Sometimes, I feel like it’s just my luck.
When I stop into just about any retail or service operation, chances are I’m going to encounter “the trainee.” It starts with an “I’m sorry, sir, bear with me, this is my first week on the job.” It happens a lot with me, from clerks at the office supply store, to (gasp) my doctor’s office. “These are my new medical assistants: Dewey, Jabb and Howe. They’ll be administering your shots today.”
Customers can quickly sense inexperience in the produce aisle, too.
Not long ago, I asked a young produce clerk where I might find the iceberg lettuce. (The store was out that day, ugh). He hesitated before admitting, “I don’t know what that is.” I tried to be patient.
“You know, iceberg … head lettuce?” He shook his head. It’s not like I was drilling the poor kid for Lychee fruit or what the brix-test of cantaloupe was that day. Never mind his produce manager. Didn’t he ever sit at the kitchen table doing homework (like I used to do), watching Mama chop up a head of lettuce for salads, sandwiches or tacos?
Related: Produce managers: keep focus on managing, not buying
Therein lies the near-desperate training issue with many produce departments. Especially with summer a scant few weeks away, are you ready?
Well, are you? I usually begin my “start identifying and training your extra summer help” reminder by, oh, midwinter. This gives a produce manager time to introduce the new faces into the produce department. This is so that, when the more experienced clerks start taking vacation time and heavy summer volume picks up, you have a fighting chance to keep the produce stocked and rotated. You know, that thing we do to maintain standards and drive sales.
But, alas, times being what they are, I see “Help Wanted” signs posted not only in grocery stores, but everywhere.
The good news? It’s still not too late to do a full-court press, hire a few hands for the summer and get them trained, ASAP. Except, instead of bringing them on slowly, you’re going to need help to get the summer help up to speed. Like the old “It takes a village” mantra, it’s going to take your entire crew.
That’s right. If this is your situation (like the ‘”What’s iceberg lettuce?” example), it might be a good idea to explain to everyone on the crew that they need to all chip in and work with the new clerk (or clerks). This may mean scheduling the new clerk to work with yourself, your veterans, one by one and side by side. Have them help receive and break down a load. Have them help set the wet rack, work the tables. Stocking and rotating. Especially, have them work late and properly close shop, as that’s their, likely, primary shift.
Show them the ropes, where things are stored. How to build a basic display, pick up after themselves and follow all safety policies. Get the produce basics down and show them to handle produce carefully, while giving them tips to build their speed, as well.
With the recent NFL draft still fresh in mind, it reminds me of how the late, legendary Green Bay Packer coach Vince Lombardi once began an early season meeting with, “Gentlemen, this is a football.” You might begin, tongue-in-cheek, with, “This is a head of lettuce.” And hope no one responds (as one of Lombardi’s players reportedly did) by saying, “Coach, can you go a little slower?”