Latest / Omni Talk Retail / Electronic Shelf Labels & Digital Transformation at Leevers Foods | Live From SpartanNash

Transcript

Electronic Shelf Labels & Digital Transformation at Leevers Foods | Live From SpartanNash · Omni Talk Retail

• 0:00
  Hello,
• 0:00
  everyone.
• 0:00
  This
• 0:01
  is
• 0:01
  Omnitalk
• 0:01
  retail.
• 0:02
  I'm
• 0:02
  Chris
• 0:02
  Walton.
• 0:02
  And
• 0:03
  I'm
• 0:03
  Anne
• 0:03
  Mazinga.
• 0:03
  And
• 0:04
  we
• 0:04
  are
• 0:04
  coming
• 0:04
  to
• 0:04
  you
• 0:04
  live
• 0:05
  from
• 0:05
  the
• 0:05
  Simbi
• 0:06
  and
• 0:06
  Omnitalk
• 0:07
  podcast
• 0:07
  studio
• 0:08
  at
• 0:08
  the
• 0:08
  Spartan
• 0:09
  Nash
• 0:09
  Conference
• 0:10
  in
• 0:10
  beautiful
• 0:10
  and
• 0:11
  sunny
• 0:12
  Grand
• 0:12
  Rapids,
• 0:12
  Michigan.
• 0:13
  Anne,
• 0:13
  let's
• 0:14
  do
• 0:14
  it.
• 0:14
  And
• 0:14
  we
• 0:14
  are
• 0:14
  pleased
• 0:14
  to
• 0:15
  kick
• 0:15
  off
• 0:15
  our
• 0:15
  coverage
• 0:15
  today
• 0:16
  with
• 0:16
  Doug
• 0:16
  Hyland.
• 0:17
  Doug
• 0:17
  is
• 0:17
  the
• 0:17
  GM
• 0:18
  at
• 0:18
  Levers
• 0:19
  Foods.
• 0:19
  Doug,
• 0:20
  welcome
• 0:20
  to
• 0:20
  omnitalk.
• 0:21
  Oh,
• 0:21
  thanks
• 0:21
  a
• 0:21
  lot.
• 0:21
  Appreciate
• 0:22
  being
• 0:22
  here.
• 0:23
  Doug,
• 0:23
  I'd
• 0:24
  love
• 0:24
  for
• 0:24
  you
• 0:24
  to
• 0:24
  start
• 0:24
  by
• 0:25
  giving
• 0:25
  us
• 0:25
  a
• 0:25
  little
• 0:25
  bit
• 0:25
  of
• 0:26
  your
• 0:26
  background
• 0:26
  and
• 0:26
  what
• 0:27
  your
• 0:27
  role
• 0:27
  is
• 0:27
  at
• 0:27
  Leavers.
• 0:28
  Well,
• 0:28
  background,
• 0:29
  like
• 0:29
  a
• 0:30
  lot
• 0:30
  of
• 0:30
  the
• 0:30
  people
• 0:30
  you're
• 0:30
  going
• 0:30
  to
• 0:31
  find
• 0:31
  here
• 0:31
  at
• 0:31
  this
• 0:31
  show,
• 0:32
  started
• 0:32
  in
• 0:33
  my
• 0:33
  dad's
• 0:33
  store
• 0:33
  at
• 0:34
  nine
• 0:34
  years
• 0:34
  old.
• 0:35
  Okay.
• 0:36
  Restacking
• 0:37
  pop
• 0:37
  bottles,
• 0:38
  stuff
• 0:38
  like
• 0:38
  that
• 0:38
  back
• 0:39
  in
• 0:39
  the
• 0:39
  day.
• 0:39
  And
• 0:40
  been
• 0:40
  in
• 0:40
  the
• 0:40
  business
• 0:40
  my
• 0:41
  whole
• 0:41
  life.
• 0:41
  So
• 0:42
  I've
• 0:43
  gone
• 0:43
  anywhere
• 0:43
  from
• 0:45
  working
• 0:45
  for
• 0:45
  Independence,
• 0:46
  working
• 0:46
  for
• 0:47
  corporates,
• 0:48
  worked
• 0:48
  for
• 0:49
  Nash
• 0:49
  Finch
• 0:49
  back
• 0:50
  in
• 0:50
  the
• 0:50
  day.
• 0:50
  Spartan
• 0:51
  Nash.
• 0:51
  I've
• 0:51
  been
• 0:51
  district
• 0:52
  manager.
• 0:52
  I've
• 0:53
  been
• 0:53
  an
• 0:53
  account
• 0:55
  support
• 0:55
  specialist
• 0:56
  for
• 0:56
  the
• 0:56
  warehouse
• 0:57
  side.
• 0:57
  And
• 0:58
  then
• 0:58
  I
• 0:58
  started
• 0:58
  working
• 0:59
  with
• 0:59
  Levers
• 0:59
  Foods
• 1:00
  five
• 1:00
  years
• 1:00
  ago
• 1:00
  as
• 1:00
  their
• 1:01
  director
• 1:01
  of
• 1:01
  operations,
• 1:02
  and
• 1:03
  been
• 1:03
  doing
• 1:03
  it
• 1:04
  a
• 1:04
  long
• 1:04
  time.
• 1:04
  And
• 1:05
  tell
• 1:05
  our
• 1:06
  audience
• 1:06
  about
• 1:06
  Levers.
• 1:07
  Where
• 1:07
  are
• 1:07
  you
• 1:07
  located?
• 1:08
  Levers
• 1:09
  Foods
• 1:09
  is
• 1:09
  based
• 1:09
  out
• 1:09
  of
• 1:10
  Devil's
• 1:10
  Lake,
• 1:11
  North
• 1:11
  Dakota.
• 1:11
  Third
• 1:12
  generation
• 1:13
  grocery
• 1:13
  store
• 1:14
  founded
• 1:14
  in
• 1:15
  1938
• 1:15
  by
• 1:16
  Norm
• 1:16
  Levers.
• 1:17
  We
• 1:17
  have
• 1:17
  nine
• 1:18
  stores
• 1:18
  right
• 1:19
  now,
• 1:19
  eight
• 1:19
  of
• 1:19
  them
• 1:19
  in
• 1:19
  North
• 1:20
  Dakota,
• 1:20
  one
• 1:20
  in
• 1:20
  Minnesota,
• 1:21
  and
• 1:22
  we
• 1:22
  have
• 1:22
  three
• 1:22
  Sandalwood
• 1:23
  liquor
• 1:24
  stores.
• 1:24
  Wow.
• 1:25
  Yeah.
• 1:25
  So
• 1:25
  you've
• 1:26
  done
• 1:26
  all
• 1:26
  the
• 1:26
  jobs
• 1:26
  and
• 1:27
  you
• 1:27
  have
• 1:27
  locations
• 1:28
  in
• 1:28
  all
• 1:28
  the
• 1:29
  Midwest
• 1:29
  states?
• 1:29
  Pretty
• 1:29
  much.
• 1:30
  Yep.
• 1:30
  Keeps
• 1:30
  you
• 1:30
  hopping.
• 1:31
  Doug,
• 1:32
  as
• 1:32
  a
• 1:32
  former
• 1:32
  district
• 1:33
  manager
• 1:33
  myself,
• 1:33
  I
• 1:33
  always
• 1:33
  have
• 1:34
  to
• 1:34
  ask,
• 1:34
  what
• 1:34
  was
• 1:34
  your
• 1:35
  record
• 1:35
  for
• 1:35
  the
• 1:35
  number
• 1:35
  of
• 1:35
  miles
• 1:36
  you
• 1:36
  put
• 1:36
  on
• 1:36
  your
• 1:36
  car
• 1:36
  in
• 1:37
  one
• 1:37
  year?
• 1:38
  My
• 1:38
  per.
• 1:39
  Well,
• 1:39
  of
• 1:39
  course,
• 1:39
  was
• 1:40
  with
• 1:40
  Nash
• 1:41
  at
• 1:41
  the
• 1:41
  time,
• 1:41
  it
• 1:41
  was
• 1:41
  our
• 1:42
  personal
• 1:42
  cars,
• 1:42
  but
• 1:43
  it
• 1:43
  was
• 1:43
  50.
• 1:44
  Wow.
• 1:45
  Yeah.
• 1:46
  Oh,
• 1:46
  my
• 1:46
  God.
• 1:47
  Two
• 1:47
  years.
• 1:47
  I
• 1:47
  had
• 1:47
  110,000.
• 1:48
  Oh,
• 1:49
  my
• 1:49
  God,
• 1:49
  man,
• 1:49
  you
• 1:50
  got
• 1:50
  me
• 1:50
  beat.
• 1:50
  Mine
• 1:50
  was
• 1:50
  30,
• 1:51
  so
• 1:51
  you
• 1:51
  got
• 1:51
  me
• 1:52
  beat.
• 1:52
  You
• 1:52
  got
• 1:52
  to
• 1:52
  realize
• 1:53
  some
• 1:53
  of
• 1:53
  these
• 1:53
  stores
• 1:54
  are
• 1:54
  four
• 1:54
  hours.
• 1:54
  Oh,
• 1:55
  yeah.
• 1:55
  Away
• 1:55
  from
• 1:56
  home.
• 1:56
  I
• 1:56
  had
• 1:56
  some.
• 1:56
  I
• 1:56
  had
• 1:57
  some,
• 1:57
  too,
• 1:57
  but,
• 1:57
  yeah,
• 1:57
  not
• 1:58
  even
• 1:58
  that.
• 1:58
  That's
• 1:58
  a
• 1:58
  lot
• 1:59
  of
• 1:59
  miles,
• 1:59
  man.
• 2:00
  More
• 2:00
  power
• 2:01
  to
• 2:01
  you.
• 2:01
  Wow.
• 2:01
  Respect.
• 2:02
  All
• 2:02
  right,
• 2:02
  well,
• 2:03
  so.
• 2:03
  So.
• 2:03
  Progressive
• 2:04
  Grocery,
• 2:04
  they
• 2:04
  named
• 2:05
  Levers
• 2:05
  one
• 2:05
  of
• 2:06
  its
• 2:06
  outstanding
• 2:06
  independent
• 2:07
  grocers
• 2:07
  for
• 2:07
  2025.
• 2:09
  Tell
• 2:09
  us
• 2:09
  about
• 2:09
  what.
• 2:10
  Why
• 2:10
  was
• 2:11
  that?
• 2:11
  What
• 2:11
  stands
• 2:11
  out
• 2:12
  about
• 2:12
  them
• 2:12
  in
• 2:12
  your
• 2:12
  mind?
• 2:13
  Well,
• 2:14
  they
• 2:14
  look
• 2:14
  at
• 2:15
  several
• 2:15
  things,
• 2:15
  but
• 2:16
  if
• 2:16
  I
• 2:16
  remember
• 2:16
  right
• 2:17
  on
• 2:17
  this
• 2:17
  one,
• 2:17
  there
• 2:18
  were.
• 2:18
  There
• 2:18
  were
• 2:18
  a
• 2:18
  few
• 2:18
  things
• 2:19
  they
• 2:19
  talked
• 2:19
  about
• 2:20
  to
• 2:20
  us
• 2:20
  privately
• 2:21
  that
• 2:21
  really
• 2:21
  didn't
• 2:22
  make
• 2:22
  the
• 2:22
  article.
• 2:23
  Okay.
• 2:23
  Yeah.
• 2:24
  They
• 2:24
  are
• 2:24
  talking
• 2:24
  about
• 2:24
  our
• 2:24
  commitment
• 2:25
  to
• 2:26
  electronic
• 2:26
  shelf
• 2:27
  labels
• 2:27
  and
• 2:28
  the
• 2:28
  technology
• 2:29
  we
• 2:29
  were
• 2:29
  in,
• 2:29
  the
• 2:29
  effort
• 2:30
  we
• 2:30
  were
• 2:30
  putting
• 2:30
  behind
• 2:30
  that.
• 2:31
  But
• 2:32
  they
• 2:32
  also
• 2:32
  talked
• 2:32
  to
• 2:33
  us.
• 2:33
  We
• 2:33
  have
• 2:33
  an
• 2:33
  in
• 2:33
  house
• 2:34
  training
• 2:35
  we're
• 2:35
  doing
• 2:35
  with
• 2:36
  what
• 2:36
  we
• 2:36
  call
• 2:36
  development
• 2:37
  training
• 2:37
  with
• 2:38
  assistant
• 2:38
  managers
• 2:39
  and
• 2:39
  people
• 2:39
  we
• 2:39
  feel
• 2:40
  that
• 2:40
  can
• 2:40
  work
• 2:40
  into
• 2:41
  that
• 2:41
  role
• 2:41
  to
• 2:41
  try
• 2:41
  and
• 2:42
  create
• 2:42
  our
• 2:42
  own
• 2:43
  managers
• 2:43
  of
• 2:43
  the
• 2:43
  future.
• 2:44
  And
• 2:45
  that's
• 2:45
  been
• 2:45
  key
• 2:45
  because
• 2:46
  we've
• 2:46
  had
• 2:46
  a
• 2:46
  lot
• 2:46
  of
• 2:47
  our
• 2:47
  manager
• 2:48
  been
• 2:48
  there
• 2:48
  35
• 2:49
  to
• 2:49
  40
• 2:49
  plus
• 2:50
  years
• 2:50
  retiring
• 2:51
  and
• 2:52
  we've
• 2:52
  had
• 2:52
  a
• 2:52
  lot
• 2:52
  of
• 2:53
  turnover
• 2:53
  as
• 2:53
  far
• 2:53
  as
• 2:54
  top
• 2:54
  talent.
• 2:55
  But
• 2:55
  we've
• 2:55
  been
• 2:55
  able
• 2:55
  to
• 2:55
  create
• 2:56
  it
• 2:56
  from
• 2:57
  in
• 2:57
  house.
• 2:57
  And
• 2:57
  because
• 2:58
  those
• 2:58
  guys
• 2:58
  were
• 2:58
  there
• 2:59
  that
• 2:59
  long,
• 2:59
  there
• 2:59
  hasn't
• 3:00
  been
• 3:00
  a
• 3:00
  need
• 3:00
  for
• 3:00
  training
• 3:00
  up
• 3:01
  to
• 3:01
  that
• 3:01
  point
• 3:01
  because
• 3:02
  there
• 3:02
  was
• 3:02
  no
• 3:02
  upward
• 3:03
  movements.
• 3:03
  Right,
• 3:04
  right,
• 3:04
  right,
• 3:05
  right.
• 3:05
  And
• 3:05
  that's
• 3:05
  always
• 3:05
  a
• 3:05
  key
• 3:06
  challenge.
• 3:06
  Right.
• 3:06
  In
• 3:06
  running
• 3:07
  too
• 3:07
  is
• 3:07
  making
• 3:08
  sure
• 3:08
  you
• 3:08
  got
• 3:08
  the
• 3:08
  right
• 3:08
  staff.
• 3:09
  Because
• 3:10
  it
• 3:10
  is
• 3:10
  a
• 3:10
  challenge.
• 3:10
  Talk
• 3:11
  about
• 3:11
  that.
• 3:11
  Well,
• 3:12
  you
• 3:12
  know,
• 3:12
  in
• 3:12
  this
• 3:12
  day
• 3:12
  and
• 3:13
  age
• 3:13
  it's
• 3:13
  getting
• 3:13
  harder
• 3:14
  and
• 3:14
  harder
• 3:14
  all
• 3:14
  the
• 3:14
  time.
• 3:14
  Less
• 3:15
  people
• 3:15
  want
• 3:15
  to
• 3:15
  work.
• 3:16
  And
• 3:17
  honestly
• 3:18
  this
• 3:19
  isn't
• 3:19
  the
• 3:19
  paying
• 3:20
  job
• 3:20
  it
• 3:20
  used
• 3:20
  to
• 3:20
  be
• 3:21
  when
• 3:21
  I
• 3:21
  started
• 3:21
  in
• 3:21
  and
• 3:22
  this
• 3:22
  was
• 3:22
  a
• 3:22
  career
• 3:22
  that
• 3:23
  you
• 3:23
  got
• 3:23
  into
• 3:24
  anymore.
• 3:24
  We're
• 3:24
  kind
• 3:25
  of
• 3:25
  on
• 3:25
  the
• 3:25
  lower
• 3:25
  edge
• 3:25
  of
• 3:26
  the
• 3:26
  pay
• 3:27
  scale
• 3:27
  so
• 3:27
  it's
• 3:27
  harder
• 3:28
  to
• 3:28
  keep
• 3:28
  these
• 3:28
  people
• 3:28
  going.
• 3:29
  And
• 3:29
  that's
• 3:29
  one
• 3:30
  of
• 3:30
  the
• 3:30
  reasons
• 3:30
  we
• 3:30
  got
• 3:31
  into
• 3:31
  the
• 3:31
  electronic
• 3:32
  shelf
• 3:32
  labels
• 3:32
  is
• 3:33
  because
• 3:34
  we're
• 3:34
  able
• 3:34
  to
• 3:34
  actually
• 3:35
  reduce
• 3:35
  some
• 3:35
  of
• 3:35
  those
• 3:36
  hours.
• 3:36
  And
• 3:36
  while
• 3:37
  we're
• 3:37
  not
• 3:37
  trying
• 3:37
  to
• 3:38
  reduce
• 3:38
  staff,
• 3:39
  what
• 3:39
  our
• 3:39
  thought
• 3:40
  for
• 3:40
  the
• 3:40
  future
• 3:40
  is
• 3:41
  is
• 3:41
  that
• 3:41
  as
• 3:41
  we
• 3:42
  reduce
• 3:42
  some
• 3:42
  of
• 3:42
  these
• 3:43
  things,
• 3:43
  another
• 3:44
  one
• 3:44
  is
• 3:44
  meat
• 3:44
  departments.
• 3:45
  You
• 3:45
  can't
• 3:45
  hire
• 3:46
  a
• 3:46
  meat
• 3:46
  cutter
• 3:46
  anymore.
• 3:47
  Right.
• 3:47
  You
• 3:48
  know,
• 3:48
  but
• 3:48
  they
• 3:48
  have
• 3:49
  phenomenal
• 3:49
  precut
• 3:50
  meat
• 3:50
  programs
• 3:51
  going.
• 3:51
  So
• 3:51
  again,
• 3:52
  so
• 3:52
  you
• 3:52
  take
• 3:52
  some
• 3:53
  of
• 3:53
  those
• 3:53
  hours
• 3:54
  that
• 3:54
  aren't
• 3:54
  that
• 3:54
  you
• 3:54
  typically
• 3:55
  would
• 3:55
  use,
• 3:56
  you
• 3:56
  don't
• 3:57
  replace
• 3:57
  them.
• 3:58
  The
• 3:58
  deal
• 3:59
  isn't,
• 3:59
  you
• 3:59
  know,
• 3:59
  the
• 4:00
  whole
• 4:00
  goal
• 4:00
  is
• 4:00
  not
• 4:00
  to
• 4:00
  replace
• 4:01
  do
• 4:01
  staff.
• 4:01
  Yeah.
• 4:02
  But
• 4:02
  to
• 4:02
  take
• 4:02
  those
• 4:03
  dollars
• 4:03
  and
• 4:03
  actually
• 4:03
  pay
• 4:04
  the
• 4:04
  staff.
• 4:04
  You
• 4:04
  have
• 4:04
  more.
• 4:05
  Right.
• 4:05
  For
• 4:06
  the
• 4:06
  retention
• 4:06
  down
• 4:06
  the
• 4:06
  road.
• 4:07
  Right.
• 4:07
  Redeploy
• 4:07
  it.
• 4:08
  Yeah,
• 4:08
  yeah,
• 4:08
  that
• 4:09
  makes
• 4:09
  sense.
• 4:10
  Well,
• 4:10
  Doug,
• 4:10
  what
• 4:10
  brings
• 4:11
  you
• 4:11
  to
• 4:11
  the
• 4:11
  Spartan
• 4:12
  Nash
• 4:12
  conference?
• 4:13
  I've
• 4:13
  been
• 4:13
  to
• 4:14
  these
• 4:14
  for
• 4:14
  several
• 4:14
  years.
• 4:15
  I
• 4:15
  had
• 4:15
  a
• 4:15
  feeling.
• 4:16
  Tell
• 4:16
  us,
• 4:16
  tell,
• 4:17
  tell
• 4:17
  us
• 4:17
  beginners.
• 4:18
  What,
• 4:19
  what's
• 4:19
  so
• 4:20
  spectacular
• 4:21
  about
• 4:21
  this
• 4:21
  event
• 4:21
  and
• 4:22
  why
• 4:22
  we
• 4:22
  need
• 4:22
  to
• 4:22
  check
• 4:22
  it
• 4:23
  out?
• 4:23
  Well,
• 4:23
  for,
• 4:24
  for
• 4:25
  retailer
• 4:25
  like
• 4:25
  me,
• 4:26
  obviously
• 4:26
  the
• 4:27
  first
• 4:27
  thing
• 4:27
  I
• 4:27
  look
• 4:27
  for
• 4:28
  is
• 4:28
  the
• 4:28
  new
• 4:28
  items.
• 4:29
  What's
• 4:29
  going
• 4:29
  on,
• 4:30
  what
• 4:30
  I
• 4:30
  haven't
• 4:30
  seen.
• 4:32
  But
• 4:32
  it's
• 4:32
  our,
• 4:32
  it's
• 4:33
  our
• 4:33
  chance
• 4:33
  to
• 4:33
  meet
• 4:33
  with
• 4:34
  the
• 4:34
  vendors.
• 4:34
  Biggest
• 4:35
  thing
• 4:35
  is
• 4:35
  normally
• 4:36
  our
• 4:36
  best
• 4:36
  buys
• 4:37
  of
• 4:37
  the
• 4:37
  year.
• 4:37
  Ok.
• 4:38
  Right
• 4:38
  here.
• 4:38
  Okay.
• 4:39
  There's,
• 4:40
  you
• 4:40
  know,
• 4:40
  back
• 4:40
  in
• 4:41
  the
• 4:41
  day,
• 4:41
  you
• 4:41
  used
• 4:41
  to
• 4:41
  do
• 4:41
  a
• 4:41
  lot
• 4:42
  of
• 4:42
  negotiating.
• 4:42
  That's
• 4:43
  pretty
• 4:43
  much
• 4:43
  done
• 4:43
  for
• 4:43
  you
• 4:44
  these
• 4:44
  days.
• 4:44
  But
• 4:45
  no,
• 4:45
  it's
• 4:46
  just,
• 4:46
  it's
• 4:47
  a
• 4:47
  phenomenal
• 4:48
  way
• 4:48
  to,
• 4:49
  to
• 4:49
  get
• 4:49
  a
• 4:49
  chance
• 4:50
  to
• 4:50
  talk
• 4:50
  to
• 4:51
  these
• 4:51
  guys.
• 4:51
  It
• 4:51
  used
• 4:51
  to
• 4:51
  be
• 4:52
  we
• 4:52
  have
• 4:52
  vendors
• 4:53
  in
• 4:53
  our
• 4:53
  stores
• 4:53
  all
• 4:54
  the
• 4:54
  time
• 4:54
  right
• 4:54
  now.
• 4:54
  It's
• 4:55
  a
• 4:55
  rarity,
• 4:55
  really.
• 4:56
  Okay.
• 4:56
  Yeah.
• 4:56
  It's
• 4:57
  just,
• 4:57
  again,
• 4:57
  how
• 4:58
  the
• 4:58
  business
• 4:58
  has
• 4:58
  changed.
• 4:58
  Yeah.
• 4:59
  This
• 4:59
  is
• 4:59
  our
• 4:59
  chance
• 5:00
  to
• 5:00
  talk
• 5:00
  to
• 5:00
  them
• 5:01
  about
• 5:01
  issues
• 5:01
  we're
• 5:02
  having
• 5:02
  and
• 5:03
  hopefully
• 5:03
  get
• 5:04
  them
• 5:05
  better.
• 5:05
  At
• 5:06
  least
• 5:06
  get
• 5:06
  their,
• 5:06
  their
• 5:07
  attention
• 5:07
  to
• 5:07
  it,
• 5:07
  see
• 5:08
  what
• 5:08
  they
• 5:08
  can
• 5:08
  address
• 5:08
  and.
• 5:09
  What
• 5:09
  they
• 5:09
  can't
• 5:09
  get
• 5:09
  some
• 5:09
  face.
• 5:10
  I
• 5:10
  mean,
• 5:10
  why
• 5:10
  is
• 5:10
  that?
• 5:10
  Is
• 5:11
  the
• 5:11
  industry
• 5:11
  moved
• 5:11
  to
• 5:12
  become
• 5:12
  more
• 5:12
  centralized
• 5:12
  in
• 5:13
  their
• 5:13
  approach
• 5:13
  to
• 5:14
  dealing
• 5:14
  with.
• 5:14
  Everything,
• 5:14
  or
• 5:15
  it's
• 5:15
  like
• 5:15
  everything
• 5:16
  else
• 5:16
  cutting
• 5:16
  costs?
• 5:17
  Yeah.
• 5:17
  You
• 5:17
  know,
• 5:18
  and
• 5:18
  of
• 5:19
  course,
• 5:19
  you
• 5:19
  know,
• 5:19
  back
• 5:19
  in
• 5:20
  the
• 5:20
  day,
• 5:20
  you
• 5:20
  didn't
• 5:20
  have
• 5:20
  the
• 5:20
  Internet,
• 5:21
  you
• 5:21
  didn't
• 5:21
  have
• 5:22
  the
• 5:22
  ability.
• 5:22
  Communication
• 5:23
  tools.
• 5:24
  Yeah,
• 5:24
  right,
• 5:25
  right.
• 5:25
  So
• 5:25
  that
• 5:26
  brings
• 5:26
  up
• 5:26
  an
• 5:26
  interesting
• 5:26
  point
• 5:26
  too.
• 5:27
  So,
• 5:27
  like,
• 5:27
  and,
• 5:27
  and
• 5:27
  you
• 5:28
  sound
• 5:28
  like,
• 5:28
  for
• 5:29
  the
• 5:29
  most
• 5:29
  part,
• 5:29
  you
• 5:29
  guys
• 5:29
  are
• 5:29
  a
• 5:29
  very
• 5:30
  technologically
• 5:30
  advanced
• 5:31
  retail
• 5:31
  organization.
• 5:32
  You
• 5:32
  know,
• 5:32
  with
• 5:32
  the
• 5:32
  fact
• 5:33
  that
• 5:33
  you
• 5:33
  deployed
• 5:33
  electronic
• 5:34
  shelf
• 5:34
  labels
• 5:34
  in
• 5:34
  your
• 5:34
  organization,
• 5:35
  how
• 5:35
  do
• 5:36
  you
• 5:36
  keep
• 5:36
  up
• 5:36
  with
• 5:36
  the
• 5:36
  pace
• 5:37
  of
• 5:37
  technological
• 5:37
  change
• 5:38
  in
• 5:38
  the
• 5:38
  grocery
• 5:38
  industry?
• 5:39
  What
• 5:39
  have
• 5:39
  you
• 5:39
  found
• 5:40
  that
• 5:40
  works
• 5:40
  for
• 5:40
  you?
• 5:42
  You
• 5:43
  know,
• 5:44
  that's
• 5:44
  a
• 5:44
  tough
• 5:44
  question,
• 5:45
  really,
• 5:46
  because
• 5:46
  in
• 5:47
  our
• 5:47
  situation,
• 5:47
  most
• 5:48
  of
• 5:48
  our
• 5:48
  stores
• 5:48
  are
• 5:49
  very
• 5:49
  rural.
• 5:50
  A
• 5:50
  lot
• 5:50
  of
• 5:50
  technology
• 5:52
  that
• 5:52
  would
• 5:52
  really
• 5:53
  work
• 5:53
  for
• 5:54
  a
• 5:54
  more
• 5:54
  metropolitan
• 5:55
  area
• 5:56
  is
• 5:56
  not
• 5:56
  gonna
• 5:56
  work
• 5:56
  for
• 5:57
  us.
• 5:57
  One
• 5:57
  of
• 5:58
  the
• 5:58
  things
• 5:58
  that
• 5:58
  we
• 5:58
  brought
• 5:58
  in
• 5:58
  and
• 5:59
  we
• 5:59
  were
• 5:59
  recognized,
• 6:00
  that
• 6:00
  was
• 6:00
  part
• 6:00
  of
• 6:00
  the
• 6:00
  recognition
• 6:01
  too,
• 6:01
  was
• 6:01
  we'd
• 6:02
  brought
• 6:02
  in
• 6:03
  store,
• 6:04
  online,
• 6:04
  ordering,
• 6:05
  delivery,
• 6:06
  that
• 6:06
  type
• 6:07
  during
• 6:07
  COVID
• 6:08
  That
• 6:08
  was
• 6:08
  huge
• 6:08
  for
• 6:08
  us
• 6:09
  and
• 6:09
  it
• 6:09
  was
• 6:09
  huge
• 6:09
  for
• 6:09
  our
• 6:10
  customers.
• 6:11
  Since
• 6:11
  COVID
• 6:12
  we've
• 6:12
  actually
• 6:12
  taken
• 6:12
  that
• 6:13
  program
• 6:13
  away.
• 6:13
  It
• 6:14
  just
• 6:14
  really
• 6:15
  dribbled
• 6:15
  down
• 6:15
  to
• 6:15
  nothing.
• 6:16
  Okay.
• 6:16
  And
• 6:17
  like
• 6:18
  I
• 6:18
  said,
• 6:18
  I
• 6:18
  know
• 6:18
  you
• 6:19
  were
• 6:19
  just
• 6:19
  talking
• 6:19
  on
• 6:20
  one
• 6:20
  of
• 6:20
  the
• 6:20
  previous
• 6:20
  podcasts
• 6:21
  about
• 6:21
  the
• 6:21
  ability
• 6:22
  to
• 6:22
  bring
• 6:22
  groceries
• 6:23
  to
• 6:23
  your
• 6:23
  house.
• 6:24
  You
• 6:24
  know,
• 6:24
  where
• 6:25
  you're
• 6:25
  from,
• 6:25
  that's
• 6:25
  a
• 6:25
  bigger
• 6:26
  deal.
• 6:26
  Where
• 6:26
  we're
• 6:26
  from,
• 6:27
  it's
• 6:27
  not.
• 6:27
  Right.
• 6:28
  We
• 6:28
  still
• 6:28
  do
• 6:29
  delivery,
• 6:30
  but
• 6:30
  you
• 6:31
  get
• 6:31
  into
• 6:31
  the
• 6:32
  fact
• 6:32
  that
• 6:32
  those
• 6:33
  programs
• 6:33
  cost
• 6:33
  so
• 6:34
  much.
• 6:34
  Right.
• 6:34
  That
• 6:35
  you
• 6:35
  know,
• 6:35
  we've
• 6:36
  gone
• 6:36
  back
• 6:36
  to
• 6:36
  the
• 6:36
  old
• 6:37
  fashioned
• 6:37
  call
• 6:37
  in
• 6:38
  with
• 6:38
  your
• 6:38
  order
• 6:38
  and
• 6:38
  look,
• 6:39
  take
• 6:39
  it
• 6:39
  that
• 6:39
  way.
• 6:40
  Right,
• 6:40
  right.
• 6:41
  And
• 6:41
  it
• 6:41
  makes
• 6:41
  sense.
• 6:42
  That's
• 6:42
  also
• 6:42
  the
• 6:42
  grocery
• 6:43
  stores
• 6:43
  kind
• 6:43
  of
• 6:44
  the
• 6:44
  center
• 6:44
  of
• 6:44
  the
• 6:44
  community
• 6:45
  and
• 6:45
  kind
• 6:45
  of
• 6:45
  the
• 6:45
  place
• 6:46
  where
• 6:46
  people
• 6:46
  are
• 6:46
  going
• 6:46
  to
• 6:47
  do
• 6:47
  other
• 6:47
  things
• 6:47
  besides
• 6:48
  just
• 6:48
  shop
• 6:48
  for
• 6:49
  groceries.
• 6:50
  Well,
• 6:50
  what
• 6:50
  excites
• 6:51
  you
• 6:51
  most,
• 6:51
  Doug,
• 6:52
  about
• 6:52
  what
• 6:52
  you
• 6:52
  have
• 6:53
  left
• 6:53
  to
• 6:54
  do
• 6:54
  in
• 6:54
  your
• 6:54
  role?
• 6:54
  The
• 6:55
  second
• 6:55
  half
• 6:55
  of
• 6:55
  this
• 6:55
  year
• 6:57
  we're.
• 6:57
  Still,
• 6:57
  we've
• 6:58
  still
• 6:58
  got
• 6:58
  five
• 6:58
  stores,
• 6:59
  four
• 6:59
  stores.
• 6:59
  I'm
• 7:00
  sorry,
• 7:00
  that
• 7:00
  we
• 7:00
  have
• 7:00
  to
• 7:00
  get
• 7:00
  ES
• 7:01
  sales
• 7:01
  in.
• 7:01
  We're
• 7:01
  working
• 7:02
  on
• 7:02
  that.
• 7:02
  We're
• 7:03
  also
• 7:04
  in
• 7:04
  that
• 7:05
  very
• 7:05
  horrible
• 7:06
  spot
• 7:06
  where
• 7:06
  we
• 7:07
  have
• 7:07
  to
• 7:07
  replace
• 7:07
  all
• 7:07
  of
• 7:08
  our
• 7:08
  front
• 7:08
  end
• 7:08
  systems.
• 7:09
  Yeah.
• 7:10
  And
• 7:10
  so.
• 7:10
  Yeah,
• 7:11
  we're
• 7:11
  really
• 7:12
  working
• 7:12
  on
• 7:12
  that.
• 7:12
  The
• 7:13
  last
• 7:13
  thing
• 7:13
  then
• 7:13
  is
• 7:14
  we're
• 7:15
  going
• 7:15
  with
• 7:16
  RSA
• 7:17
  America
• 7:18
  app
• 7:18
  for
• 7:19
  advertising
• 7:20
  and.
• 7:20
  Oh,
• 7:20
  are
• 7:20
  you?
• 7:21
  Yeah.
• 7:21
  Okay.
• 7:21
  We'll
• 7:21
  be
• 7:22
  eliminating
• 7:22
  print
• 7:23
  ad
• 7:23
  shortly
• 7:23
  and
• 7:24
  going
• 7:25
  to
• 7:25
  that.
• 7:25
  So
• 7:26
  a
• 7:26
  lot
• 7:26
  of
• 7:26
  work
• 7:27
  in
• 7:27
  the
• 7:27
  background
• 7:27
  going
• 7:27
  on
• 7:28
  that.
• 7:28
  So
• 7:28
  like
• 7:28
  I
• 7:28
  said,
• 7:29
  it's
• 7:29
  just
• 7:29
  hop,
• 7:30
  hop,
• 7:30
  hop
• 7:30
  from
• 7:31
  one
• 7:31
  to
• 7:31
  another.
• 7:32
  Doug,
• 7:32
  I'm
• 7:32
  curious,
• 7:33
  what
• 7:33
  has
• 7:33
  the,
• 7:34
  what
• 7:35
  have
• 7:35
  the
• 7:35
  perspectives
• 7:36
  been
• 7:36
  both
• 7:37
  of
• 7:37
  first,
• 7:38
  I
• 7:38
  would
• 7:38
  say
• 7:38
  with
• 7:38
  the
• 7:38
  ESLs
• 7:39
  and
• 7:39
  your
• 7:40
  employees
• 7:40
  and
• 7:40
  kind
• 7:40
  of
• 7:41
  the
• 7:41
  movement
• 7:41
  over
• 7:42
  to
• 7:42
  that.
• 7:42
  What
• 7:42
  has
• 7:42
  the
• 7:43
  feeling
• 7:44
  been
• 7:44
  from
• 7:44
  them?
• 7:45
  And
• 7:45
  then
• 7:45
  when
• 7:45
  you
• 7:46
  talk
• 7:46
  about
• 7:46
  getting
• 7:46
  rid
• 7:47
  of
• 7:47
  printed
• 7:47
  coupons
• 7:48
  and
• 7:48
  going
• 7:48
  into
• 7:48
  fully
• 7:49
  digital,
• 7:50
  what
• 7:50
  do
• 7:50
  you
• 7:50
  anticipate
• 7:51
  the
• 7:51
  customers
• 7:52
  will
• 7:52
  say
• 7:52
  about
• 7:52
  that?
• 7:53
  What
• 7:53
  we
• 7:54
  found
• 7:54
  for
• 7:54
  the
• 7:54
  employees
• 7:55
  so
• 7:55
  far,
• 7:55
  it's
• 7:56
  been
• 7:56
  phenomenal.
• 7:56
  It's
• 7:57
  been
• 7:57
  great.
• 7:57
  We've
• 7:57
  heard
• 7:57
  that
• 7:57
  across
• 7:57
  the
• 7:58
  board.
• 7:58
  It
• 7:58
  really
• 7:59
  has.
• 8:00
  We
• 8:00
  have
• 8:00
  heard
• 8:00
  mixed
• 8:01
  results
• 8:01
  from
• 8:02
  other
• 8:02
  companies
• 8:02
  on
• 8:03
  the
• 8:03
  ESLs.
• 8:04
  Oh,
• 8:04
  really?
• 8:05
  We
• 8:05
  actually
• 8:06
  have
• 8:07
  had
• 8:07
  phenomenal
• 8:08
  response
• 8:08
  to
• 8:08
  it.
• 8:09
  But
• 8:09
  one
• 8:09
  of
• 8:10
  that
• 8:10
  was
• 8:10
  talking
• 8:10
  to
• 8:11
  a
• 8:11
  customer
• 8:11
  who
• 8:11
  had
• 8:11
  already
• 8:12
  gone
• 8:12
  to
• 8:12
  it
• 8:12
  and
• 8:12
  they
• 8:13
  were
• 8:13
  talking
• 8:13
  about
• 8:13
  how
• 8:13
  the
• 8:13
  customer
• 8:14
  did
• 8:14
  not
• 8:14
  know
• 8:15
  what
• 8:15
  these
• 8:15
  meant,
• 8:16
  what
• 8:16
  the
• 8:16
  tags
• 8:17
  meant,
• 8:17
  which
• 8:18
  seemed
• 8:18
  funny
• 8:18
  because
• 8:18
  you
• 8:19
  just
• 8:19
  spent
• 8:19
  months
• 8:19
  designing
• 8:20
  these.
• 8:20
  Well,
• 8:21
  it's
• 8:21
  obvious
• 8:21
  what
• 8:21
  it
• 8:21
  means.
• 8:22
  Well,
• 8:22
  to
• 8:22
  us
• 8:22
  it
• 8:22
  is,
• 8:23
  but
• 8:23
  to
• 8:23
  them
• 8:23
  it's
• 8:23
  not.
• 8:24
  Okay.
• 8:24
  So
• 8:25
  we
• 8:25
  had
• 8:25
  this
• 8:26
  conversation
• 8:26
  about
• 8:26
  two
• 8:27
  weeks
• 8:27
  before
• 8:27
  we
• 8:27
  launched
• 8:28
  it.
• 8:28
  So
• 8:28
  we
• 8:28
  immediately
• 8:28
  realized
• 8:29
  we
• 8:29
  have
• 8:29
  to
• 8:30
  educate
• 8:31
  and
• 8:31
  that's
• 8:31
  what
• 8:31
  we
• 8:31
  did.
• 8:32
  So
• 8:32
  we,
• 8:32
  we
• 8:32
  got
• 8:33
  bag
• 8:33
  stuffers
• 8:33
  and
• 8:34
  flyers
• 8:34
  and
• 8:34
  signs
• 8:35
  throughout
• 8:35
  the
• 8:35
  store
• 8:37
  stating
• 8:37
  exactly
• 8:38
  what
• 8:38
  each
• 8:38
  sign
• 8:38
  means.
• 8:39
  And
• 8:40
  it,
• 8:40
  it
• 8:40
  made
• 8:40
  all
• 8:40
  the
• 8:41
  difference
• 8:41
  in
• 8:41
  the
• 8:41
  world.
• 8:41
  So
• 8:42
  that's
• 8:42
  great.
• 8:42
  It's
• 8:43
  been
• 8:43
  really
• 8:43
  good.
• 8:43
  And
• 8:43
  I
• 8:43
  assume
• 8:44
  can
• 8:44
  carry
• 8:44
  that
• 8:44
  through
• 8:45
  then
• 8:45
  too
• 8:45
  for
• 8:46
  printed
• 8:46
  coupon
• 8:46
  or
• 8:47
  when
• 8:47
  you're
• 8:47
  moving
• 8:48
  from
• 8:48
  printed
• 8:48
  to
• 8:48
  digital
• 8:48
  coupons.
• 8:49
  Yes,
• 8:49
  I.
• 8:50
  The
• 8:50
  whole
• 8:50
  thing
• 8:51
  again,
• 8:51
  it's
• 8:51
  all
• 8:51
  going
• 8:52
  to
• 8:52
  be
• 8:52
  about
• 8:52
  the
• 8:52
  education,
• 8:53
  letting
• 8:53
  them
• 8:53
  know
• 8:53
  where
• 8:54
  it's
• 8:54
  at.
• 8:54
  Right.
• 8:55
  We
• 8:55
  got
• 8:55
  a
• 8:55
  lot
• 8:55
  of
• 8:56
  ways
• 8:57
  we
• 8:57
  kind
• 8:57
  of
• 8:57
  want
• 8:57
  to
• 8:57
  twist
• 8:57
  that
• 8:58
  program
• 8:58
  a
• 8:58
  little
• 8:58
  bit
• 8:59
  is
• 8:59
  on
• 8:59
  how
• 8:59
  to,
• 9:00
  how
• 9:00
  to
• 9:00
  spice
• 9:00
  it
• 9:01
  up.
• 9:01
  So
• 9:01
  we're
• 9:01
  excited
• 9:02
  to
• 9:02
  get
• 9:02
  started.
• 9:03
  More
• 9:03
  opportunity
• 9:03
  now.
• 9:04
  That's
• 9:04
  great.
• 9:04
  Excellent.
• 9:05
  Every
• 9:05
  good
• 9:05
  merchant
• 9:06
  does,
• 9:06
  Doug.
• 9:06
  Every
• 9:06
  good
• 9:07
  merchant
• 9:07
  does.
• 9:07
  Right?
• 9:08
  Yeah.
• 9:08
  You
• 9:08
  got
• 9:08
  to
• 9:08
  do
• 9:08
  it
• 9:08
  your
• 9:09
  own
• 9:09
  way.
• 9:09
  Right.
• 9:09
  So
• 9:10
  for
• 9:10
  sure.
• 9:10
  Well,
• 9:10
  thank
• 9:11
  you
• 9:11
  so
• 9:11
  much.
• 9:11
  Thanks
• 9:12
  for,
• 9:12
  thanks
• 9:12
  for
• 9:12
  joining
• 9:12
  us.
• 9:12
  Thanks
• 9:13
  for
• 9:13
  kicking
• 9:13
  off
• 9:13
  our
• 9:13
  coverage
• 9:14
  here
• 9:14
  again,
• 9:14
  Doug
• 9:15
  Hyland.
• 9:15
  Ann
• 9:15
  and
• 9:15
  I
• 9:15
  are
• 9:16
  going
• 9:16
  to
• 9:16
  be
• 9:16
  here
• 9:16
  all
• 9:16
  day
• 9:17
  from
• 9:17
  the
• 9:17
  Simbi
• 9:17
  and
• 9:18
  Omnitalk
• 9:18
  podcast
• 9:19
  studio
• 9:19
  at
• 9:19
  the
• 9:19
  Spartan
• 9:20
  Nash
• 9:20
  Conference
• 9:20
  at
• 9:20
  Grand
• 9:20
  Rapids,
• 9:21
  Mission,
• 9:22
  Michigan.
• 9:22
  Not
• 9:23
  Mission,
• 9:23
  Michigan.
• 9:24
  So
• 9:24
  until
• 9:24
  next
• 9:25
  time,
• 9:25
  and
• 9:25
  be
• 9:26
  careful
• 9:26
  out
• 9:26
  there.