Life of a Retail Manager

[00:00:00]Attention all staff. After 8 years of leading this store, I have been promoted to corporate. I will now be even less present than before. Your new store manager is WJack. Congratulations, WJack. The keys are in the office.

[00:00:24]Goodbye forever.

[00:00:38]Finally, after all these years, I am a store manager. Things are going to change around here. I will do better than my predecessors.

[00:00:47][music] [music] All right, time for my second month as store manager. Let's open my store and get the bag.

[00:01:06]>> Not coming in today. I think I got food poisoning from a kebab. I'm also calling in sick.

[00:01:13]>> Damn it. Two people gone before the sun is even up. Let me ask the chat for coverage.

[00:01:19]>> Anyone able to cover the morning shift today?

[00:01:26]seen by 13 people and not one reply. I used to be one of those 13 when I was still a wage slave.

[00:01:38]>> Yo, boss man, good to see you in charge, bro. How does the power feel?

[00:01:44]>> Well, one guy is sick and one guy just didn't show up and nobody wants to cover.

[00:01:49]>> Lo, understandable. You used to do that too all the time. You know how these things go. You know what Peter did when that happened?

[00:01:58]>> What?

[00:01:59]>> No idea, bro. We never saw him. [snorts] [laughter] >> I'm not going to be like Peter. I'm going to be an actual trustworthy leader for this store.

[00:02:11]>> Sounds good, bro. We can use a good spirit here.

[00:02:20]Good morning, WJAC. Congratulations on the promotion. Why are you sitting at a register?

[00:02:26]>> Because I'm the manager now. And two people called in sick.

[00:02:35]>> Well, good luck. This store can use some good leadership.

[00:02:47]Hello. How can I help you?

[00:02:50]>> Young man, I want to return this air fryer. It is defective.

[00:02:55]>> Of course, ma'am. Do you have the receipt?

[00:02:57]>> I don't need a receipt. I have been a loyal customer for 25 years.

[00:03:02]>> Without a receipt, I can only offer store credit. Also, this box is covered in grease. Has it been used?

[00:03:09]>> Only for 11 months. That's how long it took to show the defect.

[00:03:14]>> Damn it. I can't handle this. Karen, I need help. I'm going to get a colleague.

[00:03:19]Ma'am, >> hello. Mom, what's the issue?

[00:03:26]>> I want to return this air fryer.

[00:03:28]>> I'm sorry, Mom. Our return window is 90 days. I can't take this back.

[00:03:33]>> That's it. I want to speak to your manager.

[00:03:36]>> I am the manager.

[00:03:42]Oh, then I want to speak to your manager's manager.

[00:03:46]>> That would be the district manager. She visits once a month.

[00:03:50]>> Then I will wait.

[00:03:54]>> Mom, that could take up to 31 days.

[00:03:58]>> Fine, then I'm calling the customer care hotline. You will lose your job over this air fryer.

[00:04:05]Yes. Hello. Is this the wage [music] mart customer care hotline? I want to make a highly serious complaint for the store on 45th Avenue.

[00:04:14]>> Store manager or not, carrots will always find someone with a higher rank to complain about you.

[00:04:19]>> The thing is they violated my rights as a customer.

[00:04:23]>> I have received a complaint about myself. Now I must investigate myself.

[00:04:27]>> What?

[00:04:28]>> Yes. The >> You received your complaint, Mom. You will hear from us.

[00:04:32]>> You better.

[00:04:42]Whoa, Jack. Linda from District is here, probably for an unannounced store walk.

[00:04:48]I already told her about the unfinished freight in aisle 12. Transparency is one of our five core values.

[00:04:56]>> This mother shook.

[00:04:59]>> W Jack, how are you?

[00:05:01]>> Hello, Linda.

[00:05:02]>> These bottles are out of stock.

[00:05:06]And the chips are supposed to face left.

[00:05:08]They are facing forward.

[00:05:11]>> Sorry, we are two people short today.

[00:05:13]Sorry. Stocking is a bit behind.

[00:05:15]>> Wo, Jack, please. I don't want reasons.

[00:05:18]I want results. Speaking of results, your conversion rate is down 2%.

[00:05:23]>> That's because you cut our payroll hours last month. There is nobody on the floor to help customers.

[00:05:29]>> Good news on that. Corporate is trimming payroll by another 5%. What? How am [music] I supposed to raise the metrics with even fewer people?

[00:05:37]>> That is a store level problem. I manage at district level. You're the manager.

[00:05:42]So, manage.

[00:05:44]>> Linda, should I note that down as an action point for WJack?

[00:05:48]>> Yes, Reuben. Thank you. I like your attitude. You might become a store manager one day.

[00:05:55]>> Yeah, right.

[00:05:58]>> Sign here. This confirms you agree with everything I said today.

[00:06:02]And if I don't agree, >> then you sign under protest and the outcome remains exactly the same.

[00:06:20]>> Manager to register free, please.

[00:06:36]Bro, you look terrible lately.

[00:06:39]>> I'm working 60our weeks, Jimmy. I thought my pay raise would make me a little richer, but based on how much I work, we probably earn the same.

[00:06:46]>> But you're the boss now. Isn't this what you always wanted?

[00:06:50]>> I thought the manager had power. But corporate decides everything. The customers decide everything.

[00:06:57]So, what does a manager actually decide?

[00:07:01]>> Who covers the shift when someone calls in sick? And the answer is always me.

[00:07:09]>> It's weird though. When Peter was in charge, he was never around and you are working 60 hours.

[00:07:16]>> Maybe he did something right for himself.

[00:07:18]>> But not for the store. It was a disaster. You are the first manager to actually care about us and give it your all.

[00:07:27]Anyway, can I get Saturday off?

[00:07:29]>> No, there is nobody to cover you.

[00:07:33]>> Fine.

[00:07:45]Let's see [music] an email from Linda.

[00:07:48]Congratulations, your store ranked number one in the district audit.

[00:07:51][music] Finally, some recognition. As a reward, your payroll budget will be reduced [music] by another 5% since your store has proven it can do more with less.

[00:08:02]Please also find attached a $20 [music] budget for a team pizza party.

[00:08:10]$20. [music] That is one pizza for 14 employees.

[00:08:17]>> [music] >> W Jack, the team wanted to give you something for not being the worst manager we've ever had.

[00:08:23]>> We all paid for [music] it together, bro. Even Reuben. Well, Reuben filed it as a business [music] expense, but still. Thanks, guys. This is actually the nicest thing that has happened to me in 4 months.

[00:08:47]>> [screaming] [music]