Any business owner wants to save time. But convenience store owners work particularly hard. ACS recently published that 26% of store owners take no holiday per year and 6% work more than 70 hours a week. So any way to save time in your day is a win. Here are some ideas, some of which you might be familiar with.
Inventory management
Inventory management can help you save tonnes of time when stocking. There are systems can help you keep track of your inventory, and ensure that you always have the products that customers love. This helps you avoid running out of stock and losing sales.
Many inventory management software programs are available to help you keep track of your stock. These programs can help you monitor inventory levels, track sales, and generate reports that can help you make better decisions.
Team scheduling
Employee scheduling software can also be valuable for store owners with larger teams. There are plenty of software options that can help you create employee schedules quickly and easily, and make sure that you always have the right number of staff each day. This can help you avoid understaffing, which can lead to longer wait times for customers, and overstaffing, which costs you money.
If you don’t want to spring for software try something a little hacky like adapting Google Calendar. It will lack some of the functionality but you can use it for free and invite staff to their shift, plus keep a clear record.
POS system
Point-of-sale systems can help you make transactions quick and efficient, and track inventory levels in real-time. In other words, it takes care of more of the admin.
Interviewed in Forecourt Trader, one store owner commented about introducing an EPOS system that “new members of staff can pick up the workings of the till super quick. My managers and supervisors find this invaluable, as we don’t have to spend too much time training staff. It’s all about saving time within this job.
Keep staff busy, delegate
Delegating tasks to your employees can help you free up your time to focus on the most important tasks. For example, you can train employees to handle cash transactions, restock shelves, and clean. By delegating tasks, you can focus on more important aspects of your business, such as marketing, setting up a delivery service, or building relationships with customers.
If you want your employees to take care of anything more technical make sure you invest in a little training first. In the long run it can help save you time and make your store more efficient.
Delegating tasks can be a great way to save time and make your team more efficient. But it's important to do it right! Here are a few tips to help you delegate effectively:
1. Know what to delegate
It may seem obvious, but it's not always easy to know what tasks to delegate. As a general rule, try to delegate as much execution-based work as possible. Your job as a manager is to select the team and then let them play the game (while you stay off the pitch).
2. Find the right person
To delegate effectively, you need to find the right person for the job. The best managers know how to match their staff's individual skills to specific roles. Look for people who can devote the time, are interested in certain types of tasks.
3. Assign the task
Less is more when it comes to giving instructions. If you've delegated to the right person, they'll be keen to show off their abilities.
Wholesale price comparison
To make stock ordering faster and more efficient, consider using a tool like Coral. Coral can help retailers find the best prices for the products they stock. Save time by quickly finding the best deals on your products and make ordering a breeze. Not only can you save time on comparing products and ordering, you can also improve your margins.
In Conclusion
As a convenience store owner, time is one of your most valuable resources. By implementing systems for inventory management and employee scheduling, using technology to automate tasks, and delegating tasks to employees, you can make the most of your time and minimize time-consuming tasks. By following these tips and using tools like Coral, you can improve your store's efficiency and keep your business running smoothly.
We hope these time-saving tips have been helpful to you as a convenience store owner. Remember that every minute counts, and by implementing these tips, you can save time and work more efficiently. Thanks for reading, and I wish you the best of luck.
