Are you seeing a dip in your retail sales? 

If so, it might be time to think about ways you can improve your employee performance. A strong team can be the difference between steady product turnover and stagnant inventory.

At The Joyful Gourmet, a retail kitchen store in Libertyville, Illinois, with a curated selection of cookware and specialty ingredients, owner Kim Schlicksup has created an environment where employees are trusted, knowledgeable, and actively contribute to her retail space. 

That dedication to her team has led to happy customers and steady retail sales.

Here are the seven strategies she uses to increase retail employee performance.

1. Strategize Hiring for a Joyful and Welcoming Team

At The Joyful Gourmet, Kim focuses on energy and personality when making hiring decisions, rather than just retail experience. 

“My employees excel at being joyful and welcoming people. We don’t take for granted anybody that walks in the door as a potential customer and a potential friend,” she shares. 

She knows that creating a team that treats customers like friends promotes strong emotional connections. This approach has made shoppers feel happy, welcomed, and eager to make a purchase. 

If you want to improve retail employee performance, start by rethinking how you hire. Look for candidates who are naturally upbeat and approachable, then focus on retail interview questions that prioritize interpersonal skills. Beginning with a joyful, people-first team will shape an environment that customers love to return to (and purchase from).

2. Implement Comprehensive Retail Training Systems

At The Joyful Gourmet, employees follow a well-structured retail training system that sets them up for success. From the moment a customer walks in, the team knows how to greet them, ask the right questions, and offer thoughtful product suggestions.

They also learn how to recommend bundled items that naturally go together, helping boost customer satisfaction and overall sales. With this consistent, repeatable training in place, every shopper gets a more polished and professional experience.

If you’re looking to improve retail employee performance, start by building clear, standardized training materials that walk your team through the whole customer journey. 

Use interactive formats like:

• Step-by-step walkthroughs to guide new hires.
• Team-based role-playing to build confidence in real-world conversations.
• Practical demos for upselling and product pairing.

When your onboarding process is planned and uniform, you’ll set your employees up to sell with confidence from day one.

3. Enhance Product Knowledge through Training and Experts

Kim makes product education a key part of her team’s success by keeping learning active and ongoing. Employees get information firsthand through vendor visits and in-store experts who walk them through tools, cookware, and specialty ingredients. 

They also pick up clever tips and real-world uses from the chefs leading cooking classes right in the store. This kind of immersive, practical learning gives staff the confidence to recommend products customers will genuinely love.

To boost retail employee performance, consider inviting specialists to lead mini-training sessions, allowing staff to ask questions and gain hands-on experience. This will build familiarity with your products and improve their confidence on the sales floor. When employees deeply understand what they’re selling, they’re far more likely to convert casual customer interest into real purchases.

4. Cultivate Team Specialization 

At The Joyful Gourmet, employees are encouraged to lean into what they do best. Some are great at inventory, others love scheduling, and a few find their groove in restocking and organizing the floor. By letting team members focus on roles that match their strengths, the store runs more smoothly, and the staff stays more motivated. 

If you want to improve retail employee performance, start by tapping into what makes each person shine. Assign tasks that align with your team’s natural skills and interests. This prevents burnout and gives employees a more profound sense of ownership and pride in their work. When people feel capable and valued, they show up stronger and sell more.

5. Develop Core People Management Skills for Leaders

Leadership at The Joyful Gourmet is all about building authentic relationships. Team members are regularly celebrated for what they do well and coached through challenges in a supportive way. This people-first approach creates a culture where employees feel valued, respected, and ready to grow. When leadership is founded in connection and communication, team morale and performance naturally rise.

If you want to improve employee skills and performance, start by investing in strong people management. Great store leaders know how to inspire, guide, and give feedback that motivates their staff. Simple things like one-on-one check-ins or public praise can have a considerable impact. When your team feels seen and supported, they show up with purpose, and that energy shows in sales interactions.

6. Nurture a Strong Work Ethic 

At The Joyful Gourmet, support staff play a big role behind the scenes, and they’re trained to own it. They handle everything from plating and serving to dishwashing and resetting. 

Over time, they’ve learned how to juggle these tasks, stay efficient under pressure, and keep events running like clockwork. This kind of operational training may be behind the curtain, but it directly impacts every customer’s experience.

If you’re looking to make an impact in employee performance, don’t overlook the power of strong back-of-house training. Here’s what to focus on:

• Time management: This allows staff to reset spaces quickly, keeping service flowing and customers engaged.
• Task prioritization: This helps avoid bottlenecks during busy hours, especially during events or peak shopping times.
• Efficiency under pressure: This supports a calm, focused environment that reflects well in every customer interaction.
• Well-run operations: This will free up front-of-house employees to focus entirely on selling and delivering excellent service.

When your internal systems are seamless, your whole team performs better, and customers feel it at every touchpoint.

7. Drive Customer Loyalty

At The Joyful Gourmet, employees are trained to make customer satisfaction the top priority. Instead of pushing products, Kim and her team focus on truly understanding what shoppers need and guiding them toward the best fit. This service-first mindset often leads to purchases that feel intentional, thoughtful, and genuinely appreciated. 

You can heighten employee performance by shifting the focus from selling to serving. Equip your staff with tools and encourage them to listen actively. The goal should always be to guide a purchase that feels intentional and personal. When customers leave with confidence in their choice, they’ll become loyal brand advocates.

Conclusion

The Joyful Gourmet is proof that when you put people first, everything else falls into place. Through thoughtful hiring, intentional training, and leading with empathy, The Joyful Gourmet has built a team that drives both revenue and relationships. 

Retailers who invest in their people will always see that investment returned through better service, stronger sales, and happier customers. Start with one tactic from this list and build from there. Your team (and your bottom line) will thank you.

Want more insights from local retail owners? Explore more stories on We Are Retail and discover how others are finding balance, purpose, and success.