Six ways to recruit and retain your dream retail team

Read time: 3 mins  Added: 09/07/25

The retail sector accounts for almost 10% of all jobs in the British economy, employing over 2.8m people1. 

Recruiting and retaining high performing staff has become more challenging than ever post-pandemic, with talent shortages and a greater demand for flexible working, among other issues. 

This article outlines ways that you can lay solid foundations to guard against being short-staffed and keep top talent in your business. 

1. A recruitment roadmap

Are you taking a reactive or proactive approach to your staffing needs? For example, do you have quarterly and annual forecasts to ensure you’re always one step ahead? Maybe it’s difficult to find the time, so you tend to be caught off guard when footfall rises or falls throughout the year. Creating a recruitment roadmap can help you to plan ahead and forecast future staffing levels. 

2. Creating clarity in your recruitment

If you don’t cast your recruitment net wide enough, you could be fishing in smaller talent pools. It pays to advertise your roles across the web, social media and print so you can fill your vacancies with the best available talent. 

Ensuring any employee benefits like workplace pensions and salary sacrifice for cars are included in your job adverts could help attract people looking for a retail career rather than seeing your vacancy as a stop-gap job.

The transparency of your job descriptions and candidate profiles is also crucial. One survey discovered that 52% of job seekers said the quality of a job description is “very” or “extremely influential” on their decision to apply2. 

3. Why freedom is your greatest flex

Over three-quarters (76%) of working people believe that flexible working helps or would help their overall wellbeing3. 

Retail jobs can be physically and mentally demanding, so being open to peoples’ needs can make a massive difference to the following:

  • the number and quality of job applicants
  • job satisfaction among your current staff
  • length of service.

Simple ways to do this include offering shift swaps and flexible hours to accommodate any commitments away from work. 

4. Get one step ahead on seasonal hiring

You can forecast when you’ll need more people by looking at trends and your past sales data. You should consider how to differentiate yourself to attract the best temporary talent through the following:

  • better pay
  • flexible working patterns
  • perks and benefits that local competitors aren’t offering.

Seasonal hiring is as much about your current team as the new people starting. For example, have you factored in enough time for onboarding, training and supervision? 

5. Retention, retention, retention

The average staff turnover rate for the retail industry is 31%4, so the costs and time involved in finding new team members can be significant.

Here are three tips to increase employee engagement and motivation so they stay with you longer:

  • encourage staff input on store displays and promotions
  • create a positive environment that fosters teamwork and communication
  • be an inclusive employer: encourage conversations around neurodiversity and disability.

These things may sound like common sense, but 19.5 million workers said they’d work less or walk out if they felt undervalued5.  

6. Making the case for a retail career

Retail jobs attract many young people looking for entry-level part-time work to fit around their studies, for example. How can the sector portray itself as a valuable career option to boost recruitment and retention? 

Providing a clear route for progress is one way, which could involve: 

  • regular performance reviews with clear, measurable goals
  • delivering training for leadership roles within the business
  • continuous training opportunities to develop skills and increase engagement in areas like merchandising and sourcing.

These are challenging times for many in the retail sector, but having a robust talent plan can help future-proof your business. 

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1 BRC - Retail In Numbers

2 Indeed - How to improve your job postings to attract better candidates

3 E.ON - Flexible working is a priority for half of working Brits when looking for a new job

4 Great Place To Work - Insights from the UK's Best Workplaces by Sector

5 Love2shop - Employee Value Report 2024