When I worked for Longs, store managers were trained to be entrepreneurs and to look for items that could be successful in our stores. We did have corporate buyers but they knew that they couldn’t see every vendor out there, and often there were local items that would do well in certain stores. If you Read More…
18 Fun Facts About Things at the Grocery Store
Some fun facts to brighten your day. I’ve heard of Larry The Cable Guy, but apparently there’s also Larry The Quaker Oats Guy. And I always thought that legally, shouldn’t Raisin Bran be called Bran With Raisin? Kind of like Broccoli Beef can’t be called Beef Broccoli because it’s mostly Broccoli, not beef? Next Read More…
The Top 10 Toy Crazes of All Time
Time Magazine assembled a list of the top 10 toy crazes of all time. I was working retail in 1982 when Cabbage Patch Dolls came out, and there was never a toy craze like it and never has been since, other than possibly the Razor Scooters. I remember seeing them at a toy show Read More…
The Walmart Closings Mystery Deepens
The drama about Walmart’s closure of 5 stores for mysterious “plumbing” reasons is growing every day. Maybe we should call it “Walmartgate.” Below is a video taken inside one of the closed stores, and you do have to wonder why there are so many empty shelves if they are reopening the stores in Read More…
The Origins of 12 Supermarket Chains
Here’s how some of the biggest grocery chains got started. I still remember a series of commercials from Albertsons that had a butcher singing “It’s Joe Albertson’s supermarket, but the meat department is mine.” Glad to see there really was a Joe Albertson! 1. ALBERTSONS After 12 years as a clerk and manager for Read More…
10 Items That Even Walmart Wouldn’t Sell
WalMart has pulled a lot of items over the years, but here are some of the most memorable. I really wish I could have gotten a Superbad fake ID, it would have been worth it just to use it a couple times when I’m asked for my ID while making a $15.00 purchase at Read More…
Walmart employee accused of stealing $240K from store
Over the years I’ve had a lot of trusted employees steal from my store. I’ve always subscribed to the 5/90/5 rule–meaning 5% of people will steal from you no matter what, 5% would NEVER steal from you no matter what, and the other 90% might if you give them a motive and opportunity. I Read More…
The Doctored Doctor Note
This is from notalwaysworking.com, we’ve had a lot of discussion about sick calls and how to handle them, but this is one of the best. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall to watch this interaction… Doctored Doctor Note (I work as a manager in a retail store. I have one Read More…
Something Stinks at WalMart
This is an interesting article about WalMart closing 5 stores for what could be called suspicious reasons. I wonder if any of the 2,000 employees that were laid off truly believe there’s something wrong with the plumbing, although I’m sure they believe that something stinks… Earlier this year, WalMart became one of several corporate Read More…
Is Walgreens Close To Buying Rite-Aid?
The rumors have been floating for a while, and a board member of Walgreens Boots Alliance is hinting that an acquisition of some kind might be VERY close. Walgreens is hosting an analyst day on Wednesday and Thursday this week so stay tuned for further details. I’m sure CVS is listening… NEW YORK — The buzz Read More…