DIVERSITY INC ACKNOWLEDGES BRAG

In the September Issue of Diversity Inc. there was a great article about Retailers and their vision for 21st Century Recruiting and catering to a 21st Century Customer. BRAVO to Target, Stop & Shop, Limited Brands and a big applause to Best Buy for the great recruitment ads. Below is an excerpt from the article which had a great quote from BRAG President Gary Lampley.

SHOPPING FOR TALENT
“Employers that want to succeed need to embrace a diverse work force,” says Jeffrey Humphreys, director of the Selig Center at the University of Georgia Terry College of Business. “You must have people working for you who
reflect your target markets.” Indeed, smart retailers are casting their recruiting nets far and wide to search for employees who demographically represent the communities where they do business.

One organization that’s helping to steer multicultural talent toward retailing is BRAG (Black Retail Action Group). This New York-based nonprofit, formed to promote Blacks in the industry, provides one-on-one mentoring, networking, employment opportunities and scholarships to college students. The College Club, Created at the Fashion Institute of Technology, the program has now expanded to other schools, including Howard University and The Laboratory Institute of Merchandising.
Groups such as BRAG are also trying to stem the tide of attrition within the retail industry. Reportedly as high as 25 percent, this is one of the biggest and most costly challenges facing retail managers. One way to retain and motivate associates is to constantly communicate the opportunities for professional growth and development. For this reason, BRAG recently launched its Executive Development Series, a three-session interactive workshop
developed to help top performers climb the retail industry ladder.
“Diversity in our industry used to be about what you could or couldn’t do legally,” says BRAG President Gary Lampley. “Now we’re addressing the issue from a different perspective: how to co-exist within an organization so that every voice is heard and everyone thrives.”

courtesy Diversity Inc