What’s it like being a shopkeeper in Stockport? This is my hometown store. I’ve lived in Stockport for 38 years, so I’m really proud to win this. Stockport is a busy, up-and-coming town. Our shop is a little bit unique in terms of trade. Because we are so close to the M6 motorway, Monday to Thursday we get a lot of passing trade and top-up shops. Then Friday, Saturday, and Sunday it’s your more traditional once-a-week family shop. It’s quite unusual for a big store to have two really different propositions throughout the week. We get the best of both worlds.
Is the contrast in trade throughout the week difficult to manage? We’ve got an experienced team. Something else unique about this store is our really high colleague retention. Last year the store celebrated 20 years, and I gave long service awards out to about 60% of our current colleagues. Together with our c-stores, it means Tesco is one of the biggest employers in Stockport, so we are genuinely a community store. We know our customers.
Do you stock many local products? We have a partnership with Robinsons Brewery in Stockport and stock a number of their products in our craft ale ranges. Tesco has really good relationships with suppliers at the moment, and we make sure we get those products into store.
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You’ve talked a lot about community – how often do you visit your competition in town? I get out to all of the competitors once a week. I do competitor SWOT analysis on all of the stores local to us to make sure we are ahead of the game.
How are you trying to stay ahead of them? The business has invested heavily in the store this year. It was one of the most complex refits the business has done in the north. We extended produce and fresh food, adding new spec displays and lighting as well as our F&F offer. It took six months in total, but it’s really paid off. We’ve seen an uptick in footfall and sales in those areas, and feedback has been really strong. Our Clubcard offer is probably the best it’s ever been at the minute, which also helps.
You’ve recently returned to the store as manager. What’s different about this store compared with other Tesco stores in Manchester you’ve managed? I was lead manager here nine years ago and returned as store manager 18 months ago. This store isn’t as ethnically diverse as some of our other stores in Manchester. For example, Cheetham Hill, where I was previously manager, is one of the most ethnically diverse stores in the Tesco estate and goes really big on Diwali, Eid and Passover.
What’s the biggest challenge for you as a store manager? It’s great to have new trade, but the bread and butter is retaining customers. At the end of the day, if you give great service, and your availability is there, why would a shopper choose to go elsewhere?
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