Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - MY INSPIRATIONS

Recently, I received an email from an artist that wanted to know if they could interview me for their website.   Well, gee, didn't I feel privileged.  After all, I hadn't been asked that question in years - 1995 to be exact.  Been awhile.

So, once I got over my short ego trip, I responded with a, "Sure!"

Within days the questions, for the interview, were emailed to me.  I quickly scanned the questions and mentally provided the answers and decided to give the piece my full concentration on my next day off.  But in the meantime, my mind continued to review the emailed questions and my responses flooded my brain.

One of the questions asked was 'what inspires' me.

Naturally, as an artist, one would expect responses such as, 'the sun streaking through the trees, fluffy clouds sailing across the sky, shadows cast in midafternoon', and the list goes on.  But while I was trying hard to think of what inspires me, I found that it had nothing to do with art at all.

It's where I work, where I live, and the people I encounter day after day.  For even though I may encounter some people that are real, YOU KNOW WHATS, I find more people that are generous, caring and kind.

It's the smile on a parent's face as they hug their child, the laughter from a person as they share a story, a smile that a person shares with a passerby or the kindness one shows as they help someone.

It's the sense of security one finds in a friendship, the warmth of a hug and a 'thankyou', the gratitude we feel when someone cares and the awesome feeling one gets when a family member says, "I love you."

And last, but not least, the smile that's brought to my face as Miss Gizzy curls up beside me as I sit here typing this post.

Years ago, when I started to paint, I would walk through the mountains that surrounded my home to find inspiration.  Today, I go to a store and clock in for work.

So, what is the answer to that question?

My inspiration is what surrounds me - it is life.

Talk at ya later!

 

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - PET PEEVES!

No matter how many times I hear a customer say, that they shop a business according to the sales and have no concern on how they are treated by the establishment - I will notice that there are more customers that do care.  It is a never ending cycle.

And for every ten compliments I hear from customers, I find that there will be one customer that will find something that is not quite right; and, it has nothing to do with the service provided by the employees.

Instead, it is the outlook that companies have and the changes that are implemented into their businesses;  changes that companies expect customers to accept and cannot understand when customers do not.

First, and foremost, on the list is the downsizing.  Be it selection, department or staff when downsizing occurs, so do sales.

For instance;  "Where is the ________?"  "I use to always buy it here."  "Now I will have to go to ________ to get it." 

And then you have the customer that is looking for assistance;  "Excuse me, I need some help but I can't find anyone."   "There is never anyone over there when I need to find something, can you help me?"  and  "Is there anyone working this department or do I have to find someone?"

"Hey, what happened?" "There use to be more of a selection."

Now the second thing that customers do not like, is when the products get moved around.  "Where is the ___________, it was here last week?" 

When customers come in to shop, a lot of times they are in a hurry and like to be able to run in, pick up what they are looking for and get out; as quickly as possible.  But when the products get shifted around, shopping becomes more like a treasure hunt, instead of  an errand.

These are problems that seem to plague most retail businesses.  But this is what happens, when businesses are looking at the bottom number; customers are left to fend for themselves.

And even we, who are retail employees, are faced with it when we venture out to shop.

But even though we are faced with these dilemmas, on a daily basis, there is one thing that I hear a lot;  "Thank you, I appreciate your help."

So downsizing staff, departments and moving product around comes at a cost - sales.

But these business moves have provided us with a lesson;  we, as consumers, are creatures of habit.

And when it comes down to the bottom line, no matter what, we want that personal touch.

Just by chance, at our store, that is something that we are very good at.

Talk at ya later!

 

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - LOOKING GOOD!

So, I'm on the floor stocking an endcap when I hear a lady ask, "Why does your produce always look so much better than ____________?"  I stop and say, "Thank you."

The customer grabbed two lemons, waved and off she went.

There is a reason as to why the produce may look better in our store then it does in other stores, but it really has nothing to do with the produce itself.  It has to do with the employees that  stock it.

From the time the produce is delivered to the time that it is stocked on the tables, the guys have a keen eye and take the time to sort through the produce that they stock.  This is  what makes the difference.

I have seen the guys go through case after case of strawberries that may look too ripe in order to make sure that all of the berries are good.  And when restocking the produce, they try to keep an eye on the freshness of what is already out.  Not an easy task when you consider all of the varieties that are handled in this department.  And once in awhile, something does get overlooked.

But a good staff is what it takes to work a perishable department.  You can always tell what kind of employees work in a perishable department, just by it's appearance.

So, the next time you go shopping in a grocery store take a moment and look around.  If the produce department is neat, the stock looks good and enticing then that means that there is a staff that takes pride in their job and they want customers to shop there.

If, on the other hand, it is just the opposite - well, there is probably a staff that just works at the store in order to get a paycheck. 

Big difference.

Talk at ya later!













 

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - WHEN IT'S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE

There have been many times when I have witnessed employees take leave and I have often wondered, when does one know when it is time to go?  When does that one moment come when an employee knows that it is time to say, 'good bye'?

The other day, one of our employee decided it was time.  After more than seven years with the company, he had decided that it was time to move on.

While listening to the reasons given for his departure, this employee also spoke of what he was leaving behind;  "Good people,'  he said.  And even though he said he would miss these people, he was ready to go.

Companies lose out when good employees take leave. 

With their departure goes dedication, dependability, work ethic, knowledge, pride and creativity.  Most of these employees have the ability to work more than one department so when they leave, so goes the much needed extra hand. 

But if they should stay, what would be their gain? 

Talk at ya later!

 

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - THE GOOD EMPLOYEE

While reading an article, regarding employers and employees, I was reminded of  a previous job which I held for quite a few years.  During those years of employment, I was privileged to work for a sole proprietor who treated me as a valuable employee. It was through this employer's mentoring that I was able to achieve the abilities of what makes a successful employee, which I became.  It was through dedication, initiative and hard work that a partnership developed.

This employer believed, that 'good employees are hard to find and once you find one, treat them well.'

Although I no longer work in the same capacity, as I did, I found that the lessons provided me during that time have followed me throughout my employment history.

'Good employees', today, however, take on a different position.  No longer do the same rules apply. 

Being dependable, on time and trustworthy are still the main objectives of employment, but that seems to be the extent of what is expected today. 

It use to be that initiative, hard work, dedication and teamwork were a plus. 

Quite a few years ago, at one of our stores, there was an employee who use to work in a floral department.  The store was new and the department was large and developed to fit the floral needs of the customer.  There is no other person, I can think of , that could have taken this department and made it grow as what she did.   Her ideas were simple enough;  serve the customer.  With every aspect of this department, and customer service, taken into consideration the department earned a good reputation and gained quite a following; proven in the sales.  Her initiative, dedication and talent, that she provided to her job, brought in repeat business,  customer satisfaction and increased sales.

But in a matter of time, the company decided to make changes to the store, which ended up downsizing this once  busy department.  With less stock and loss of services, the department lost the clientele that had been built up.  In no time, business began to slack off and our employee was left with no recourse but to follow the company's lead. 

Everything that had been gained was now becoming a thing of the past.

This employee would speak of those days often, referring to the specialties that she had created for the customers and would glow, knowing that she was the one responsible for all of those sales.  It was not long, after the change, that she took a leave from the company due to disappointment of where the company was heading.

Our former employee had dedicated herself to her job.  She had used her talents to fill a need for the customers and her initiative to make the department successful; she scored high in both categories.  Today, the department is hardly noticeable and there was no improvement for the store itself.

I have thought of her often and know how she must have felt as she witnessed her hard work and dedication slipping away.

A 'good employee',  as noted above, takes on a partnership with their employer. 

Employees can provide much to the business world, once given the opportunity.  So many times, it is the employees that have the insight of what customers want in order to provide growth for the business.

As to why companies do not take advantage of this, is a question, I guess, for a CEO.

So, in reading the article and reflecting on my previous job - I have discovered that I am glad that I believe in hard work, initiative and dedication when working a job. 

And even though these abilities may not be noticed by an employer, and  perhaps not even taken into consideration when making suggestions, it does, however, make me feel more worthwhile - be it when helping customers with a service or when working on my own, personal  goals.

Talk at ya later!

 

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - AND SO IT GOES!

Quite a few Blog posts ago, I wrote one titled, 'Wearing Many Hats'.  In this post, I described the many different jobs that grocery employees take on and how yet, they still only get paid for one job.

Well, this particular post came to mind as I was reading an article on my Linkedin page.  The article stressed as to how the job market has changed and what corporations are now looking for in the  workforce that they now hire.

In the article, the author stresses that flexibility and the ability of being able to do more than one job are the key points to acquiring many jobs in the corporate workplace as is the ability to be able to, 'think outside the box'.  The article was interesting and brought forth the key factors one needs to take into consideration, when venturing out into this job market.

But what was more interesting was the fact that we, in the common workplace, have been already doing  this for quite a few years now.  And how amusing, I found it to be, that Corporate America is just now beginning.

These people, that I work with are very use to this type of job performance.  They may work 1,2 or 3 departments; all within the same shift.  The amount of knowledge and skills that they possess, from doing these jobs, is acquired on the job. 

There is a lot more to these jobs than having physical abilities, one also has to have the mental capabilities to understand and perform all of the different programs associated with the business.  And thinking 'outside the box'?  That's a must, all of the time.  It kind of goes hand in hand with creativity and having the ability to apply common sense on a routine basis.

And if you are going to talk about flexibility, well the hours are irregular and these people can jump from one position to another in just a matter of seconds. 

There are a few positions, performed in a grocery store, that are well paid jobs out in the professional workforce.  Consider the person who works the Customer Service desk; from the legal responsibility of Money Grams, to the knowledge of all the various programs and procedures.  Then there is the talent of a cake decorator, florist and the knowledge of the perishable departments; these abilities come from years of experience.

So when you look at it like this, I guess you might say that we have a lot in common with the corporate workforce.

Our positions are different, as is the pay scale, and the type of education may not be mandatory as it is in the professional sector.  And let's admit it, they dress better than we do. 

But in the long run,  it is the workforce itself that has the similarities; flexibility, being able to do more than one job and 'thinking outside the box'.

And what is really funny?  There are people out there getting paid to speak on these very issues.

Mmm, now this might be a job opportunity!

Talk at ya later!



 

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - 'A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE'

There's a phrase, that I have been hearing quite a bit lately;  'There's a lot of good people here.'  That's the opinion going around.  This week, it seemed, every time I turned around I was hearing this phrase.  Why?  Not sure.

The first time I heard it, was from an employee.

Another employee was making an exit and as he left, he stated how much he was going to miss some of  his fellow co-workers.  "There's a lot of good people here." he said.

Then, while I was stocking a bin in Produce, a customer came strolling through - one that I had not seen for quite awhile.  She stopped to visit and, during the conversation, she filled me in on what had been going on in her life.   Apparently she had moved and was no longer living within blocks of the store.  Since relocating, she had started shopping at another store that was closer to her residence.  Having gotten tired of this particular store, she decided to go the extra miles and shop with us.  "I'm sorry, I just couldn't handle it anymore." she said.  "I had gotten to the point that I dreaded going to the store; they are rude,  no service and hey, the prices are the same."

"So, I am back." she said.  "I like coming here, there's good people here."

"It's good seeing you." I said.  "It's good to be back." she responded.

The average opinion of the employees, that I work with, is that they are friendly; be it from the customers or management.  And when speaking of these people, there is generally a catchphrase used, 'lot of good people'.

So, even if we are a small store, don't carry the biggest selection and perhaps our building is a little dated, we seem to have a bigger value - 'a lot of good people'.


Talk at ya later!