Asda in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow scooped our Top Store award this week with an impressive all-round display.
Mark Allan and his team boasted exceptional customer service, easy parking and full shelves brimming with great bargain deals.
Competiton is fierce in the area with a Morrisons, Tesco Express and a larger Asda store close by. With a majority of 31% of residents classed as hard-pressed in the area according to CACI, Allan believes focusing on value is key.
“In the past we have relied on being Britain’s lowest-price retailer but competition is hot on its heels now in this economic climate.”
Advertisements for rollbacks and other promotions in store were highly important to driving sales, he said.
“We are still the lowest-priced retailer but there is no point in all of these fantastic deals if we don’t shout about them from the rooftops.”
The store had loyal customers who were keen supporters of its community events, including Asda’s Sporting Chance initiative and other fundraising schemes, said Allan.
“We recently raised £1,300 for Marie Curie after hosting a tea party in the foyer here,” he said, adding that he was planning to do a sponsored 10km run with the store’s warehouse manager next month in order to raise funds for Scottish children’s charity Cash for Kids.
Q&A with Mark Allan: Store manager of the week
How do you motivate your staff?
I motivate them by leading from the front. I am very much on the shop floor and rarely spend my time in the office. I treat people how I would like to be treated myself. Communication is the key to success and saying and hearing thank you is very important for the team. I try to advise and coach whenever I can to get the right response.
What product is selling particularly well at the moment?
Anything we put a deal on. Our wine deal has been hugely successful, where three bottles can be bought for £10. The £4 school uniform at George is also doing really well – it is flying off the racks at the moment.
What’s the latest initative in store?
We are currently trialling a new customer feedback survey. It is a bit like a mystery shop, where customers choose to take part in a short survey on the store’s customer service and availability. Asda began trialling this in 20 stores along the west coast five weeks ago. The store has received some excellent feedback, as well as some pointers on how we can improve. Some customers have mentioned that people are parking in disabled spaces when they shouldn’t be. The survey helps us to address these issues.
What would you change about the store if anything?
I would make it bigger as it is only 30,000 sq ft. It would be great to expand to increase our non-food offer and challenge our rivals even more. The building is more than 25 years old now and the fabric in some areas is looking a little tired.
What percentage of products are non-food?
It’s relatively small at 14%. We have a reasonable selection of everything, but on a smaller scale compared to larger stores. We have iconic lines, which are chosen every week. Some of these products are sold at a fantastic price so we can clear them out to make way for new stock. The items include vacuum cleaners, books and duvets, and are usually sold out within three to four days.
This week a year ago the winner was...
Shelves brimming with stock and a basket providing all 33 items on our list helped Sainsbury’s located in Loughborough to scoop the Top Store award last year. Nick Jackson (left) was deputy store manager when the store won, but has since moved on.
Deputy store manager Mark Buckley said that he and store manager, James Warriner, were absolutely delighted by the big improvements that had been made since the start of the financial year.
The store’s availability was up by 2% on last year to 95.5%, and its mystery shopper overall score was up 10% to 86.7% .
“The team and I are really pleased with the direction in which the store is heading,” said Buckley.
Mark Allan and his team boasted exceptional customer service, easy parking and full shelves brimming with great bargain deals.
Competiton is fierce in the area with a Morrisons, Tesco Express and a larger Asda store close by. With a majority of 31% of residents classed as hard-pressed in the area according to CACI, Allan believes focusing on value is key.
“In the past we have relied on being Britain’s lowest-price retailer but competition is hot on its heels now in this economic climate.”
Advertisements for rollbacks and other promotions in store were highly important to driving sales, he said.
“We are still the lowest-priced retailer but there is no point in all of these fantastic deals if we don’t shout about them from the rooftops.”
The store had loyal customers who were keen supporters of its community events, including Asda’s Sporting Chance initiative and other fundraising schemes, said Allan.
“We recently raised £1,300 for Marie Curie after hosting a tea party in the foyer here,” he said, adding that he was planning to do a sponsored 10km run with the store’s warehouse manager next month in order to raise funds for Scottish children’s charity Cash for Kids.
Q&A with Mark Allan: Store manager of the week
How do you motivate your staff?
I motivate them by leading from the front. I am very much on the shop floor and rarely spend my time in the office. I treat people how I would like to be treated myself. Communication is the key to success and saying and hearing thank you is very important for the team. I try to advise and coach whenever I can to get the right response.
What product is selling particularly well at the moment?
Anything we put a deal on. Our wine deal has been hugely successful, where three bottles can be bought for £10. The £4 school uniform at George is also doing really well – it is flying off the racks at the moment.
What’s the latest initative in store?
We are currently trialling a new customer feedback survey. It is a bit like a mystery shop, where customers choose to take part in a short survey on the store’s customer service and availability. Asda began trialling this in 20 stores along the west coast five weeks ago. The store has received some excellent feedback, as well as some pointers on how we can improve. Some customers have mentioned that people are parking in disabled spaces when they shouldn’t be. The survey helps us to address these issues.
What would you change about the store if anything?
I would make it bigger as it is only 30,000 sq ft. It would be great to expand to increase our non-food offer and challenge our rivals even more. The building is more than 25 years old now and the fabric in some areas is looking a little tired.
What percentage of products are non-food?
It’s relatively small at 14%. We have a reasonable selection of everything, but on a smaller scale compared to larger stores. We have iconic lines, which are chosen every week. Some of these products are sold at a fantastic price so we can clear them out to make way for new stock. The items include vacuum cleaners, books and duvets, and are usually sold out within three to four days.
This week a year ago the winner was...
Shelves brimming with stock and a basket providing all 33 items on our list helped Sainsbury’s located in Loughborough to scoop the Top Store award last year. Nick Jackson (left) was deputy store manager when the store won, but has since moved on.
Deputy store manager Mark Buckley said that he and store manager, James Warriner, were absolutely delighted by the big improvements that had been made since the start of the financial year.
The store’s availability was up by 2% on last year to 95.5%, and its mystery shopper overall score was up 10% to 86.7% .
“The team and I are really pleased with the direction in which the store is heading,” said Buckley.
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