It was another close contest this week with two retailers boasting strong availability, but Asda’s Eastlands branch clinched the top store award thanks to the staff’s “excellent response” to helping our shopper find items in the aisles.
When he visited, staff were busy deep-cleaning the store, which looked fully stocked. Our shopper was also impressed by the lack of queue and the “lovely” checkout assistant who made conversation, efficiently scanned the items and packed his bags.
Morrisons in Reigate also scored highly but had a slightly longer queue than Asda. The store was busy but the staff were helpful. However, while the checkout assistant greeted our shopper, she did not make conversation.
Tesco’s Loughborough branch was let down by an out-of-stock item and an assistant who directed our shopper to the wrong cheese brand, but the store was tidy and the checkout assistant friendly.
Staff were not wearing uniform for charity at Sainsbury's in Warren Heath but all wore badges. The store, which had two out-of-stocks, has recently been extended and had immaculate toilets. The staff were friendly and the checkout assistant was “chatty and helpful.”
Waitrose in Berkhamstead also had two out-of stock items and a few packing trolleys clogged the aisles. The items were easy to find, though, and the checkout assistant made polite conversation.
Winner: Feroz Patel, Asda Supercentre, Eastlands, Bradford, Manchester
You recently won our top store award at your previous store in Hulme. How do you do it? I focus on three things - a clear and clutter-free shopping environment, making sure our availability is strong by ensuring everything is on sale throughout the day and night, and making sure customers can clearly see and take advantage of our value offer.
I have only been at this store for three weeks and am getting used to the sheer scale of the store. It is 100,000 sq ft - if you walk up and down every single aisle it comes to 1.75 miles! There are 600 staff here and they have made me feel very welcome - I am really looking forward to getting stuck in. I motivate the team by ensuring we communicate very clearly through the day and week. I really make a point of listening to colleagues and take time out to help them with any issues.
Will you benefit from our new Push Back The Tax campaign? Absolutely, yes. We will have to change thousands of prices. Not only is it better for the economy, it's better for Joe Bloggs, isn't it? I think it will be very much appreciated if it happens, especially if you think of all the alcohol purchases over Christmas. We won't have to worry about any distraction other than keeping the shop floor full and being there for the customers.
Tell me about the planned refurb. In about three months' time we are going to start a renewal of the store and reshape it. Because the store is so big we are going to bring in some concessions and look at how to improve the layout of our food and non-food so customers can find everything easily. We are a Supercentre so really want to recognise our point of difference compared with a normal store.
What products are selling well? Our pound offers are doing very well, especially across soft fruit such as plums, peaches and cherries. Health and beauty lines such as shampoo, toothpaste and shower gel are part of the offer too and doing really well.
How is your non-food faring? Non-food accounts for 40% of sales in this store. BBQ and outdoor furniture are flying out because of the hot weather. We have a great camping range that is also very popular. There are big tents for £35 and a two-man tent for £10 has sold really well.
When he visited, staff were busy deep-cleaning the store, which looked fully stocked. Our shopper was also impressed by the lack of queue and the “lovely” checkout assistant who made conversation, efficiently scanned the items and packed his bags.
Morrisons in Reigate also scored highly but had a slightly longer queue than Asda. The store was busy but the staff were helpful. However, while the checkout assistant greeted our shopper, she did not make conversation.
Tesco’s Loughborough branch was let down by an out-of-stock item and an assistant who directed our shopper to the wrong cheese brand, but the store was tidy and the checkout assistant friendly.
Staff were not wearing uniform for charity at Sainsbury's in Warren Heath but all wore badges. The store, which had two out-of-stocks, has recently been extended and had immaculate toilets. The staff were friendly and the checkout assistant was “chatty and helpful.”
Waitrose in Berkhamstead also had two out-of stock items and a few packing trolleys clogged the aisles. The items were easy to find, though, and the checkout assistant made polite conversation.
Winner: Feroz Patel, Asda Supercentre, Eastlands, Bradford, Manchester
You recently won our top store award at your previous store in Hulme. How do you do it? I focus on three things - a clear and clutter-free shopping environment, making sure our availability is strong by ensuring everything is on sale throughout the day and night, and making sure customers can clearly see and take advantage of our value offer.
I have only been at this store for three weeks and am getting used to the sheer scale of the store. It is 100,000 sq ft - if you walk up and down every single aisle it comes to 1.75 miles! There are 600 staff here and they have made me feel very welcome - I am really looking forward to getting stuck in. I motivate the team by ensuring we communicate very clearly through the day and week. I really make a point of listening to colleagues and take time out to help them with any issues.
Will you benefit from our new Push Back The Tax campaign? Absolutely, yes. We will have to change thousands of prices. Not only is it better for the economy, it's better for Joe Bloggs, isn't it? I think it will be very much appreciated if it happens, especially if you think of all the alcohol purchases over Christmas. We won't have to worry about any distraction other than keeping the shop floor full and being there for the customers.
Tell me about the planned refurb. In about three months' time we are going to start a renewal of the store and reshape it. Because the store is so big we are going to bring in some concessions and look at how to improve the layout of our food and non-food so customers can find everything easily. We are a Supercentre so really want to recognise our point of difference compared with a normal store.
What products are selling well? Our pound offers are doing very well, especially across soft fruit such as plums, peaches and cherries. Health and beauty lines such as shampoo, toothpaste and shower gel are part of the offer too and doing really well.
How is your non-food faring? Non-food accounts for 40% of sales in this store. BBQ and outdoor furniture are flying out because of the hot weather. We have a great camping range that is also very popular. There are big tents for £35 and a two-man tent for £10 has sold really well.
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