How Michaels reduces frontline turnover by empowering store teams with YOOBIC
Michaels uses YOOBIC to combat 60% seasonal turnover — empowering 30,000+ store associates through digital tools, mobile learning, and a culture of belonging.
24%
decrease in voluntary turnover
67%
decrease in time spent on store admin
150%
increase in learning program participation
50%
decrease in time to reset post-peak season
Michaels is the leading craft and framing retailer in North America, with 40.7K YOOBIC users across 1,460 stores in the U.S. and Canada
“Every time an experienced associate leaves, we lose product knowledge, service quality drops, and managers spend time hiring instead of running the business.”
Tiffany Reese, Director of Workload & Communications at Michaels
The Michaels story
Michaels operates 1,350 stores with 30,000+ team members across North
America. In 2024, seasonal retail turnover hit an estimated 60% — costing the
business significant revenue, product knowledge, and management bandwidth
every time an experienced associate walked out the door.
Root causes identified by the operations team:
- Associates felt disconnected from company strategy and leadership
- Disengaging manual processes — paper checklists, back-office printing
- Fragmented tools with no single mobile hub for communication
- Limited access to training and career development on the floor
Selecting YOOBIC
In March 2023, Michaels launched Mik Check — their custom-branded YOOBIC
app — consolidating tasks, communications, learning and recognition into one
mobile hub designed specifically for frontline retail teams.
The key differentiator: an interface as intuitive as a social media feed, requiring
zero formal training. Engagement jumped from 30% to 80–90% within weeks of
launch.
Michaels Stores has always been the go-to for creative inspiration, but their latest innovation is inspiring something else — team engagement!
How they did it
1) Digitize Frontline Operations
Mik Check replaced paper checklists, store walks and scattered comms with
structured digital tasks on mobile. Associates stay on the floor — admin
reduced by 67%.
2) Connect Teams to Leadership & Strategy
One mobile hub for tasks, learning, and resources. Field Leadership Meeting
Hub keeps every store aligned to company priorities without flooding
managers’ inboxes.
3) Build Community, Recognition & Development
Custom communities (e.g. Framing, Holiday) let teams share wins and
expertise. “Gold Star Moments” campaigns celebrate top-performing stores
across the network.
4) Mobile Microlearning & Career Pathing
Bite-sized YOOBIC learning modules delivered in the flow of work boosted
participation by 150%. Leadership Essentials training equipped managers to
put people first.
Results
- 24% decrease in voluntary turnover — a direct result of higher
- $8M+ in annual savings from reduced hiring, onboarding, and lost-productivity costs
- 67% reduction in time spent on store admin — associates freed to focus on customers
- 150% increase in learning program participation via mobile microlearning
- Employee engagement 30% → 80–90% — driven by intuitive, social-style Mik Check UX
- ~1,000 hires via ‘Makers Like Me’ disability program; retention well above company avg