General Managers' Report - September 2009
We have had a very busy month of transitioning, with quite a large to-do list to bring the new GMT up to speed, and we've been pretty successful. Finding time for training has been our biggest challenge, between trying to get new staff hired to fill in the gaps left in departments, and piling new and more responsibilities on the plates of the incoming team. We keep telling ourselves “if we can just get through September it will get a whole lot easier.” We can report that the things we have been able to check off to the to-do list include: Floor Manager and Cashier training for Chris, orientation to our financials, configuring desks and mailboxes, freeing Mylisa up from 2 of her 4 Floor shifts, and training sessions on fundamentals of co-operative leadership and preventing burnout. We are still working our way through transitional meetings with Department Managers who will have new and different supervisors and we should get through these by the end of the month. I think this new team is going to do great things for our co-op.
They've hit the ground running in many ways, and haven't wasted any time tackling some big and challenging projects: plans are underway to sort, salvage, recycle, and/or sell a number of things from our cavernous basement in order to clear the way for more efficient and appropriate use of this space; all aspects of our advertising forums are being evaluated for effectiveness and appropriate audience; buying practices are being evaluated to determine how we can squeak higher margins out of our inventory without increasing prices; plans for reducing backstock in order to improve cash flow are being laid; providers of video surveillance systems have been in to walk the aisles, and expectations for improved customer service are being floated. This new team is coming in with a lot of new ideas and a lot of relevant experience, and as they work to implement changes big and small, their ideas have been met with both enthusiasm and skepticism, and provided ample opportunities for them to hone their management styles and approaches.
The new bag policy (charging $.25 for paper bags) has been quite well received overall. We've received a total of 4 written complaints since the policy took effect on August 1st, and a scant few of verbal ones. Many of our regular customers have been unphased by the change, having already cultivated the habit of bringing their own bag, and many of our non-regulars express support for the idea, even when they have to plop down a quarter to get their groceries home, as it is helping them to change their habits, which is our ultimate goal. We've agreed to evaluate the effectiveness of the policy at the end of a 6-month period to determine whether the policy will continue to be applied as written, or if it needs to be tweaked.
The Belfast Co-op will be the featured co-op on the back of the November edition of Taste for Life magazine, the free health and wellness magazine available in co-ops and health food stores around the country. Make sure you stop by later on in October to see this great, free publicity that will make us known throughout our nation!
The Maintenance Department has moved to a co-managership, with former Maintenance Tech, Stan Belch, accepting a promotion to Maintenance Co-ordinator alongside Phil Prince. Stan will provide much needed skills in the area of small equipment repair, a vast knowledge of OSHA rules and regulations, and general enthusiasm for sprucing this place up! We expect to see improved efficiency of equipment, usage of space, and overall store cleanliness and organization with this great partnership in place.