Hello retail-minded friends! Happy Tuesday! Today, our blog post is going to take a slightly different form, and instead of discussing a topic related to retail, we are going to provide you with a checklist which you should consult when considering hiring a retail consultant.
When you are looking for a service, whether it be a painter for your house, a new over for your kitchen, or a brand new car, there are many factors which affect your decision. You wouldn’t choose the service of an inexperienced painter if you had an experienced painter, would you? Or purchase a car with negative safety ratings? Similar decisions must be factored in and considered when looking for a retail consultant.
1. What’s Their Experience?
As with most things, the more experience a person or a company has, the better they tend to be. This is not uniformly true, but for the consultant or consultancy to have experienced enough success to remain independent indicates something about their capabilities. They have had the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and have successfully altered their ways to provide you with the best service. They are still around because they work! Their system may have remained the same, but they have been attentive to market demands and retail trends and factored this into their services. With more experienced retail consultant, you are working with someone who knows what works and what doesn’t.
2. Testimonials
Does their website or LinkedIn have any testimonials? For consultancies, testimonials are a must have! There should be a link on their page with various testimonials of verified clients. Now, out of common sense, it would not make sense for a consultant or consultancy to post any negative testimonials about themselves. However, do take the time to read each testimonial completely, and maybe look for any which assess the pro’s and con’s of working with this consultant. This will help you better assess how they can serve you. Positive testimonials are a must to establish your trust in their consultancy.
3. Specific services
Is one of their most successful and popular services the one you are looking for? You are going to be best served by hiring a consultant who specializes in the service that you need. Just because a consultant offers a variety of services does not mean that they are highly successful in all those areas. Sometimes it may be better for you to work with a consultant with few services which they are highly trained and specialized in.
4. Size
Though size does not determine the success and capabilities of a company, some people prefer what smaller consultancies can offer as oppose to larger ones and visa versa. Smaller companies have the ability to cater to your needs more than larger ones, offering more individualized attention. They can be easier to reach. Larger consultancies however may have a more grandiose portfolio of clientele or more extensive connections. This decision is all personal and can differ depending on the needs of your small business or product.
5. Cost
This service should not break the bank. Make sure that you have accurately assessed your finances and how much you wish to delegate towards a retail consultant. Remember, quality does not always have to be compromised. Paying a high price tag does not guarantee success, the same goes for a lower price tag and failure.
Consult this list when considering to hire a retail consultant and hopefully it will help guide you towards the perfect retail consultant match for you!
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