visit

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How to Ace Your Next Corporate Visit

There it is. The date on the calendar is hi-lited in your office.

We'll call it "The Visit."

What it really means is a group of people (that most definitely use a dry cleaning service regularly) will descend on your store and walk around to observe what's happening.

These people may or may not have ever worked a retail floor, but nevertheless, they're going to walk around in a cluster and take a keen look for any mistakes.

You've alerted your leaders and your sales staff. You've instructed them all to be "visit ready," which means:

• In dress code
• On-time
• Not hungover

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The truth is that you will be called out for something. It's why they came. Even if your store is flawless, they'll give you a goal to work toward. No matter how much you've prepared, you'll be dinged on some asinine call-out.

On one of my visits, I was told I had too much cardboard in my hallway. We just finished shipment and had yet to make a trash run. My response was something along the lines of, "Oh, yep. We'll be sure to run that out soon."

The fresh-dressed dry cleaning crew wants to hear how you respond to criticism. You need to listen to it and tell them how you'll proceed. You must avoid saying:

• "That wasn't me."
• "I didn't know."
• "It was like that when I got here."

It doesn't matter. If it's your store, it's your problem. When you assign blame, it comes across as insecurity. When you accept responsibility and tell them what action you will take to fix it, they'll understand that you're the right person for the job, and the mood will stay lighthearted.

If you're operationally sound, and your team knows what's expected, you're already on your way to a good visit.

There is one thing you cannot talk your way of - a dirty store.

Make sure that you've cleaned everything at least twice. Double-check:

• Your office
• The bathroom
• Folding carts
• Dusty fixtures

On visit days, the entire team kept a Swiffer in our pockets, and we'd dust all day.

If you've gotten overwhelmed by the workload and neglected the essential cleanliness of the store, you're in trouble. Anything else can be negotiated and should be left as-is so the suits can get an accurate idea of your struggles.

Was the shipment too heavy this week? Is your buy-online-pickup-in-store system adequate, or is it causing your grief? They need to know the true answer so they don't pile more work on you, thinking you're all good.

Store visits are nerve-wracking no matter what you do.

I hoped for a morning visit, and I guzzled caffeine and ate sugar for breakfast. (Please don't take my advice) I'm naturally chill, and my emotions don't always translate. I come across as enthusiastic when I'm hopped up on coffee and donuts. I can also whip out sales information off the top of my head more quickly.

Know your numbers. Know how your store is doing versus your comp numbers, clean your store well and inform the staff of the visit date. Everything else is up to chance and the mood of your visitors.

Do what you always do - show up, do your best, and involve the whole team. Your leadership skills will translate. The suits know that you're all working hard.

You're going to do great. I'm cheering you on.

The Leadership Field Guide book will be out soon.

I cannot wait to share it with you! It will teach you how to set up your stores operationally and create a culture that keeps people coming back each season.

Buy it for yourself, for a friend, or for your whole leadership team.

Join the waitlist right here.

Hey, I’m Kit. I spent 20 years leading retail teams and I now write about retail, Web3, leadership, and entrepreneurship.?