Psst! Hey, C-Store Retail Industry!

Howdy, folks. In a recent post, I announced something to the effect of “Industry Game Changer Coming Soon!” I’ll get to that soon enough. However, I wanted to shed some light surrounding the announcement.

This may not be for everyone, but it should be!

Let me explain.

My Sales Associate Experience

When I started working as a Sales Associate in 1992, I was eager to learn everything I could about the convenience store industry.

On my first work day, I knew I wanted to become an Assistant Manager.

It would take almost a year and a half for that to happen. I nearly left the industry.

Why?

Working the graveyard shift did not give me access to the people or training I needed to achieve my goal. Think about your Sales Associates for a moment. Can they relate?

My Assistant Manager Experience

After conveying my intent to change course and focus on my education, I was finally allowed to train for an Assistant Manager position. The program was short but helpful.

I was grateful for the opportunity even though the trainer stated that the position was the worst because everything the manager doesn’t want to deal with gets pushed onto the Assistant Managers. Think about “No call, no shows.”

I would find out that he was not lying. I did all the work, and the Store Manager received all the bonuses. Wait, what?

Think about your Assistant Managers. How many experience the same thing?

I needed to figure out a way to become a Store Manager. I waited for the worst possible situation to present itself and snatched it!

My Store Manager Experience

I took over a 24-hour store with one employee who was going to be out for the first two weeks because of chest pains. Ouch!

I remember a particular time when a training session on the topic “How to Interview and Hire” was scheduled for managers.

I desperately needed that training but could not attend because I only had one employee and no one to cover for me.

Does that tune sound all too familiar? Store personnel needing or wanting training?

Be honest with yourselves.

How many good people do we lose yearly because we fail to prepare them to succeed?

My District Manager Experience

It took me a moment to transition from a mindset of operating one store to being responsible for many.

Often, we inadvertently punish our top performers by denying them their right to continual personal and professional development.

We are too focused on putting out fires. And there are always fires, aren’t there?

How often have you planned to invest time with your top performers only to have your boss or someone from corporate derail your intentions because they have an urgent matter they need you to take care of?

“Sorry, Patty. I’ve got to take care of something urgent for Mike. Can we do this next time?”

Industry Game Changer

Ok. You get the picture. At least, I hope you do.

To quote one of my favorite bosses, Richard Sebastian, “Having said that,” here is where I am going with this.

I will begin offering and administering online training programs for each position I mentioned. I am also working on a non-accredited MBA program that will incorporate AI.

The curriculum will be position-specific. It will be comprehensive.

I will provide pragmatic content and activities aimed at helping employees transfer their acquired knowledge into skills and results, benefitting everyone within your organization. I will be actively involved in guiding their development and critical thinking.

I have 27 years of experience in convenience stores, an MBA in HR, and an MA in Teaching and Learning with Technology as credentials.

I anticipate questions, concerns, and especially resistance. This, after all, is a paradigm shift.

Feel free to send a DM to arrange a conversation if you are interested in learning more. I will be conducting live sessions and providing more specifics soon.

Oh, and before I go, 10% of gross revenue will be contributed to a charity we all know and support.

For some odd reason, I crave a chocolate frosty from Wendy’s after typing the previous sentence.

Silly me! That’s the wrong Thomas.