Why Staffing the Floor is Critical for a Successful Holiday Retail Customer Experience

The holiday season brings excitement, energy, and — for retailers — an incredible amount of pressure. Stores fill with shoppers who are short on time but full of expectations. And in that chaos, one thing separates great retailers from everyone else: the people on the floor.

Crowded aisles and long lines are part of the season — but good staffing keeps the chaos under control. When your team is trained, visible, and ready to help, customers find what they need faster, frustration stays low, and your checkout keeps moving. That’s what builds trust — and repeat business.

That level of retail excellence doesn’t happen by accident. Getting the balance right takes real preparation.

Staffing in a High-Demand Season 

Each holiday season, finding enough qualified help gets a little harder. Retailers are competing for the same limited pool of seasonal workers while trying to manage labor budgets and unpredictable foot traffic. According to the 2025 UKG Holiday Hiring Survey (via Business Wire), nearly 77% of retailers expect hiring challenges this holiday season, and 83% anticipate stores being understaffed at least two days per week.

Even being short by one or two associates during key hours can lead to longer lines, missed upsells, and frustrated shoppers. Customers expect more than ever. They want quick help, short lines, and a smooth shopping experience. There isn’t much room for mistakes.

When Stores Fall Short 

Being short-staffed doesn’t just slow things down. It costs sales. When shoppers can’t find help, they often leave empty-handed or head to a competitor. Those missed moments can leave a lasting impression that’s hard to fix.

It also hurts your team. Overworked associates burn out faster, deliver lower-quality service, and are less likely to return for the next season. Not to mention, word spreads fast – can you afford a bad reputation when folks are looking for seasonal work?

When your stores fall short, the result is a domino effect that hits both customer loyalty and profitability.

Smarter Planning Through Connected Systems

The best retailers don’t just react — they get ahead of the rush. When your sales, inventory, and staffing data are connected, you can spot patterns early. That means you know where to add people, when to move them between stores, and which associates can step in wherever help is needed.

Above: Having connected systems makes it easier to train your seasonal staff quickly.

5 Steps to Prepare for the Holiday Rush

Here’s how multi-store retailers can build a smoother, more profitable holiday season:

1. Review last year’s trends. Use sales and traffic data to spot peak hours and staff accordingly.
2. Train early. Seasonal hires need fast, focused onboarding to deliver great service quickly.
3. Stay flexible. Be ready to move associates between stores or departments in real time.
4. Use live dashboards. Track your sales performance daily to adjust staffing on the fly.
5. Prioritize connection. This one is easy to overlook when the rush hits — but it’s important. Remind staff that a simple greeting or helpful gesture can turn a shopper into a repeat customer.

Are You Ready for a Smoother Holiday Season? 

When retailers get staffing right during the holidays, they’re not just getting short-term sales — they’re building trust and loyalty that lasts well past Q4.

Every smooth checkout, every helpful recommendation, and every extra minute saved adds up to a stronger brand reputation.

At FieldStack, we understand the holiday rush because we’ve lived it — both on the sales floor and by supporting retail teams nationwide during the rush. Our connected platform helps unify POS, inventory, loyalty, and more so retailers can forecast demand, plan efficiently, and deliver the kind of shopping experience customers remember for the right reasons.

Learn more about the unified retail management platform that gives our clients an edge during the holiday shopping season.