Company Blog
You Are Fantastic
by Adam Zack — October 8, 2015
Our people are the greatest asset.
My dad always said, “Our people are our greatest asset.” And it was true. Our people gave the stores personality, dedication and consistency. In fact, the most frequent customer compliments were about employees. It was a time when young people could make a career in the grocery business and the training and development spent were rewarded with years of wonderful service. I don’t think anyone will argue that times are much different now, and that perhaps the greatest challenge facing grocers today is finding quality employees that will be great brand ambassadors. Generation Y has different priorities, goals and work ethic than previous generations. Not that it is a bad thing, it’s just different. Store managers and owners have to learn to evolve their hiring and recruitment practices to appeal to today’s job seekers. That brings me to today’s topic: What to do when you encounter a fantastic employee in your everyday life. One of the easiest, most overlooked and cheapest (admit it, we are grocers and we watch every penny) ways to recruit is to have your business card at the ready to present when you get great service. You’ll see it at Starbucks, In-n-Out, Chick-fil-a and sometimes Target. It could be at your competition, your bank or local sandwich shop. When you see great service a compliment on how great their service has been will get their sincere attention. Follow that with presentation of your business card along and saying that if they know anyone who is looking for a job and is fantastic at customer service like they to give you a call or an email (or a text if your cell number is on your card.) It will often pay off. It may only be 20-30% of the time that either that person or one of their friends comes in, but it will give you the opportunity to share just how great your store is and why it’s a wonderful place to work. Even if it doesn’t result in a potential new employee right away, you will make an impression on someone’s life that casts a very positive light on your business and you just made someone’s day with your compliment. Now all you have to do is make sure your store really is a better place to work than Starbucks.
Read More – A River Company
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