The Wal-Mart Slayer: How Publix's People-First Culture Is Winning The Grocer War

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Maybe everyone is a lot younger than I am but all supermarkets used to have service like this. Apparently one is still around. Bravo! Lol.

yes sir I learned work at my 1st job at a chain called Piggly Wiggly. We had to say ma'am and sir. Wear a tire, refuse tips and if you ever ever told a customer no. Fired on the spot

[Leatherneck 693]

I would have to get up before 10 AM

Let it go uncle spooky. To be Nature Boy like is to be at peace with your world

What! You don't do Revielle before 10 AM?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

What! You don't do Revielle before 10 AM?

I have become fully civlianized

So shamed

[rlogan 2,036]

Oh the irony. Piggly Wiggly became a national grocery powerhouse by CUTTING service. It was the first SELF-service grocery store in the nation. Before that the grocers gave full service: you gave a list of things you wanted and the grocer filled your order for you.

Piggly Wiggly made those poor shoppers push carts around and fill them up themselves in the name of efficiency and profit. We have seen that same theme carried further with the warehouse stores. People are buying in bulk and carrying greater storage capacity in their homes as well as processing some of their own things like meats.

I challenge anyone to come up with a firm with a strategy of being mean or disrespectful of customers. That's what the government does at DOT offices, permitting offices, tax offices, etc. Sam Walton founded both Wal Mart and Sam's club and at both they practice the "ten foot rule": Look the customer in the eye, greet him, and ask if he needs help with anything. We find both places have excellent customer handling, and in something like 15 years I have only seen one employee with a bad attitude. We got him fired by reporting him twice, and I am pretty sure we weren't the only ones. He was an exception and it cost him his job.

[Leatherneck 693]

Oh the irony. Piggly Wiggly became a national grocery powerhouse by CUTTING service. It was the first SELF-service grocery store in the nation. Before that the grocers gave full service: you gave a list of things you wanted and the grocer filled your order for you.

Piggly Wiggly made those poor shoppers push carts around and fill them up themselves in the name of efficiency and profit. We have seen that same theme carried further with the warehouse stores. People are buying in bulk and carrying greater storage capacity in their homes as well as processing some of their own things like meats.

I challenge anyone to come up with a firm with a strategy of being mean or disrespectful of customers. That's what the government does at DOT offices, permitting offices, tax offices, etc. Sam Walton founded both Wal Mart and Sam's club and at both they practice the "ten foot rule": Look the customer in the eye, greet him, and ask if he needs help with anything. We find both places have excellent customer handling, and in something like 15 years I have only seen one employee with a bad attitude. We got him fired by reporting him twice, and I am pretty sure we weren't the only ones. He was an exception and it cost him his job.

I shop WM, Sam's, Costco. and any other place where my cash gets the most mileage. I refuse to pay more for the same products that can be had for less.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The Japanese model; take care of the employees, the employees will take care of the customers, and the customers will take care of the bottom line.

Bingo. It's a really simple concept and yet seemingly so hard to grasp for many around these parts.

[JohnR! 5,495]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/briansolomon/2013/07/24/the-wal-mart-slayer-how-publixs-people-first-culture-is-winning-the-grocer-war/

Family-run Publix is both the largest employee-owned company and the most profitable grocer in America. Those two facts are linked, and they might be the formula for fending off Bentonville’s retail behemoth.

Passing through Publix’s sliding doors to escape the blistering Lakeland, Fla. heat is a welcome relief, but it isn’t just the air-conditioning that jumps out at you. As you walk the aisles, bag boys and clerks in sage-green shirts and black aprons routinely smile and ask questions: “How are you today? Can we help you with anything?”

There is also one thing going for them: Publix shares are sold only to employees - they have skin in the game and the corporation treats them like humans. I used to shop at their stores back east and never ever had a bad experience. I have not been inside a WalMart in over a decade, and as a matter of principle I will not shop there. I will pay more for anything that is sold at my neighborhood stores that are owned by my neighbors and members of my community. Bentonville can do just fine without my money.

Edited May 9, 2014 by Gegel

[luckytxn 2,265]

They need to start dumping their stock before it becomes worthless. I suggest as soon as possible to get maximum return. Then get their resume's updated.

There is also one thing going for them: Publix shares are sold only to employees - they have skin in the game and the corporation treats them like humans. I used to shop at their stores back east and never ever had a bad experience. I have not been inside a WalMart in over a decade, and as a matter of principle I will not shop there. I will pay more for anything that is sold at my neighborhood stores that are owned by my neighbors and members of my community. Bentonville can do just fine without my money.

[JohnR! 5,495]

They need to start dumping their stock before it becomes worthless. I suggest as soon as possible to get maximum return. Then get their resume's updated.

Do you believe they will cease to expand soon?

http://www.theledger.com/article/20130928/news/130929186

LAKELAND | Publix is carving out a big footprint in the Tar Heel State.

In just a year since the company announced its North Carolina expansion, Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets Inc. has shown an atypical intensity with its growth plans for the state — although the first store won't open until early 2014.

The chain has ramped up new store announcements for the Charlotte area, which has largely been the focus of its push into North Carolina. Publix also is bulking up its presence by acquiring four North Carolina locations from the BI-LO chain.

Meanwhile, the grocer has shown a desire to expand well beyond the Charlotte area by branching out to Asheville, Cary and Winston-Salem.

[luckytxn 2,265]

A strategy to run and stay away in front of the competition is futile. Eventually Wal Mart will catch them and destroy. They are trying to get into areas and hopefuly get their brands known and used and build loyalty. Good luck on that.

Do you believe they will cease to expand soon?

http://www.theledger.com/article/20130928/news/130929186

LAKELAND | Publix is carving out a big footprint in the Tar Heel State.

In just a year since the company announced its North Carolina expansion, Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets Inc. has shown an atypical intensity with its growth plans for the state — although the first store won't open until early 2014.

The chain has ramped up new store announcements for the Charlotte area, which has largely been the focus of its push into North Carolina. Publix also is bulking up its presence by acquiring four North Carolina locations from the BI-LO chain.

Meanwhile, the grocer has shown a desire to expand well beyond the Charlotte area by branching out to Asheville, Cary and Winston-Salem.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

There is also one thing going for them: Publix shares are sold only to employees - they have skin in the game and the corporation treats them like humans. I used to shop at their stores back east and never ever had a bad experience. I have not been inside a WalMart in over a decade, and as a matter of principle I will not shop there. I will pay more for anything that is sold at my neighborhood stores that are owned by my neighbors and members of my community. Bentonville can do just fine without my money.

Good man

Folks support the mega stores that have govt subsided employees then complain cause folks are on food stamps

[luckytxn 2,265]

Links to back your assertions or you are trolling.

Good man

Folks support the mega stores that have govt subsided employees then complain cause folks are on food stamps

Edited May 9, 2014 by luckytxn

[Leatherneck 693]

Good man

Folks support the mega stores that have govt subsided employees then complain cause folks are on food stamps

But, but, but poor folks are smart enough to shop at Wal-Mart, they too understand that grocery retailers on the upper end of the price point like Albertson's, Kroger's, and Whole Foods is not the place for them.

In a head-to-head battle for folks who willingly accept less service for better prices, Wal-Mart spanks other retailers -- even when Wal-Mart's lower price claim is an illusion with regards to some items.

[JohnR! 5,495]

A strategy to run and stay away in front of the competition is futile. Eventually Wal Mart will catch them and destroy. They are trying to get into areas and hopefuly get their brands known and used and build loyalty. Good luck on that.

WalMart will not destroy the traditional grocery store. WalMart is not welcome in many communities.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Good man

Folks support the mega stores that have govt subsided employees then complain cause folks are on food stamps

Besides, WalMart grosses me out.