Business Skills

As a retail dietitian, have you documented your health and well-being strategy? Regardless of level of role within the company – corporate, regional or store -- every retail RDN should have a defined health and wellness strategy.

Good media exposure can help you attract new customers, promote products, boost your credibility, and build your retailer’s reputation as a destination for wellness solutions. Obtaining consistent and meaningful coverage, however, takes some effort and careful planning. Here are some steps that can help you increase your media presence:   

It is vital for retail dietitians to communicate the value of the work they do by showing a positive return on investment (ROI). For some programs, ROI simply means measuring the financial gain or lost relative to costs such as labor or materials.

Identifying your strengths can provide a significant and positive shift for your career and life. When you are aligned with your talents you will feel more confident and your expertise can be used to create a successful job and life that you love. Understanding your strengths takes self-knowledge so you can apply them to the various aspects of your job. Here are five questions that can help you discover, assess and leverage your strengths:

When it comes to negotiating for a desired salary or benefits many people feel uncomfortable and avoid asking for what they want. In fact, Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever, authors of “Women Don’t Ask: The High Cost of Avoiding Negotiation—and Positive Strategies for Change”, found that women in particular are more apprehensive regarding negotiating and do it far less than men. This failure to negotiate salaries at the start of their careers could leave up to $2 million on the table. Here are some tips for polishing your negotiating skills to get what you deserve:

Working in the retail environment requires a variety of skills and long hours by everyone, so to move up the corporate ladder, you need to make an impression that sets you apart as a candidate for advancement. Leadership must see that you are ready and deserving of a promotion and this means actively showing, and possibly telling your boss that you’re ready for a new role. Here are some skills that will help you shine as you prepare to move to the next level:

Many of us think about Pinterest when we’re searching for a recipe, decorating a room or planning a wedding shower, but this important social media platform can also be an effective way to market your health and wellness services. Ninety-eight percent of Pinterest users report trying new things they find on Pinterest and 77% of weekly Pinners have discovered a new brand or product. Here are some tips for starting and using Pinterest effectively:

Being the only retail dietitian can feel like being on an island, whether you’re in a corporate or store role. You don’t have a direct colleague with whom to banter ideas and new programs. Some days, it appears that retail colleagues don’t understand what you do or may not see the impact of healthy living programs on the company’s business. Your store director or corporate boss may give you little time and attention.

In the retail work world frequent changes in management and leadership seems to be commonplace. Leadership changes also bring different perspectives and priorities which can cause tension among staff as individuals wonder what may become of their job, their projects, and the overall culture of the company. Management transitions, however, are inevitable and likely to occur many times during the course of your employment. Here are some ways to plan for surviving and even thriving during these periods:

Many consumers still carry the belief that the healthiest foods are located in the perimeter of the store. As you help shoppers navigate the total store for meal solutions, be sure to highlight new product innovations and better-for-you options that can be used to create simple, tasty family meals while building a bigger basket. Consider the following opportunities to drive sales across all departments: