I got this question today from a long-time consignment shop owner, who’d love to hear your ideas. Since it’s Labor Day, and Christine wants to provide her staff with a benefit, I thought it is particularly appropriate:
I am considering changing my Employee Discount program (currently 20% off all regular-priced items) to one where each employee is awarded a certain number of points (dollars) for each hour worked that can be applied to purchases rather than a discount. I’d like those who work more hours to benefit more than those who work 4-6 hours a week. Has anyone tried a similar system? Are there any pitfalls that I may not be considering?
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
Interesting ideas from all. We give 50% discount to employees for anything that has been on the floor 2 weeks ( no hiding merchandise in the back either). They pay full price if it just came in.
We have just changed store bonus $ based on daily sales figure to per transaction $. I tell them it’s my job to get shoppers in and their job to sell not just ring up the sale. It’s been working greattttt. Obviously the daily sales $ has increased as well. !!
See what Kerstin Block, founder of Buffalo Exchange, does: I covered it here. Perhaps for another reason, but the outcome is the same… the more you contribute to the success of the company, the more “reward” you get.
I like the idea ths incentive. It would be more fair to the ones that work more hours. Do you cap the incentive? A full time employee would be able to rack up a substantial credit. Just wondering?
We’ve had this in place for about 2 years now and seems to work great. They start at .30cents in “store credit bonus” per hours worked. It’s put into their acct the first of each month. The more you work the more you earn. Also the longer you work here, the higher the per hour bonus.
We also give a $2 an hour bonus when we make our $1000 days.
I’m interested in anyone that has suggestions… We have 2 employees currently.. One that works 34-38 hours a week and one that works 5.
We are BOR, for what it’s worth.
We’ve just given a standard 50% off anything that has been there over a week for all employees.. An employee is an employee.. We give certain things at 10%-20% over cost or even “at cost” including the shipping.
I suppose, there could be some sort of reward system in place for those that do work more hours.. Maybe if you work 5-10 hours, you get 10%, 11-25 hours you get 20%, 26+ hours you get 30%…?
Will wait to hear what others have to say.