The Shoprite Group of Companies’ Post

KING OF CSO This weekend it will be #King's Day in the Netherlands. An occasion to spotlight the King of CSO for once: Dennis Wijnstra Travelling all the way from the far north of the Netherlands, we had Dennis visiting us during our induction days. Alongside the regular team of Bente van den Bomen Peter Gronenschild Jordy Verdaasdonk Vaia M. Killian Nally Andreas Amukugo and, of course, our LP toppers Annemiek Verstegen Vincent Jansen Yanir Francisca en Robert Spitse, Dennis was present to tell a bit more about his work at The TJX Companies, Inc., Inc. Central Store Operations (CSO).   In 2016, Dennis started his retail career at TK MAXX as a Teamleader in #Groningen, under the inspiring leadership of Henk van der Spek. (today lead by amazing Hayley Gauna)   He was then promoted to Assistant Store Manager and worked in the Almere and Arnhem shops. Eventually, he moved to a position in CSO.   In this role, he is the business partner for all digital communications for our TJX Europe shops. The CSO Helpdesk is also one of his responsibilities. What exactly does that all mean? In a nutshell: If a department within TJX wants to communicate something via our Internal Associate Engagement App, this department tries to make that possible. I personally find this app a great medium, as it keeps me informed of all the fun things happening in the shop, such as parties, promotions and holidays. And there are quite a few of them. CSO s is the heart of all (digital) communication. This is also where all questions are answered as proactively as possible, everything you need to know on how to operate in a store. That is why it's important everyone has the app. Now, we recently hired a lot of new colleagues. That's why Dennis came especially to the south of the country, for a nice presentation and also to personally activate everyone in the system as part of our introduction day. Dennis had never done anything other than retail before, and was keen to know what else was behind this huge organisation. The opportunity at Central Operations gave him access to the operational heart of the organisation, where he was directly involved in implementing changes on the shop floor. For all communication issues and solutions but also operational questions that, for example, the manager cannot answer, Dennis and his team are there to save the day. Dennis is proud to work for TJX Europe: It is fantastic to notice how well we do in creating and maintaining the right working atmosphere. But also the diversity and development opportunities that TJX have are exceptional. It's fantastic to see that in such a large organisation we have a very open door approach, in the sense that everyone is equal, you dare to express your opinion, but above all you dare to be yourself. That is what is essential to us.

Here are some deeper dive stories worth reading from the world of retail: 👟 Intern to CEO: he just did it! After the call that would transform his life, Elliott Hill hung up the pay phone, stuffed everything he owned in his car and drove from Ohio to Tennessee so he could start his dream job at Nike. But when he walked into the company’s Midwest regional sales office for his first day of work, there was just one problem. Hill’s new boss told him that it wasn’t exactly a job. It was actually going to be a six-month internship. It was an inauspicious start, but Hill lasted longer than six months at Nike. In fact, he would spend his entire career at the same company. And now, he's the CEO. 🔗 Link: https://bit.ly/3Bp1S0E 🛒 Retail isn't the only way to scale businesses: If you're an entrepreneur with a product-based business, you've probably dreamed of the day you can walk into a store and physically pick up your product. For a long time, that was the holy grail. But, luckily for today's entrepreneurs, the ever-evolving business landscape means that successfully scaling a brand doesn't have to begin in traditional retail. By exploring these alternative routes, you can not only scale more effectively, but also develop deeper connections with your target audience. 🔗 Link: https://bit.ly/3XEDvUa 🥦 Kroger - Albertsons merger hangs on the fate of workers: Authorities challenging the largest supermarket deal in US history have said it must be blocked to protect unionized workers. Legal cases challenging the deal are moving through the court system. Final briefs were filed on Friday after a trial in which the FTC, eight states and the District of Columbia asked a federal judge for an injunction. The lawsuits go beyond customary claims about protecting consumers to allege harms to workers from the deal. But not all unions agree. 🔗 Link: https://bit.ly/4gKOSm5 🛍️ Small retailers can succeed against behemoths: Retail is hard. To excel in some businesses, you only have to be really smart every now and then; success depends more on execution than innovation. However, the seasonality of most retail businesses requires that they be smart four times a year – plus, like every other type of business, retailers must also execute well. Often, small retailer success comes from competing against a behemoth – but on their own terms. Small retailers that succeed usually differentiate themselves in some way that doesn’t require scale. 🔗 Link: https://bit.ly/3ZHsP9Q 👓 Smart glasses and the disruption of eyewear: Meta unveiled a prototype of its first augmented-reality (AR) glasses, but they won’t be available until 2027. Meanwhile, Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, developed with EssilorLuxottica, have already disrupted the market, selling over 700,000 units. But true disruption will come when glasses integrate AR and AI seamlessly, which may still be years away. 🔗 Link: https://bit.ly/3ZIyr3L #retail #retailnews #economy #RetailDeepDive 

I’ve been asked before: What makes MOHR Retail training different than other training programs? How can MOHR Retail support retail organizations better than others? The answer is simple. We know retail, and we have: ✴Real boots-on-the-ground retail experience ✴Expertise in dynamic and proven learning methods ✴Deep understanding of the critical people-to-people skills that make or break a retailer’s success These aren’t qualities you’ll find in most training companies, but they’re part of the MOHR Retail DNA. We’ve been in your shoes, and all of our team members have achieved successful careers in retail. We know retail like no one else. This isn’t a facet of our business; retail is our business, just like it’s yours. If you’re looking for a new retail development partner, MOHR Retail can help. We’ll help ensure your people have the training needed to make a positive impact every day for your customers and your business. Start the conversation to see how you can learn MOHR today. ⤵ #LearnMOHR #RetailTraining #Retail

What happened in retail this week? 👇 - Barclays has struck a £600m deal with Tesco to acquire the retailer’s banking operations. - Tesco has launched a new apprenticeship for 150 young people from deprived areas to gain experience in all aspects of the retail industry. - Aldi UK will invest more than £550m in expanding its stores and distribution network in 2024. - Waitrose & Partners has cut the price of more than 200 own-brand items as part of a £30m investment to deliver better customer value. - Poundland & Dealz unveiled plans to give 150 stores a major makeover by the end of August 2024, which marks the first significant investment in these stores for over five years. - Marks and Spencer unveiled a huge partnership with PUMA Group and Reebok as it looks to develop its third-party sportswear offer. - Lidl GB is switching from paper pricing tags to electronic shelf labels at all of its stores by the end of 2024 after a positive trial period in 35 of its stores. — — — — — — — I post the biggest stories from the UK’s biggest retailers each week. Connect with me to never miss a weekly update. #Retail #News #February 

We caught up with our Centre Manager, Karen, to discuss our creative solutions to retail issues. Q: How does Livingston Designer Outlet approach retail issues? A: Our approach is a partnership with our brands, which encourages an open dialogue made possible by the turnover lease model. Both the retailer and outlet finds mutual value in shared sales data, enabling support and tactical activity to boost sales. The Outlet model enables the collaboration of seasonal discount days across the outlet brands to drive sales and footfall at key periods throughout the year, attracting new guests from secondary catchments and beyond. Q: How does Livingston Designer Outlet tackle busy seasons / holidays? A: With Nike, we found that at peak periods their logistics team were unable to replenish the store as regularly as required. Therefore, we provided additional temporary storage for a specific period, allowing them to build up stock levels ahead to maximise sales. We also provided additional space for Clarks during the back-to-school season, to help with the upsurge in children buying new school shoes and avoid crowding in store. These creative solutions help to maximise the customers’ experiences with us. Q: How does Livingston Designer Outlet tackle the decline in market recruitment? A: We support brands with both internal and external recruitment fairs, taking the outlet to Edinburgh, Napier University, West Lothian College and local secondary schools. We also support brands by providing training, recognition and empowerment amongst staff through Project Aspire - a programme we ignited in 2019 to take great care of our guests and the environment, as well as achieve commercial success. Through the Retail Programme, we work with a school each year to bring a business concept to life through visual merchandising, marketing and service. By offering marketing and retail advice, we introduce students to a career in retail.” #Retail #CentreManger #LivingstonDesignerOutlet #RetailSector

Here at Storefast Solutions - we love to champion talent - either through sponsoring professional qualifications or giving opportunities to understand how our business works! Meet Will - our freshest new member of the team! He's getting to know us so we thought we'd get to know a little bit about him! Q1: Tell us a little about yourself Will.... I’m a recent graduate in Business Management from Portsmouth University. Throughout my studies, I developed a strong foundation in various aspects of business, including leadership, strategy, and operations. I’m particularly passionate about personal growth and I’m always striving to become the best possible version of myself, both professionally and personally.   Q2: What do you hope to learn from your time in Storefast? During my time at Storefast, I’m keen to understand the day-to-day operations of the company, including how decisions are made, how different departments collaborate and the company’s overall culture.   Q3: What's been the most interesting thing you’ve found out while you’ve been here? During my time at Storefast, I’m eager to learn about the day-to-day operations of the business, including how different departments collaborate to ensure smooth logistics, how decisions are made to optimize efficiency and the strategies used to maintain high operational standards.   Q4: What's your dream job? My dream job is to become a Director of Football at a major European club.   Q5: If you were a Cocktail what would you be? A whisky sour.

My Advantage Solutions/Retail Odyssey team consists of three 67 year olds. Not by design, but because we can't find younger individuals willing to perform our job. We deconstruct and then reconstruct food categories within Pick N Save stores in southeast Wisconsin based on updated planograms. Very physical. Standing, bending, lifting, reaching, walking up to 10,000 steps each day. This week alone my team worked 100 feet of snack foods in one day. Why do we do it? Three reasons. One, perhaps we need the income. Two, we want a purpose. And three, companies will not consider us, despite our skill set and qualifications, even for positions for which we may actually be overqualified. Many of us desire and deserve to be more than just WalMart greeters. Where is the "seasoned" individual in the discussion of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)? We have the work ethic, experience, reliability and capability to contribute, significantly. However, my generation isn't just discounted, we are completely ignored.

It’s amazing what 30 minutes watching (or better, performing) a process can tell you. Nowhere near enough people take the time to get under the skin of their businesses. #operationalexcellence #leadership #gemba #continuousimprovement

The First 2 rules of Sam’s Walton 10 rules of Building a business are - Commit to your business and Share your profits with all your associates, and treat them as partners!! Oh Yeaaaa😁 #ExcitingTimes #StrongerTogether #SamsWay

Starting your retail career? Here’s how to stand out and grow: 1. Learn the Basics – Understand different retail segments and start with entry-level roles like Sales Associate or Cashier to build foundational skills. 2. Master Key Skills – Focus on customer service, sales techniques, and problem-solving. These are essential in a fast-paced retail environment. 3. Network & Learn – Connect with industry professionals, follow retail trends, and consider mentors for guidance. 4. Keep Growing – Build time management, data awareness, and consider upskilling in areas like e-commerce or visual merchandising. Consistency and a willingness to learn are your best assets in retail. Start strong and stay curious. This industry rewards those who commit to growth! There's a saying in Decathlon: "If you want to become a DM/SM/ABM, act like one"