A couple of years ago, I said I wanted to be a Store Manager by the time I was 30, and well, almost 5 months out from turning 30, I became a Store Manager! Thus ends a journey of 3 (and a bit) years, and begins my journey of becoming a great Store Manager.
As of October 21st, I’ve been the Store Manager of our Levin store. For those who don’t know, Levin is a small township 30mins south of Palmerston North. Going from Wanganui to Levin is a big change for me. Not only is it a complete new role, but a smaller store and new team. I have to say though; the team have been nothing but fantastic and fully supportive of me as I settle into my new role.
As I reflect back over 3 years ago, I truly believe I am now a completely different person. When I went through the interview process and then the assessment centre (which I still maintain as being one of the most amazing experiences to be a part of), someone saw something in me and believed I could make it through the SMDP Programme and become a Store Manager. That someone has actually been a number of people who have supported me, coached me, given me feedback, and allowed for opportunities as I have progressed. To be where I am now, I could say is an absolute miracle, but we all know, it was a lot of hard work, tears, and even blood. Yes, I once sliced my thumb open cooking a BBQ for the team at Christmas time.
So the real challenge is just beginning, with the first part being Christmas sign off which went fantastically and our store achieved GOLD! I’ve been really impressed with my team and our store in the last couple of weeks and am looking forward to spending the next little while with them all.
So I’ll keep adding to this blog for a while longer to give an insight into what it’s like to be a new Store Manager. Coming through the SMDP Programme now is Jamie Hobby. While I’ll contribute to what it’s like after making it through the Programme, Jamie will be keeping you up to date with what it’s currently like experiencing the SMDP Programme and sharing different learning’s and achievements.
Right, so I’ve discovered in the past 2 weeks that it is one thing to run your own store when the manager is away, but it’s a completely different ball game running someone else’s store!
That’s right. I was given the opportunity to run another store for 2 weeks while their manager was away. What an experience! To be accountable for everything that happens really is a step up from being an ASM, where you have the Store Manager as a type of safety net so to speak. I thoroughly enjoyed my 2 weeks, got to know some of the team, did some merchandising, got some great feedback and learned a massive amount! The best thing is, that these great learnings will only make me a better manager when I get my own store.
This week saw Mark Powell, our CEO, visiting our store and it was great to show off the progress Wanganui has made. It was even better to have the team get some time to talk to him.
Christmas is just around the corner and we have started all our set up of various parts of it which is great. Can you believe Christmas is less than 3 months away? Scary! Exciting! I am so looking forward to it. All our plans and space maps are all in place. Unfortunately it means I have a gloating Store Manager who is stoked. I understand more now the importance of having planning done well before implementation dates. In fact, all my planning and space maps were ready from Father’s Day until Mid January! Talk about prepared!
So the big focus at the moment is nailing sales and getting those customers in the door. Christmas is our great opportunity to make an impression and the whole team is looking forward to a standout season that eclipses all previous Christmas’s!
I would have to say, that the most common theme throughout my blog has been the fact that I am busy. This past 6 weeks have been no exception In fact, it has been one of the busiest periods I’ve had.
My Store Manager took annual leave for 2 weeks, followed by being out of store for meetings - so effectively 3 weeks. This meant one thing for me… Control of the store!
As I have developed in my curent role, I’ve been looking at things a lot differently. I’ve learnt to conduct myself with more urgency and have more accountability. In the time my SM was away from the store, we held a spring garden presentation in store. Two buyers visited and presented to a range of people from the region. We had an operations meeting in Wellington to learn about upcoming labour changes for the new financial year, and we had TOY SALE! Toy Sale is our mid year event and it is pretty massive as anyone who has shopped in the first few days would know. This year our store really got into the theme of it and dressed up our store with balloons… BALLOONS EVERYWHERE! It was pretty fun inflating them and putting them up all over the place and then the team dressing up over a couple of days along with face painting and balloon animals. It was a great atmosphere and to see the result of our sales in the first week was such an achievement considering the amount of planning and work that went into it from all of us involved.
Through all of this I had to ensure we maintained recovery standards and that all compliance and promotions were being maintained and implemented. I was even able to learn more about labour as we had to ensure our spending was in line with budgets. We have also reset our stockroom with some brand new racking and done a major clean up which is absolutely fantastic as it offers a lot more transparecny to what is happening in the stockroom.
We’ve been getting great feedback from customers about how the store is looking and it really is looking great. It feels pretty good to know that we are making a great difference in our store and it is starting to show in results. Our store not only jumped 12 places in the rankings for all stores, but for our region we won the ‘Store of the Quarter’ cup which is an awesome achievement… the first of many I hope!
In two days time we have our annual conference for the region so I’m really looking forward to catching up with people I’ve worked with previously and having a few wines on Saturday night.
Right, so it’s been a couple of months since I last wrote yet really only a month of work.
As I wrote last time, I was off to Thailand for a few weeks with my partner and a couple of friends who were also on the SMDP. We all had an absolute blast, a few injuries were had, a lot of sun experienced, and I’m surprised we didn’t become water logged from swimming; well one of us did but that was due to an impromptu swim in a swamp/canal in Bangkok.
After being back at work for 4 weeks, I’ve really had the chance to get stuck in and as a management team, and wider store team of course, we’re really making things happen in our Wanganui store. We’ve improved our target audit, shrink control process and we find out in a month or so about our engagement survey results. So whilst we may not be the top store for this financial year, watch out next financial year because Wanganui is here to play!
We recently had an ASM development day for our region which was a great day to meet and network with the other ASM’s and also learn a bit about each other and ourselves. I found out that my manager and I are complete opposites in how we operate, which explains why he always wants a plan! Haha.
We also learned about the “small step change model” and while I have trouble with the concept (I am a big picture “what if” type person), I find myself thinking about what the smallest step I can take towards achieving a result and I’m discovering it works well for work and home, so maybe with a little more focus I’ll get it!
I’m really being challenged in the way I see things and the way I think. I believe this is only making me stronger in my role and getting me prepared for SMDP sign off and moving towards my next role. I’m hoping to be prepared for a Store Manager role before the end of the year and I if I keep going how I am, learning and delivering on tasks, it looks very possible.
So I’ll finish up here for now and get back to work, so many possibilities, so much awesome to be had on the shopfloor.
Now, before I get into this, forgive me for what may be some airy fairy writing. You see, as of approximately 4hrs ago, I’m on annual leave until the end of May and am SUPER SUPER excited about this!
Wanganui is going awesomely. It is a fantastic store with an incredible team. Mostly we’re currently working on driving standards within the store in regards to recovery, how we merchandise, where we fill and what we are putting in our promotional areas.
Obviously I’m learning heaps about the team and how the store works, but with the Store Manager having only been there for 6 months, the two of us are also learning a few things together. Just with me learning more and being coached in different areas, it makes me feel more determined to get into my own store which is what we are definitely working towards.
So far in the month since I started, we’ve managed to improve on our mystery shopper results and have reset our stockroom which hopefully will allow for better access to stock and a much easier flow of stock in and out each day/night. So to know I’m making a difference already is just a brilliant feeling and, when I return from holiday at the end of May, I’ve a number of things prepared to launch in the store which I’m really excited about.
So I’m going to try and not think of work while on holiday but realisitcally I may do so a few times as I’m full of excitement as to what we will be doing when I return.
So until next time, I’m off to enjoy the amazing warmth and wonderufl shopping that is Thailand.
If there was one word to describe how I’m feeling at the moment, it’s AWESOME! Not that I am saying I am awesome, well I can have touches of it, but I’m in an awesome mood.
We made it through stocktake in Paraparaumu; we went well over the few nights and got the job done. But then the most exciting thing happened, I started in Wanganui! After waiting for what felt like an age, I was given the okay to move after stocktake and am now in my 3rd day. I know, I know, just started and still in the honeymoon phase, but still, am stoked to be here and super stoked to know that when I leave this store, it will be to manage my own store. Well, that’s the hope.
It’s been a busy past month with stocktake prep, stocktake, moving to another store, moving home after almost 2yrs in a long distance relationship, and we also had State of the Nation. SOTN is where Store Managers and Assistant Store Managers get together with the high level leaders of our business and discuss how we have performed in the first half of the financial year and what we need to achieve in the 2nd half. We have been given some very clear expectations and I for one am quite excited at the challenge involved with delivering results, especially in my new store. Even more exciting, I sat next to Ian Morrice at lunch. So I guess I could say, I have lunched with our CEO. Haha, the joys of the path of SMDP. SOTN is an awesome experience to have the exposure to high level leaders and learn so much and as I have progressed through the SMDP, I have taken more and more on board and not been so afraid to pitch in during feedback sessions. It really is one great learning experience.
So before I rabbit on too much, I’ll sign off now, full of excitement and enthusiasm to make some real differences in this Wanganui store.
And, as I have been counting down, it is now only 36 sleeps until our girl’s trip to Thailand! Not that I’m excited or anything. Haha!
Which I thought would happen with the lead up to stocktake and making sure the store is all prepped and ready to be counted. I love stocktake time! I must be weird as it definitely is one thing I enjoy; something about the nights, the team, the purpose I guess.
So in my last entry I said it had been non stop since Xmas and well, it hasn’t let up any which I’m loving at the moment. Not so much loving the 6 days, actually, I don’t mind them but the other half hates them.
Stocktake begins in a couple of weeks and we’re lucky enough to have great teams which means we’re getting through quite well with only a couple of pockets of prep work required. I managed to hire a new Nightfill Team Leader who started a few weeks ago and is doing brilliantly. It certainly makes a difference having an extra pair of hands. It also makes a nice change with me not having to run Nightfill. I’m still doing a couple of nights here and there but not having to run the team.
Oh! Oh! Oh! I sat my full licence and PASSED! Stoked with that, watch out world when I get to sit my forklift licence! Well, not so much world, but Warehouse carparks anyway.
Anyhoo, I had best run and follow up with my team and ensure everyone is doing, or done, what has been required for the day.
Guess what…. Only 57 Sleeps until we’re off to Thailand!
It’s almost the end of January and it’s been non-stop since Christmas for me. We had both our Nightfill and Sales Team Leader leave just after Christmas so I’ve been running around trying to do various roles. This has resulted in some very long days and longer weeks. I’ve also finished interviewing for replacements so it looks likely that in a few weeks we should have two new Team Leaders in our store – and a new replacement for me!!!!
That’s right, I’ve been given the go ahead to move on from the Paraparaumu store and applied and secured my new role - which as much as I wanted it to be Store Manager, I’m not quite ready, so I applied for, and was offered ASM Wanganui. I am so excited!!!!!! I start there once a replacement is found for my role and I can’t wait! It’s a slightly bigger store and will provide a real opportunity to take everything I have learnt on the Store Manager Development Programme and put it in action 100%. I have my sights set on a particular store, for my Store Manager position, so will be working my butt off to try and make it happen for me. It will mean a move away to which my other half doesn’t enjoy so much - but it will be a great development opportunity of me. Speaking of moving away, with me moving to the Wanganui store, I get to live at home again which will be weird after not living at home since before I started working in Mosgiel. Hopefully we don’t get sick of each other! Haha.
Right, so hopefully the next entry I write will be from the Wanganui store and I can fill you in on all the details. I sit my full licence next week so fingers crossed I get that and can get a forklift licence. Watch out stockrooms!! Haha.
Also, guess what! It’s only 99 sleeps until our girls trip to Thailand! Now THAT’S exciting!!!!!!!
Apparently Xmas at The Warehouse is a busy time of the year! The planning, implementation and maintenance is all so – well busy! Actually, that is an understatement, it is CRAZY busy! And, I LOVE IT!
I’ve spent the past couple of weeks working on Nightfill, learning and understanding just how things work. I’ve been dying to get on nights for a while, but with my Store Manager being out of the store a bit in the past couple of months, it has only just happened. I spent one week in toys working through products and remerchandising some areas, with dreams of doing so much more. I’ve discovered we can do it all, but it is all about just attacking small bits at a time, because we can’t do it all at once. So even though I’ve been dreaming big, the reality is that taking small steps is the key.
I’ll be moving into the New Year with nearly a new team. This is because my Sales Team Leader and Nightfill Team Leader are both moving on to other stores. This is great for their career progression. This also provides me with an opportunity to train new Team Leaders and coach them around The Warehouse vision and ways we run our store.
So as you’ve probably gathered, I’m spending a lot of time on the shop floor and making sure we are keeping our standards up which means I had better sign off and get back to it. Until next time, have a Merry Xmas and safe New Year!
Conference was an absolute blast and the Assistant Store Manager v. Store Manager skit was an absolute hit! We rocked it for sure! It was a great night and awesome to catch up with many people I had worked with previously as well as meeting new people.
So it has been a busy few weeks setting up Xmas, Halloween, Breast Cancer month, and the general day to day tasks. We’ve also been busy recruiting xmas temps which is going well. I find it great fun to see who we will be working with over the Xmas season. I also managed to squeeze in a few days off at the start of the month to spend some time at the beach with my incredibly supportive other half who rarely complains that I work too much. Hahaha.
I must say, I’m glad I was able to take a few days to relax as my Store Manager is on leave for 2 weeks leaving the store in my nervous capable hands. I’m proud to report that there have been no major hiccups and we’re running quite well. It feels quite neat to be in charge and be involved in Store Manager processes. It’s also making me want my own store more and more and I really can’t wait to have a store to call my own!
We are really winding up into the Xmas season now and I’m taking full advantage at tweaking some areas in the store to maximise our sales and profit over the season. So here’s hoping it works and we have an awesome silly season launch!
