After a year spent travelling, Arthur Webster decided not to take up a place at university and instead began his working life stacking shelves at the Nottingham depot he now manages. That was in 1992 and the business he joined was Hyperama.
The company opened its second depot at West Bromwich in 1996 and offered Webster the deputy manager’s job. Two years later, he gained the post of manager.
Two years ago he moved back to his home town of Nottingham to take up his present position. Running the depot is ”a very hands-on job”, says Webster. He works an 11-day fortnight. “The start of the day is all-important so I get in at 6.30am and get things up and running,” he says.
He then goes through the data from the previous day. “I like to get a feel for what’s been happening and check up on anything that’s come up. What we don’t want in this business is any surprises.”
He deals a lot with customers and says: “I’ve developed an affinity with our customers. If I have to buy anything I’ll always go to a local store or CTN, and if we
are out for a meal it is often a local caterer I recognise.”
He says there’s a lot of input from customers, particularly in the run-up to Christmas when they are perhaps looking for a product that may not usually be stocked, or seeking volume deals on pallets.
Webster likes to lead by
example. He says: “When I first started I saw the owner Mark Johal was concerned about store standards, making sure it was clean and tidy. I always make sure I pick up litter if I see any, so the staff will see the management are willing to do the menial jobs and get into the habit too.”
The company opened its second depot at West Bromwich in 1996 and offered Webster the deputy manager’s job. Two years later, he gained the post of manager.
Two years ago he moved back to his home town of Nottingham to take up his present position. Running the depot is ”a very hands-on job”, says Webster. He works an 11-day fortnight. “The start of the day is all-important so I get in at 6.30am and get things up and running,” he says.
He then goes through the data from the previous day. “I like to get a feel for what’s been happening and check up on anything that’s come up. What we don’t want in this business is any surprises.”
He deals a lot with customers and says: “I’ve developed an affinity with our customers. If I have to buy anything I’ll always go to a local store or CTN, and if we
are out for a meal it is often a local caterer I recognise.”
He says there’s a lot of input from customers, particularly in the run-up to Christmas when they are perhaps looking for a product that may not usually be stocked, or seeking volume deals on pallets.
Webster likes to lead by
example. He says: “When I first started I saw the owner Mark Johal was concerned about store standards, making sure it was clean and tidy. I always make sure I pick up litter if I see any, so the staff will see the management are willing to do the menial jobs and get into the habit too.”
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