For any small retail business, finding, interviewing and hiring good employees can be a challenge. For specialty outdoor retail, it can be even trickier because you want/need to find employees who are not only capable of the work tasks but who also exude passion and authenticity for outdoor products and activities and who reflect your store’s vibe. We often remark that great outdoor shops are convivial, communal hubs/gathering places. They’re about so much more than the transactions at the register. The personnel in the store and in the backroom are key to maintaining that community. Show guests include Ponch Membreno of Toad and Co. (www.toadandco.com), Lori Kleiman of HR Topics (http://hrtopics.com/), and Nicole Leinbach Reyhle of Retail Minded (https://retailminded.com).
