What Are The Job Responsibilities of a 'Key Holder?'

The 'key holder' is a job position that's frequently misunderstood in the world of retail business. Some people assume that it's nothing more than a personal with a key to the premises -- simply because of it's name. However, there's much more to this position than physically holding a key. To learn more about the job responsibilities of the key holder and whether or not they're a necessity for your business, keep reading.

Open and Close The Store

The most important responsibility of being a key holder is to open and close the store. They'll show up early to unlock the doors and prepare the store for its first wave of customers. Regular clerks, stockers and other employees typically lack the authority to open the store; therefore, the owner/manager designates someone as the 'key holder.' While there are several other responsibilities tied to being a key holder, the most significant is opening and closing the store.

There's more to opening and closing a store than most people realize. Along with the action of turning the key, this person must also deal with the alarm system. Nearly all retail businesses today have some form of alarm system to discourage theft and vandalism. When the key holder arrives in the morning to open the store, he or she must turn off the alarm using the code given by their employer. And when they get ready to lock up and leave at night, they must set the alarm.

General Duties of a Key Holder

• Unlock and lock the doors
• Make sure the lights are turned off before leaving
• Turn off the alarm when opening
• Set the alarm when closing
• Sweep and clean in the evening
• Moving and setting up product displays
• Offer assistance to other employees

Choosing a Key Holder For Your Store

So, how do you choose an employee to take on the responsibilities of being a key holder? It's important for retail store owners and managers to carefully choose the right candidate for this position. After all, you are essentially trusting them with your entire business, and this may be too much for some employees. Consider how long the employee has been with your store, their general attitude, punctuality, and enthusiasm about this new position. Offering some type of incentive like a bonus check, gift card, etc. will also encourage the key holder to perform his or her responsibilities correctly.