When we talk to store managers about store operations, the same frustration comes up again and again: “Don’t send us instructions in the middle of the day.”
It’s not that stores don’t want direction. It’s about when they can actually use it. A store manager’s morning is when the roster is set, store tasks are assigned, and the team is briefed before opening. That’s the natural window to pass down new promotions, VM updates, or daily store checklists.
Send communication after the store is open, and you’re asking teams to improvise. Staff are already serving customers, fixing issues, or handling stock. Mid-shift updates often get half-done, or ignored altogether—not because people don’t care, but because the timing makes execution unrealistic.
What works best in practice:
Share updates in the morning before doors open.
Batch instructions in one clear message or through a retail task management software, instead of scattering them.
Save afternoons for escalations only.
It’s a simple truth: communication is only as good as the moment it lands.