Party and Paper Magazine

The Store Room with Abby Heugel

Question: How do you reward positive employee behavior and keep your staff motivated?

Amy Graver
Elements
New Haven, Conn.
I reward my employees by openly complimenting them for a job well done. I learned early on the old adage, “Privately criticize, openly compliment” and stuck to it. Depending on how good the deed, flowers may be sent, a monetary bonus may be given or I will give them a day off. The reward is matched with the effort, but I always let the team know when a teammate has exceeded expectations.

The best way to motivate is by writing a thoughtful and inspiring business plan. The main parts of the business plan — the mission and vision statements — can bring your team back together and rowing in the same direction. When everyone is involved in what the goals are and can see your strong leadership, it’s amazing to watch the instant boost in morale.

Michael Keeney
Airigami Balloon Creations
Madison, Wis.
Creative contracts — one of our staff contracts stipulates that if he has to report to work before 8 a.m., doughnuts will be supplied.

Staff members get to choose their own business title (within reason, of course.): Lead Genie, Minister of Mirth, Facilitator of Fun, etc.

Copies of thank you letters from clients are automatically forwarded to any staff that worked on that job.
Paying attention. If a staffer needs or wants something, and we can provide it easily, we make a note, and at the next opportunity we quietly reward them. It might be movie tickets, an oil change or even a weekend away at a resort hotel. We stock pile trade jobs specifically for this purpose.

Denise Hagopian
Heavenly Choice
Montebello, Calif.
I compliment staff in front of customers, as public recognition is important; say thank you over and over again and let them know that we’re a team working together; and give small gifts of movie tickets, food, cookies or items with their favorite collectible character.

I keep my staff motivated with the following activities: Every employee birthday I buy lunch and have a cake for all the staff; I say thank you for taking care of the store so well with goodies from trade shows; give time off during stressful family times without trading it; let them buy on credit for gifts at Christmas, Valentine’s Day, etc. when they don’t have money near the end of a pay period; and I try really hard to ask their opinion and incorporate them into my decisions.

My job in this slower economy is to work hard along side them and keep my staff employed and stress free.

Leigh McLachlan
Annie’s Balloon Affair
Somerville, N.J.
ICE CREAM!

Ellen Prague
The Paper Shop Inc.
Winter Park, Fla.
Whenever there’s an extra effort made, I reward staff with Starbucks cards, which they enjoy. At holiday time, they get to choose any restaurant in town for our staff holiday dinner — usually someplace special they wouldn’t go to otherwise—and I also give everyone nice gifts. In the “good old days” of the '90s, gifts could be Louis Vuitton bags, or Chanel wallets, but several years ago I had to scale down a little and now I give a piece of Tiffany holiday china each year, to build up everyone’s collection.

Also, whenever a vendor sends samples I spread them around among staff members so that they can experience the product, and therefore sell it better.

I don’t give commissions or bonuses, as I like our staff to work as a team and not be competitive with each other, but to instead be competitive with our competition in other retail shops.

Sherri Ann Stout
Birthday Direct Inc.
Muscle Shoals, Ala.
At Birthday Direct, we reward our employees with a catered lunch every time a new sales goal is met. We also have a monthly themed lunch, where we celebrate employee anniversaries, birthdays and baby showers.

Craig Slomczewski
Fun Times Rentals
Roanoke, Va.
We try to do a few get-togethers. At the end of last summer we rented a pontoon boat for the day; at Christmas we had a small party with a gift for each; and in June we bought a table at our local chamber for their Shrimpfest and invited employees to that for all you can eat shrimp.

Throughout the year I take them to movies and buy pizza for lunch. I thank them for a job well done, including for just coming in to work. It keeps them happy and faithful employees.

Carolyn Moore
Top Hat Balloons
Magnolia, Texas
Since I don’t have a storefront and do all work on location for the customer, I do have several temporary people who work with me from time to time on decorating jobs. When they have done an outstanding job of preparing a party, I will take the crew out to eat when we are finished. Since they are usually local stay at home moms, retired persons or home schoolers, getting a payment for working and then a meal out with the group seems to be a real up-lifter.

Tammy Hiller
Party Town
Chico, Calif.
I reward my employees with “Love Bucks,” which could be something as simple as a $10 coffee card. I want my employees to know I appreciate them and I want to show them I care for their work, so I’ll even bring in coffee or buy pizza. Good employees are hard to come by, so you (have to) keep the good ones!

Pat Schwerman
PartyWorks
Huntsville, Ala.
I really try to praise my employees in front of and to my customers. Not only does it make the employee feel good, but it gives the customers more confidence in the employees. Of course, I also pay above scale and every few months I'll bring in lunch, buy them passes to the movies, Starbucks Gift certificate, an ice cream gift certificate, etc. I also try to remind my employees how much I appreciate them because I know that without them, I’d have a really tough time running this business.

Originally posted Wednesday, Jun. 24, 2009