In 2009, Performance Partners partnered with Elwood Jeans to set-up the organisation for future growth. Starting with two stores and with bold expansion plans over the next few years, Performance Partners immersed themselves in everything Elwood Jeans in 2009/2010.
Key priorities
Our work started with a comprehensive analysis of Elwood Jeans which comprised of in-depth interviews with retail staff/ Head Office managers and working on the shopfloor and interacting with customers. Following this assessment, we put together a report which outlined the key priorities for Elwood Jeans over the next 12-months. Some of these priorities below [which all have been successfully implemented by Performance Partners] include:
- The recruitment for casual, full-time and Manager positions for new and existing stores.
- The development and implementation of a Recruitment & Induction pack for all team members.
- The opening of the Chadstone and DFO stores and co-ordinating all departments before, during and after the opening.
- The development of retail KPI’s, incentive program and reporting tools.
- The development of a sales and customer service program for Elwood Jeans, including a revised mystery shopper program.
- The development of visual merchandising standards, housekeeping guidelines, including a monthly window campaign.
- Group training and 1-on-1 coaching of team members in the areas of selling and visual merchandising.
- Direct involvement in existing product choice and new product extensions.
- The analysis of wage-to-sales ratios and the implementation of a rostering system to better manage the customer service/expenses balance.
- The redevelopment of head office-store workload planning, i.e. markdown schedules, stock delivery and communication processes.
- The defining and communication of the Elwood Jeans brand values.