Business Skills

We’ve all heard the saying, “two is better than one.” Turns out this has proven true in the retail space as well. Pairing nutrient-rich foods in a retail promotion, such as good fats from walnuts (2.5g/oz omega-3 ALA) with an array of nutrients from fresh produce, not only shows shoppers how to enjoy nutritious foods, but can provide value from a business standpoint, too. 

I sat down with Joy Petty, Director of Marketing Operations, to better understand her typical day and how retail dietitians can be a good partner with the marketing department. 

If you’re looking for a critical skill to help you excel in business as a leader, you may want master the ability to be empathetic. Experts agree that empathy can boost your influence and impact as a professional, because understanding the emotions of your team members and the customers you serve allows you to become a better communicator and problem solver. In addition, you will build trust, rapport and relationships that can lead to greater success. Practice these simple steps to help hone this important leadership skill:

Estimates suggest 75% of people don't believe advertisements, yet more than 90% believe recommendations from friends. In fact, people are four times more likely to make a specific purchase when recommended by a friend. These statistics make word of mouth marketing campaigns essential for retail dietitians looking to increase use and purchase of their programs and services.

As a retail RD, every day includes a long list of “to dos.” It can be easy to get stuck in a pattern of hammering out these daily tasks. To be most effective in leading and executing larger projects, it’s essential to step back from the day-to-day and drive against the overall project.  Whether it’s launching a new attribute shelf tag program or getting organized for a new cooking class you are offering in-store, project management skills are important at all levels of retail dietetics.

The continued hype surrounding online shopping has put pressure on traditional grocers to expand their shopper offerings, with options like click-and-collect on the rise. But the broader way to compete with online giants like Amazon is to ensure true omnichannel shopper engagement.

We all are aware that working in silos can slow down or significantly hinder a company’s progress towards their strategic plan. If teams are able to effectively collaborate by sharing resources and working together to achieve goals, the rate of progress is accelerated. For dietitians, who are still relatively new in the retail environment, internal collaboration is especially important to help you gain a holistic view of the organization and provide you an opportunity to educate co-workers on the skills and value you possess to drive company success

Conducting educational supermarket store tours continues to be a valuable way to point out new products, provide special diet guidance, dispel common food myths and highlight a variety of convenient, storewide options that help consumers prepare healthful meals at home. Conducted properly, tours can enhance customer loyalty, increase basket size and have a positive impact on the health of your shoppers. Here are five tips to help increase the effectiveness of your tours:

Retailers have a goal of providing choice to shoppers, including foods and beverages that align with the individual shopper’s definition of health and wellbeing. 

In the past, retailers who wanted to reach their target market with information on products and services typically created a printed ad or commercial, but in today’s digital world, marketing has become more of an omni channel approach. Yes, there is still paid media, but earned and owned media are also part of the picture. Here are some basic definitions to help you understand the differences and benefits of using these different marketing tactics: