Now You See Them...Retailers Need to Engage Fast with Gen Y New Hires

Employers must win over their younger new hires quickly, according to a survey of more than 2,500 senior human resources executives conducted by Boston-based global consulting firm Novations Group (www.novations.com).

About half of the executives (51 percent) reported that they have between one and six months to show Generation Y employees that the company is the best place for them. One-quarter (26 percent) indicated they have less than a month to do so!

This means retail managers have a short window of time to capture the hearts and minds of Gen Y new hires. Some simply tactics to improve Gen Y retention are:

• Making sure that every applicant gets a realistic job preview and a clear sense of what to expect from he company.
• Try to connect new hires with other employees

Working in Retail

Retail continues to be an industry with enormous growth potential. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the retail sector is expected to increase to more than 26 million employees by the year 2010. Retailers are always looking for good people with a commitment to customer service, the ability to work in a team environment and who can work through complex situations with problem solving skills. Working in retail offers many exciting opportunities for dedicated individuals.

An Example Retail Career Path:

Area Sales Manager - Supervises a territory of stores

Store Manager - Responsible for the day-to-day operations

Manager-in-Training - Trains to run a store

Customer Service Associate - Can be part-time or full-time

Retail Store Manager Careers

This exiting opportunity could be the start of a great retail career!

Are you an enthusiastic individual who enjoys helping customers? Would you like to turn your "job" into a career?

Consider becoming a retail Manager-In-Training and show customers what good customer service is all about!
As a Manager-in-Training you will be trained to manage a retail location using critical information from a state-of-the-art windows based computer system.
Many retail stores recognize success is directly related to the success of each employee. That is why Cumberland Farms invests so heavily in training and development. The Company's unique Manager-in-Training program emphasizes the learning process to ensure learning takes place, identifies, defines and conveys management skills utilizing in store mentoring, includes instruction by our best, most experienced Training Managers, and provides self-paced, hands-on practice to reinforce newly learned skills.

Your new retail career starts at Cumberland Farms.

Associate of the Year Award - New Hampshire

Cumberland Farms Store Manager Debbie Tellier of Littleton New Hamphire, has been named Associate of the Year by the New Hampshire Grocers Association. Tellier was selected to receive the honor from a group of finalists that included convenience store managers from across the state.
Managers were judged on customer service, store conditions, leadership, employee turnover, sales, profitability and shrink.
"I have received overwhelming congratulations from all of my colleagues and mentors. I wish to thank all of those who have allowed me to learn and grow in the more than 20 years that I've been with Cumberland Farms, " said Tellier. "I'd especially like to thank my Area Sales Manager, Deane Palmer, and my staff, all of whom have dedicated themselves for a very successful year."
What's Tellier's secret to providing amazing customer service? "Follow your instincts. Work hard, as we all do, and definitely enjoy what you're doing. Success comes with what you are willing to put into it.

Are you looking for a better career? Visit CumberlandFarms.com to learn more about the job opportunities and benefits associated with a career at Cumberland Farms.

The Stop That Keeps You Going. Careers That Keep You Growing.

Roy Horsfield named Store Operator of the Year

Cumberland Farms Store Manager Roy Horsfield from Halifax, Mass, was named Store Operator of the Year during the New England Convenience Store Association's 24th Annual Trade Show. Store Manager Bonnie Martin, of North Carver, Mass., took second place and Store Manager Lorraine Holbrook, of Brimfield Mass., received NECSA's Customer Service Award.

"This was a banner year for Cumberland Farms at the NECSA Trade Show, " said Manager of Training Systems and Development Sheree Beissner, who serves as a judge for the awards program. "Every year, the field is more and more competitive. The fact that our Store Managers won these awards speaks volumes about their ongoing commitment to providing unsurpassed customer service."