Disclosure: This sponsored post is brought to you by Shaw’s Supermarkets. In exchange for a series of four posts, I will be provided with monetary compensation. All thoughts expressed within the post are my own, except the interview answers. Those were provided by interviewee Heather Welch. Photos and graphics are a combination of my own, as well as those provided by the sponsor.
Sharing my thoughts and opinions on Shaw’s Supermarkets is all well and good, but I thought it would be nice to have a chat with a current Shaw’s employee to give all of you an insiders’ look at Shaw’s. (Tomorrow’s post will actually include thoughts from a former Shaw’s employee, my husband Chris Smith.)
Frugal Maine: Thank you for agreeing to do this interview, Heather. So, how long have you worked at Shaw’s?
Heather: I have worked at Shaw’s this time around for 15 years. I worked there for 5 years but took 6 months off when I was 21 because I got a full time job. I have been back for 15 years. Combined time of 20 years.
FM: What department(s) do you work in?
Heather: I currently work in the checkout/service desk but have worked in every department at one point or another over the years. (I have worked in checkout/service desk the longest, 10 years total, but I also worked in the meat department for 8 years)
FM: Out of all the departments you’ve worked in, what has been your favorite?
Heather: I liked the floral department the best. I have been helping out over there for 6 or 7 years. You are your own boss. I like that.
FM: What do you enjoy most about working at Shaw’s?
Heather: I most enjoy my regular customers. I have some that I have known for what seems like forever. I had a guy come thru my line the other day with his daughter. I asked how old his daughter is now. She just turned 21. I remember when he would come shopping with her in a baby back pack. It’s like family.
FM: Have you noticed any major improvements that Shaw’s has made over the years to make it more appealing to its customers?
Heather: I think some of the “games” help get people in. It’s funny to hear them comparing how many more stamps hey need to get the large stock pot! Also they are extremely focused on customer service.
(Side note: I, Nicole, have 12 stamps. I can’t wait to get the rest I need.)
FM: What do you feel separates Shaw’s from other competitors?
Heather: Customer service by far. I have shopped at other stores and I never get the service I know I give. At one store I had the teenage cashier take out her cell phone and text her friend in the middle of my order. At Shaw’s we aren’t even allowed to have our cells on us. They are in your locker or car, period.
FM: With the stock up sales that Shaw’s runs, does your store see an increase in sales?
Heather: We are defiantly busier with the better sales. People love to save money.
FM: Is there a better time for customers to come into Shaw’s that will allow them to save the most money, like when meat is marked down?
Heather: The meat and produce get marked down mid morning. That is a good time to come in. Also the bread gets reduced in the morning. Plus most kids are in school and people are working so you have more one on one with the employees.
FM: Do you have anything else you would like to share about Shaw’s? If so, please feel free.
Heather: Over all, it is a great place to work. I also do the bulk of my shopping there. I recently thought about going down to one job……. I think I’d miss Shaw’s. It’s been a huge part of my life.
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Thank you, Heather, for your answers. I greatly appreciate you taking the time out of your schedule, which I know is busy, to give us an insiders’ look at Shaw’s Supermarket.
To you, my readers, don’t forget the Shaw’s Supermarket #StockUpSale is still going on. (It ends Thursday evening, so don’t miss out. And in case you didn’t see, I wrote up a post about what I purchased at Shaw’s last week. I got some great deals that helped me build up my stockpile.