The Prešov Milk–Agro store labeled Pri majáku 1 does not have a long history yet. Nevertheless, it managed to place first in the annual Best Store of the Year 2019 competition within its group. We talked about this success with the store manager Stanislava Lešková.
Such a cozy but small store. What do you attribute your first place to?
What do I attribute it to… definitely my colleagues. We started here about three years ago. The store is brand new; the whole complex was built simultaneously with local housing development. The beginning was very difficult for me because the team was not good. Over three years, we managed several personnel changes. Sometimes I almost gave up and thought the fault was mine, but it turned out that if a good team is "assembled," harmony can be lived in, and the store runs smoothly and successfully. You see…
So it is possible to learn to be a good manager…
Yes, it is, and I especially want to thank the manager from the Central store, Martina Tarbajová, who helped me a lot. She taught me what a manager should know and, above all, believed that I could do it and learn everything I would need. You know, I am not the type of person who quickly asserts herself in a team; rather, I can say I was given a chance and succeeded. I really enjoy my work; I found myself in it… Now I can say every saleswoman should try the manager position. I also did not understand it when I saw my manager sitting in the office "doing nothing." That "doing nothing" is constantly thinking about what is needed and how much to order so that it sells and simultaneously thinking about what needs to be improved in the store to keep customers satisfied and respond to their requests.
What kind of customers do you have here?
I would say mostly regular, loyal customers. The first year was not a big success; we opened in summer, so it took a while for people to get used to us. But in 2018, visits and sales increased.
What do people buy most?
Mostly SABI dairy products, milk, yogurts, butter, curd cheese, simply our quality products, and they also buy other items. We try to provide them with all basics they need and order what they ask for.
Are you able to order so that everything sells?
At first, I was afraid of bigger orders, but then I realized that who does not risk, does not win. It is always better for the customer to have enough goods and possibly interesting promotions than emptier shelves… We saw this, for example, before Christmas holidays. People preferred to come to us rather than to large crowded centers where they had to spend hours shopping. Here they buy everything they need in much less time.
Reveal the recipe for success…
I cannot say it like that; rather, in my case, I stick to what our director Kundrát said, that every manager chooses her own team. At least in my case, it really proved true.
Thank you for the interview.
