What is the biggest hiring challenge for independent shoe retailers?

Independent shoe retailers from across the country discuss their struggles to find and retain top talent.

Chris Bentvelzen Owner, Shoes ’n Feet, Bellevue, Wash.

“Minimum wage at $15 an hour. We’ve always been higher than minimum wage, but now that number has decreased due to our margins and the cost of doing business. Retaining people has also become an issue; we used to have career employees, and now some people only stay six to eight months. We’re changing job titles and descriptions, and trying to speed up the process so we’re not losing quality candidates to somewhere else.”

Michael Wittenstein GM, Karavel Shoes, Austin, Texas

“Finding people who are the right fit for our store with the right amount of shoe experience. There are new people moving here every day, but they’re coming more for the tech industry, so the challenge is finding workers who want to sell shoes. My best route has been through Indeed.com or referrals from our current salespeople. One of our best tools is using the staff we already have to try and find someone new.”