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May 07 2008
Comment - Retailers take the Oldie
UK entrepreneurs are increasingly relying on older worker to fill the skills gap and are concerned by the lack of work-readiness amongst graduates.
UK retailers are increasingly relying on older workers to plug skills shortages in their businesses, according to figures released by entrepreneur think tank, the Tenon Forum, well it’s about bloody time.
The survey also says almost (46 %) of retail businesses are concerned about skills shortages and many claim younger recruits are often just not up to the job. More than a third (34 %) of retail businesses report a lack of work readiness amongst graduates and 45 % cite poor literacy and numeracy amongst school leavers as a key issue facing their business. Many entrepreneurs are now looking to the previously untapped potential of older workers to plug the gap, with more than two thirds (68 %) of retailers agreeing that the employment of workers aged 50 plus is a good solution to skills shortages. And more than a quarter (27 %) of entrepreneurial businesses in the retail sector actually favour the hiring of older workers over college leavers as a solution to staffing problems.
The Tenon Forum research reveals that over four in ten (46 %) retail businesses have a strong representation of employees aged over 50, with many retailers utilising the experience of older workers as coaches and mentors for younger employees (20 %) or in the capacity of consultants following retirement (8 %).
While this might be true for certain areas in retail, I’d be surprised if the over 50’s are barely represented in the new media departments. There are still very few 50+ people in new media, and I’ve always maintained that this is one of the reasons that we’re not as far ahead in ecommerce as we should be.
I spoke at the launch of the IoD’s first website almost ten years ago and during the speech I warned that by sweeping away the old retail environment that had taken hundreds of years to perfect, and replacing it with something brand new like the internet, we were in danger of losing all of that expertise in selling that the rest of the company - particularly the IT and marketing departments who have never been n a shop floor - doesn’t realise exists. The simple things like up-sell, cross-sell and simple things like “the last customer who bought this also bought this”, and good old fashioned customer service like remembering a customers name and their likes and dislikes disappeared overnight, and surprise surprise the new systems didn’t measure up to the stores of the past.
It would be good to see more new media departments taking on more old-hands especially some old hands that worked in shops, that way at least I’d be able to talk to someone more my age ;-)
your comment - retailers take the oldie
Just to let you know that I agree with you.
Being an oldie(ish) I have opened, closed, built, dismantled and generally optimised businesses throughout my career in retail (on and offline) and entertainment markets. I have learned the hard (only) way that it doesn't matter how fast you can run if you set off in the wrong direction.
Having been UK md within two multinational corporations by my early 30's the balance of my career has been spent both consulting with big organisations and investing time and money in building and developing businesses particularly in the on and offline technology retail and publishing market.
The startling number of times that I come into contact with aspects of organisations (and sometimes complete ones) that seem to have no overarching understanding of what they are for, what they are trying to achieve or even on whose behalf they work is too much to be a coincidence.
Examples are legion (no names) I was called in to mentor a new team who were struggling to cope with the workload involved in pitching (and following up) a major new business proposition - a world renowned consultancy had prepared an 83 page Powerpoint presentation for them which specified neither what was being offered nor how much was being asked.. Because it is a particularly prestigious opportunity everyone was expressing interest and requiring follow up. We put together an 17 page presentation (3 new slides required) outlining what was on offer and for how much - the immediate result was time to focus on the real prospects and over one half of the v ambitious target is already on its way into the bank account way ahead of schedule. Oh and the total cost was less than one month's (from 12) charge from the consultancy.
People call it common sense or insight or focus but it really is just the clarity and perspective that an experienced outside mind can bring to most challenging situations. The increasing professionalism and sophistication of business (new media not least) often leaves a vacuum at the top where breadth of vision and understanding are required. Operators need help/advice and many of the big consultancy firms who are often the first port of call have exactly the same issue (and they are often intending to sell time rather than results..).
So there are already plenty of opportunities for people of my age/experience to be involved in young aggressively run organisations and there will be many more in the future - we're sometimes expensive but usually astonishingly good value.
Regards,
Clive