MASTER Risk Model - Learning Resources - Abilities

Which area or field do you primarily work in?

Strategic Planning

Write a one-sentence version of your retail strategy, does it name store goal, advantage, and direction?

List your top 3 store priorities, do they directly support long-term goals or only short-term sales?

Review last year’s retail strategy, highlight what still applies and what should be reframed.

Compare your strategy with a competitor’s, what’s your unique angle or differentiator?

Identify one initiative that doesn’t align with your store strategy, pause, pivot, or reframe it.

Sketch a basic strategy pyramid: vision > goal > initiative, fill it in for your shop.

Operational Execution

Identify one delayed stock task, clarify the next step and owner, and unblock it by end of day.

Review today’s to-do list, highlight the 3 tasks that drive results, and do those first.

Create a repeatable checklist for one daily process to reduce errors and missed steps.

Use the 80/20 rule, focus 80% of energy on 20% of store tasks that drive sales or customer impact.

Set a 15-minute daily slot to review progress on key shop tasks, consistency beats intensity.

Align your calendar with store priorities, block time for real work, not just meetings.

Performance Monitoring

Choose one sales metric for your shop, track and review it weekly starting today.

Set up a simple dashboard (even a spreadsheet) to visualize sales trends and daily foot traffic.

Add one review question to staff meetings: “What did we improve for customers this week?”

Review your store goals, highlight one that lacks a clear way to measure success.

Send a short recap to your staff or partners summarizing this week’s outcomes.

Create a visual tracker for one important store initiative, update it in every staff huddle.

Market Analysis

Google your top 3 local competitors, note how they describe their store and what customers engage with.

Review recent customer reviews, what store problems or needs are most frequently mentioned?

Identify one key market trend in the last 6 months, what opportunities or risks does it create?

Search retail industry trends online, what’s gaining attention, and what’s declining in relevance?

Refresh your customer personas using recent sales or feedback data.

List the top 5 decision criteria customers use when comparing stores, validate with actual feedback.

Branding and Positioning

Rewrite your store’s tagline, make it clearer, bolder, and focused on customer outcomes, not features.

List 3 things that make your retail offer unique, do your shop or website clearly highlight them?

Update your store’s “About Us” section to reflect your current value proposition and customer promise.

Compare tone and style across your signage, website, and social, are you consistent and memorable?

Ask a loyal customer to describe your store in 5 words, does it match your intended brand?

Add one emotional or story-driven element to your “About Us” or intro pitch.

Digital Marketing Strategy

Identify your best-performing online channel, post one fresh promotion or product story there this week.

Set one clear digital marketing goal (e.g., more visitors, repeat buyers) and define how to measure.

Review your analytics dashboard, what’s one surprising sales or traffic insight you hadn’t noticed?

Test a new call-to-action on your website, track any change in clicks or engagement.

Check your email open rates, adjust the next subject line to test a sharper hook.

Optimize your social media bio or profile link to align with your next store campaign.

Negotiation Skills

Write down your ideal, target, and walk-away terms for a supplier deal, clarify your boundaries now.

Identify one phrase you use in negotiations that weakens your position, replace it with something firmer.

Review your last supplier email, did you anchor terms clearly and confidently? If not, revise and resend.

Watch a 5-minute video on tactical silence, apply it in your next supplier negotiation.

Prepare one powerful question to uncover what matters most to a supplier or landlord.

Practice stating your key offer terms without apology, say them aloud once per day.

Customer Relationship Management

Identify your top 5 customers, send a personal check-in unrelated to a current purchase today.

Add a note field in your customer log with one personal detail for each key shopper.

Set reminders for follow-ups after purchases (e.g., 30, 90 days), build stronger customer loyalty.

Choose one lapsed customer, send a short personal message to reignite the connection.

Ask one customer how they’re using a product now, gather insights for better follow-up.

Share one valuable, non-sales resource with a customer (article, tip, or product guide).

Sales Strategy and Planning

Define your top 3 sales objectives for this quarter, link each to a clear store activity or metric.

Review your sales funnel, identify one bottleneck and brainstorm a small, testable improvement.

Identify one underperforming product segment, adjust your placement or messaging and test results.

Block 30 minutes weekly to review sales results vs. targets, add it to your calendar now.

Update your Ideal Customer Profile, use recent data from store and online sales.

Sketch a simple customer journey, identify the drop-off point and how you’ll address it.

Talent Acquisition and Recruitment

Review one current job post, rewrite the opening to focus on customer impact and team growth, not only tasks.

Reconnect with one promising past candidate, check in and explore interest in joining your store team.

Post a short “why join us” message from a staff member on social media or website.

Add an inclusive language check to your next job posting, make roles more welcoming.

Identify your top 3 referral sources, reach out and activate them for current roles.

Create a short interview scorecard aligned to the top 3 traits for new store hires.

Performance Management

Choose one team goal, define what “great service” looks like and share it with your staff.

Review your performance review notes, remove one vague or redundant question today.

Send one personal message of recognition to a staff member for recent great service.

Identify one KPI in your store that’s misaligned with real value creation, flag it for revision.

Schedule your next check-in with a staff member to focus on growth and development only.

Update your performance calendar to include quarterly reviews, not just annual evaluations.

Learning and Development

Ask one team member: “What’s one skill you wish you had more time to build right now?”

Add one bite-sized learning resource (podcast, article, short video) to your next staff meeting agenda.

Identify one recurring skill gap in your team, recommend a short training or resource to close it.

Create a shared board where staff can suggest learning resources or retail tips.

Turn your next small team win into a learning moment, what worked, and how can you repeat it?

Promote one free training opportunity to staff this week, send it with a personal note.

Financial Analysis and Budgeting

Review one monthly expense report, flag one item of unclear or mismatched spending in your store budget.

Create a simple monthly finance dashboard with 3–5 KPIs your store can easily track.

Spend 30 minutes reconciling actual vs. forecasted expenses for one category this week.

Identify one cost category that consistently overruns, review assumptions or forecasts carefully.

Add a finance review item to your next meeting agenda, make budgeting a standing habit.

Watch a tutorial on zero-based budgeting, apply one new concept to your store expenses.

Risk Management

Identify one key financial risk in your store operations, write it down and share it with peers.

Review your store insurance or contingency policies, note any outdated or missing coverage today.

Flag the top 3 financial risks in your store, rank them by likelihood and impact today.

Add a “risk check” question to your next store planning session, force proactive thinking.

List recent small shop failures, did any signal a larger risk you may have missed?

Skim a recent retail industry report, what external risks or shifts does it highlight for you?

Capital Allocation

List your top 3 ongoing initiatives, rank them by ROI, not just urgency or visibility.

Identify one area where you’re overspending resources without clear returns, flag it for review.

Check if your budget allocations align with strategic priorities, note one mismatch for next review.

Review one recent expense decision, did it balance short- and long-term value well?

Sketch a quick pie chart of how time is spent in-store, are your top priorities getting enough focus?

Estimate the upside of reallocating 10% of your budget to highest-growth product lines.

Supply Chain Management

Map your supply chain in 5 steps, identify one weak link or unreliable supplier to flag today.

Check if your top 3 suppliers meet quality and delivery standards, highlight any red flags now.

Create a one-page stock summary versus demand, identify one misalignment today.

Ask suppliers about alternate sources for two key inputs, note their answers for future options.

Review last quarter’s shortages or delays, what was the root cause each time?

List your top 3 inventory items by value or volume, do they match sales and usage trends?

Lean and Agile Methodologies

Set up a visual board to track daily shop tasks, mark any stalled items clearly.

Run a 15-minute staff huddle focused only on blockers, note patterns that slow daily work.

Identify one recurring staff task that adds no value, simplify or remove it now.

Pilot a one-week sprint: plan, execute, review, note improvements in store focus and output.

Map one retail process in 5 steps, remove any redundant or unclear actions today.

Choose a recent task and shorten planning, track speed without losing service quality.

Quality Assurance

Create a checklist for one recurring retail process, use it to prevent common errors this week.

Choose one metric (e.g., returns or complaints) and track it daily for one week.

Run a 15-minute spot-check on one store display, flag even small quality or consistency issues.

Review one customer-facing message or receipt for clarity and accuracy before printing.

Identify a workflow step with frequent rework, define a simple fix or rule for staff.

Ask a peer or partner to review a store document, note what they catch that you missed.

IT Systems Management

Document one manual shop process slowing sales, outline simple steps to automate or reduce errors.

Set a calendar reminder for POS updates, avoid missing critical software maintenance.

Review POS or system logs, flag slowdowns, errors, or recurring issues this week.

List IT vendors and renewal dates, avoid missing obligations or penalties.

Note one recurring complaint, define the cause and outline a fix.

Run a 10-minute POS health check, note recurring errors or slowness.

Cybersecurity

Update Wi-Fi router and POS passwords, enable two-factor login for owner and staff accounts.

Enable automatic updates on staff devices to reduce known risks and exposure.

Run a short phishing awareness quiz for your staff today.

Review login activity, flag unusual times or access points to your shop systems.

Enable email or file encryption where missing in your store systems.

Write a checklist of steps for staff during a security incident.

Software Development and Integration

Test one plugin or integration on your e-commerce site, confirm it runs smoothly today.

Refactor one clunky section of your online shop for clarity and faster browsing.

Document one store integration, like loyalty app or payment system, that lacks clear notes.

Check your website version control, review one recent update for clarity.

Create a shared checklist for POS or inventory system updates.

Add a code-check tool to enforce standards on your website.

Customer Experience Management

Send a quick thank-you email asking for short feedback after a customer purchase.

Review last quarter’s complaints, identify repeating themes hurting your store reputation.

Add a one-question satisfaction check to receipts or checkout screens.

Update an email template to sound warmer and more customer-friendly.

Shadow a checkout interaction, observe tone, expectations, and resolution.

Sketch a quick journey map for one customer type.

Service Recovery and Resolution

Review your last three complaints, check if they were handled quickly, clearly, and politely.

Improve one canned response email, make it sound human, empathetic, and helpful.

Create a simple escalation checklist for complaints, note when to involve the owner.

Publicly acknowledge a small mistake, show transparency and build customer trust.

Add an apology step in automated replies, even when not directly at fault.

Tag recurring complaints, categorize by root cause, not surface issue.

CRM Systems

Update one customer profile with missing details, preferences, last purchase, or birthday.

Set a daily reminder to log every important customer interaction in your CRM.

Create a saved view of top 10 customers needing a follow-up message.

Add a custom field in your CRM to capture loyalty cues.

Merge or delete outdated CRM tags, keep records simple and useful.

Clean your last ten CRM records, ensure they’re clear and updated.

Regulatory Compliance

Identify one retail regulation relevant to your shop, read the latest guidance today.

Review a compliance checklist for your shop, suggest one improvement or simplification.

Tag a recent contract for clauses tied to legal or compliance concerns.

Set a reminder for quarterly compliance checks, update documents regularly.

Bookmark your regulator’s site, subscribe to retail compliance updates.

Confirm a current project meets key safety or data rules.

Contract Management

Review a supplier invoice, flag renewal dates, penalties, or unusual charges right away.

Organize contracts in one folder, tag supplier, landlord, and service provider agreements.

Ask your supplier for the latest contract template, save it for reuse.

Note the most common contract clause, decide where flexibility makes sense.

Confirm who signs contracts, document the process for clarity.

Set a reminder to review supplier contracts 30 days pre-renewal.

Corporate Governance

Sketch who approves big spend or staffing decisions in your shop, clarify it clearly.

Confirm you have a simple staff code of conduct, scan it for clarity and gaps.

Check if past meeting notes or key decisions are shared with staff.

Locate your shop’s ESG or compliance statement, confirm it’s current.

Confirm which policies apply, conflicts, data use, or whistleblowing.

Flag a gap in oversight or approvals in your shop.

Innovation and Product Development

Scan your product range, highlight one small innovation that could improve customer experience.

Read a case study about a retail innovation or shop pivot that succeeded or failed.

Bookmark three retail trend sources, newsletters, blogs, or competitor updates.

Create a backlog of unmet customer needs from feedback or ticket logs.

Brainstorm one bold new product idea, no limits, just creativity.

Check if you use design sprints or idea boards for innovation.

Research Methodologies

Pick a past buying decision, note what research or data, if any, supported it.

Review a short customer survey, what new questions or patterns appear in responses?

Skim a retail article, note how data or survey methods were explained.

List three research types you use, market surveys, product tests, and feedback.

Pick a free survey tool, collect quick feedback from customers.

Save an example of customer research that changed a decision.

Intellectual Property Management

List one brand element worth protecting, logo, slogan, packaging design, or product idea.

Check if your contracts mention ownership of photos, branding, or packaging designs.

Compare trademark vs. copyright vs. design rights, note what fits your shop.

List three knowledge assets worth protecting, logo, packaging, or website copy.

Ask a peer about IP protections they’ve used, logos, branding, or slogans.

Supplier Relationship Management

List your top three suppliers, note if you contact them beyond orders or problem escalations.

Review a supplier agreement, note obligations, discounts, or delivery expectations clearly.

Send a thank-you note to a supplier for a reliable recent delivery.

Identify one high-value supplier, note their key contacts and terms.

Schedule a monthly supplier check-in, fifteen minutes is enough.

Ask suppliers for improvement ideas, note one actionable suggestion.

Logistics and Distribution

Map your delivery chain from supplier to shop, identify one weak or unclear step.

Check delivery times for three products, compare them with promises given to customers.

List all partners in your distribution chain, mark the critical ones.

Review your delivery promises, confirm they’re tracked and visible to staff.

Identify one late delivery, note how to prevent it upstream.

Sketch your delivery flow, share with a staff member for feedback.

Cost Management

Review your top three monthly expenses, check if they match current shop priorities.

Identify one underused subscription or service, decide whether to cancel or fully use it.

Scan last month’s invoices, highlight overlooked small expenses.

Check approval limits for expenses, do they fit shop size and risk?

Ask finance for a breakdown of main expense categories.

Flag a manual process that could be automated.

Data Analysis and Visualization

Replace one cluttered sales chart with a clear visual showing your main takeaway.

Use conditional formatting to highlight sales peaks and drops in your POS data.

Add a one-line takeaway to each chart you present to staff or partners.

Convert a sales table into a simple dashboard using a free tool.

Choose one KPI and plot it in a simple chart.

Create a bar chart with one sales dataset for clarity.

Predictive Analytics

Choose one sales trend to forecast, collect recent receipts or POS data for it.

Try Excel’s FORECAST to predict next week’s sales for one product category.

Plot a moving average of daily sales, spot trends beyond single peaks.

Note one retail case where forecasting improved stock or demand.

List predictors affecting your sales forecast, weather, season, or promotions.

Run a quick correlation between sales and promotions.

Business Intelligence

List your three main reports, check if they answer core shop questions clearly.

Schedule a weekly review of one sales report, spot changes or unusual patterns.

Add a short “insight” note to your weekly sales report.

Test a BI feature you ignore, like filters or drill-downs in reports.

Share a report with a non-technical friend, ask if it’s clear.

Set automatic alerts for KPIs crossing thresholds.

Enterprise Risk Management

List your top three risks, rate likelihood and impact for your retail business.

Review your risk list, note one area needing update or better backup.

Schedule a short risk review, focus on new threats to your shop.

Review recent incidents, note top cause of each.

Review one control you own, document next steps to fix gaps.

Bookmark risk-management guidance relevant to small retailers.

Crisis Management

Review your shop’s crisis plan, note missing contacts, backups, or clear responsibilities.

List three possible shop crises, outline first response steps for each today.

Schedule a quick crisis check-in, confirm roles, contacts, and emergency procedures.

Confirm emergency contact channels, test one backup quickly.

Test your SMS alert system with a short dry run.

List people to inform immediately if a crisis happens.

Regulatory Compliance 2

List three key regulations shaping retail, save official links to current guidance.

Review your compliance checklist, note one improvement for clarity or accuracy.

Set a monthly reminder to review retail compliance updates.

Subscribe to a regulatory newsletter for retail updates.

Confirm compliance training is complete for you and staff.

Audit one shop process for compliance with regulations.

Product Lifecycle Management

List all products, mark whether each is in growth, maturity, or decline stage.

Compare sales of each product against lifecycle expectations, highlight mismatches.

Map who owns each stage of your product lifecycle, from sourcing to clearance.

Check your roadmap for plans covering product growth and decline.

Pick a product near decline, plan two renewal options.

Review product docs, ensure stages and roles are clear.

Market and User Research

Review customer reviews, note three repeating issues or needs mentioned frequently.

Draft a short survey to confirm one assumption about your customers.

Read competitor reviews, note repeated strengths or weaknesses you can address.

Set up Google Alerts for retail trends or customer topics.

Do a quick usability check of your shop website.

Create five customer profiles with motivations and budgets.

Go-to-Market Strategy

List your target customer groups, write one pain point for each segment.

Review your last promotion, note one success and one area to improve.

Sketch your sales channels, mark key online and offline touchpoints.

Draft a simple value proposition aimed at your main shoppers.

Review a competitor’s campaign, note one tactic to test yourself.

Check if pricing aligns with value and nearby competitors.

MASTER Risk Hub