You are most likely reading this blog I am sure because you are pretty motivated to work in the cruise retail sector. Yes?
In this blog, I am going to outline what I believe are 8 important traits that you need to have, to be thinking about working in our unique cruise retail sector. That is not to say that if you don't have these traits, you can't work onboard, but these traits will certainly help you in your interview and show that you are ready and will be the right fit for the industry.
Cruise retailing is not for everyone, it is a very particular environment. This is one reason we have so much resource and information about it all here at the Cruise Retail Academy. We are here to help you become a "Star Shoppie"!
Across the different cruise lines and all of the many retail operators there are a set of common personality requirements that transcend pretty much any difference that each part of the industry has. The common parts of the cruise retail industry are the soul of what makes us unique, what makes us successful and overall what makes us earn good money.
So, if you want to work in the cruise retail industry and are curious to understand if you are the right fit, then please read on!
These traits are not in any order, but you will see that they definitely connect with each other.
BE DYNAMIC
To work in cruise retail, you need to be a dynamic person. You should be outgoing, engaging and curious. You will need a lot of energy each day that you are onboard, and being able to bring a light into every situation. This positivity will help you hugely to connect with your fellow shoppies but also make your interactions with guests memorable and enjoyable. Being dynamic means that your presence will be felt even more when you have left the room, and your crewmates will love to be around you.
2. AUTHENTIC & POSITIVE
Being dynamic doesn't mean being fake. Bringing your own personality to the shopfloor is extremely important, and guests will want to see your authenticity in what you recommend, what you tell them and what feedback you give. A positive way of showing who you are is something that guests will love to see, and therefore being yourself and being proud of being yourself will be the best way to make a connection with both your guests but also with your onboard colleauges.
3. WILLINGNESS TO GROW
Cruise retail is a truly unqiue world, it doesn't exist in any other part of the retail or hospitality industry anywhere else in the world. Therefore, don't expect to come into the cruise retail sector with all the answers already - because honestly, this won't help so much. An open mind that is ready to learn the products, the techniques, the organisation, the guest service, the systems and the procedures will help you hugely. Ship life is one that needs a strong level of conformity to make it work efficiently, and therefore the ability to learn what is absolutely necessary will help you hugely. Look at each contract as a piece of blank paper, with plenty of space to be written on. The more curiousity and adaptability you have, the more that cruise retail can be an incredible career building place to grow yourself and become a strong leader of the future.
4. TEAM PLAYER
If you like to work by yourself, then don't think about cruise retail as a career! Having fun as part of a driven team is a key part of the wonder of our industry. You will meet lifelong friends, you will laugh together, cry together, pull pallet trucks together, count inventory together, drink at the crew bar together and go and eat in port together! Supporting your colleagues and being able to rely on your colleagues is at the heart of the need of a great cruise retail team. The team wins together, always!
5. SELLING IS IN YOUR BLOOD
Could you sell sand in the desert? Could you sell ice to the eskimos? Are you a natural salesperson? Selling needs to be part of your persona and you need to feel comfortable in closing transactions and gaining commitment from your guests. Selling is one of the key skills of a great retailer, and your ability to achieve the best possible performance from your personality is at the heart of it. The difference between good retailers with great retailers is all in your ability to sell. And the way you are able to do this, is either something you know how to do, or you are ready to learn how to do it. Either way, there is no point looking at cruise retail as a career if you are not able to sell.
6. PASSION FOR PRODUCT
Cruise retail is storytelling. You can read a blog all about this. And the ability to tell stories is having a passion for products. Learning all about their histories, their unique selling points, their provenence, their suitability is such an important part of the guest experience. Guests are curious and want to know, and your passion for the product you are selling will be at the heart of your ability to build a connection and achieve so many of the other traits. Many cruise retailers have a passion for a specific product category - jewellery, watches, beauty, liquor, fashion, technology etc. Yours may not have been discovered yet, but when you find it, you will want to know as much as you can and share it with the world. And onboard, the world will be ready to hear you loud and proud! And this is where our Brand Academy will be right there to help you along the way by providing so much extra information to help you grow and show your passion!
7. ACHIEVING THE GOAL
Every day in cruise retail is about achieving a goal. To exceed your sales targets. To work in cruise retail, this has to excite you not scare you. If you enjoy the challenge of hitting your target and pushing yourself to achieve it, then you have found the right place to come and build a career. If the thought of having a continued target to achieve is too daunting, then there are other parts of the cruise industry that are probably more suitable. Being target-driven and goal-oriented will help you so much in the cruise retail sector you cannot imagine. Each hour of each day that your cruise is ongoing, you will be focused on what you have to acheive and how you will achieve it. You will be motivated by your colleagues doing well, but ultimately you will want to contribute with your efforts. The reward comes from seeing that the end result for the team has been achieved with your efforts and your contribution!
8. HAVE FUN!
From all of the above traits, the brilliance of the cruise retail industry lies in the incredible people you will meet, the incredible team that you will be part of, and the shared goals that you will contribute towards. With all of this, having fun in achieivng it is at the heart of successful cruise retail people. Cruise retailing is such a dynamic and unique sector to work for, that you will see that the most experienced people are those that have enjoyed it, celebrated it and having much fun in being part of it all!
So, how did you do? Don't worry if you don't think you have all of these traits already. Cruise retail is a great place to nurture your skills and build your personality strongly. The most important thing is that you build a level of self-awareness so you can identify which are your strengths and which are the areas you need to work on building.
We wish you every success in your cruise retail career and hope you will become a "Star Shoppie". And why not start by having a look at our jobs page, and seeing if there is a role for you, because we may just have an opportunity that will meet your unique skillset!
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