Training seasonal and part-time staff
Seasonal and part-time help is an essential component to the success of pool and spa businesses. However, an inevitable quandary arises. Seasonal staffers are hired to help with the busy season, but the busy season is too hectic for adequate training.
Many businesses suggest hiring for the summer as early as December. Staff would be interviewed over the winter holiday season, then brought in for a week of training during spring break, before the busy season starts. Bringing on staff when things are slower can be a cost burden, but it is time and money well spent. While they will not be needed in the spring, if employers wait until they do need them, it is almost too late to ensure they will be an efficient addition. Getting them ready to ring up customers, run water tests, and explain product features and benefits will pay off during the busy summer months.
One of the best features available in some pool and spa business software is what is known as the practice company. This is a valuable training resource to simulate all the functionality of store operations without touching the actual system. This virtual company allows new hires to run sales, process refunds, and look up inventory—everything employees will be doing in the heat of the season.
It might seem old-fashioned but having a training checklist is a quick way to keep track of the progress of employee training. Checklists help new hires keep track of what they have learned and what they still need to cover. They can also provide a detailed summary of operations during the summer months, when things are super busy.
Analyzing winter inventory
Inventory analysis is another important area for pool and spa businesses to address in the winter months. The slow season is the perfect time to establish a schedule of routine counts by product line, aisle/bin, or vendor. Cycle counts will keep inventory accurate throughout the year and reduce the headache of doing one large count at the end. Purchasing a memory scanner is also beneficial for physical counts, as well as a great learning opportunity for staff.
The most effective way to manage inventory is to have business software with continuous, detailed reporting for all locations—whether it is on the show floor, in a service truck, or in a warehouse. Additionally, there is no better way to provide outstanding customer service and stay ahead of competitors than to have business software fully integrated with vendors and suppliers.
Integration allows users to electronically submit purchase orders directly to distributors and manufacturers, providing the ability to review orders, backorders, and accounts payable line items. This will streamline communications between the company, its suppliers, and its customers. Another aspect of integration is the ability to mass import all new inventory items and mass update costs on all existing inventory items. Software integration with vendors improves inventory accuracy, efficiency, and ability to provide outstanding customer service.
