Sales Strategy

Jimmy DeGroot: Your Amazing Team Won’t Hang Around Forever March 12, 2025 (0 comments)

Green Bay, WI--You’ve probably figured out by now that it’s not likely your amazing team isn’t going to stick around forever. I learned this the hard way time and time again.

One day I just realized that people always must act in their best interest, and often that is not your best interest. Life happens: relocations, career changes, marriages, and family growth—can send even our best, happiest people packing. We need to recognize that these changes are a natural part of life and it's crucial for jewelers to engage in ongoing recruitment efforts to ensure operational continuity and maintain our amazing quality of service.

Continuous recruitment allows you to proactively address staffing needs, minimizing disruptions caused by unforeseen vacancies. By building a pipeline of qualified candidates, you can swiftly fill positions, reducing the strain on existing staff and preserving morale. This approach not only enhances employee satisfaction but also contributes to a consistent customer experience, as service levels remain uninterrupted.

Also, an ongoing recruitment strategy enables you to adapt to seasonal fluctuations and evolving market demands. I’ve always had the philosophy that hiring a good person will not only pay for themselves but profit the store. This allowed us to always have a robust staff in times of great need like the holidays and for special events. 

Continuous recruitment fosters a culture of agility and resilience. It encourages fresh perspectives, an increased customer base and diverse skill sets. This drives innovation and keeps the company on its toes. By always maintaining a recruiting culture, you’ll be able to identify people who align with your brand values and customer service standards.

Yes, your good people will someday leave you because personal life events are inevitable. This is why you need to always have your team and your leadership on the lookout for new talent. It will keep your store adaptable, customer-focused, and prepared to navigate the ever-changing landscape of the jewelry industry.

James (Jimmy) DeGroot is a professional jewelry sales and operations trainer from the jeweler’s side of the counter. Having been in management and the jewelry business for over 20 years, Jimmy offers weekly training to jewelers nationwide via the Train Retail website. Jimmy is an AGS titleholder and specializes in training relevant and timely methods for jewelry teams. He can do a full training on making Bridal Presentations the best they can be, among many other regular training options. Contact Jimmy at jimmy@trainretail.com or call 920-492-1191.