Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM OCTOBER 2021 46 A VB, the operational arm of the BrandSource buying group, is taking on the historically tight labor market with a comprehensive collection of customized employment tools dubbed HRSource. According to AVB COO Dave Meekings, the program's turnkey solutions will allow BrandSource's independent dealer members to efficiently manage their immediate staffing and longer-term employee needs. Components of HRSource include the HR Playbook, an invaluable complimentary guide to recruiting, hiring and retaining retail staff. Developed for the independent retailer and available to all members, the workbook provides innovative approaches and practical strategies to steer dealers through the labor crunch, including ways to attract talent, how to evaluate candidates, interview tips and hiring blunders, and QR codes that connect to a series of assessment scorecards. A separate QR code brings members to the Handbook-In-a-Box, a fully customizable rulebook for employees that sets a dealer's HR policy and performance expectations and protects the business from potential liability. Valued at upwards of $5,000, the Handbook-In-a-Box, like the HR Playbook, is free to all BrandSource members. Other elements of HRSource include newsletters, virtual town halls, and seminars that, with guidance from employment expert and AVB staffing consultant Daniel Abramson, will allow members to tap into the membership's collective experience and wisdom. In addition, AVB has forged a new partnership with CareerPlug, a national recruiting software company that automates the hiring process for more than 12,000 small businesses. Under the new collaboration, every BrandSource dealer operating an Alta website from AVB Marketing can access a free turnkey recruitment tool that will simplify and supercharge the hiring process. Specifically, CareerPlug is hosting a unique, branded career page for every member using the Alta e-commerce platform. The page features the dealer's approved photos, video, company description and benefits, and a simple, intuitive interface where members can post job openings using eight templates that feature pre-written job descriptions. They include: • Administrative Assistants • Appliance Installation Professionals • Customer Service Representatives • Delivery Drivers • Sales Consultants • Sales Managers • Warehouse Personnel Dealers can customize the job templates or create additional ones to meet their specific needs. They can access pre-built email templates to communicate with candidates throughout the hiring process, from the interview invitation to the offer letter. In addition, members can tap into CareerPlug's library of suggested pre-screening questions and interview guides; view expert videos, webinars, and help articles; and call on the company's Support Team via phone, email or live chat. What's more, all job openings by participating members will be aggregated on a central BrandSource career page, where dealers can recommend candidates and share job post descriptions. Besides receiving free accounts, CareerPlug is also offering members a step-up Pro Plan that, among other benefits, automatically posts an unlimited number of job openings to top recruitment boards, including: Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Monster.com, Glassdoor and more. According to CareerPlug's Joel Welsh, BrandSource dealers are offered a discounted rate that represents a better than 40-percent reduction off the standard annual fee. As AVB merchandising director Paul Roth added, "It's clear that hiring employees has become a major need for our membership. With that in mind, we have partnered with CareerPlug to provide a simple, automated process for our members to obtain additional talent for their organizations." Alan Wolf is Senior Communications Specialist for AVB/ BrandSource, the nation's leading merchandising and marketing co-op for independent appliance, home furnishings and consumer tech dealers. Alan Wolf Member Services RO AVB/BRANDSOURCE TACKLES RETAILERS' STAFFING WOES AVB COO Dave Meekings announced a host of new employment initiatives at BrandSource's recent fall Convention.

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