An article that says it all about Market Basket and the power of its workers & customers

[graywarrior]

Market Basket: A business case study for decades
What your business can learn from Market Basket’s mistakes

{snip}

Simões thinks the fact that Artie T. has mainly stood back, allowing others to speak on his behalf, makes the message even more compelling. “Thousands of employees, customers and politicians [are] speaking out and saying this isn’t right,” he says.

Tranchemontagne agrees, “I’ve never met Artie T., but he sounds like the world’s best boss…ever!”

Getting customers to participate is really eye opening, as they have taped receipts from competitors on Market Basket’s windows. “There’s no ring leader. There’s no crew,” Simões exclaims. “It’s very convincing…You don’t see this in American corporate culture.

http://www.nhbr.com/August-8-2014/Market-Basket-A-business-case-study-for-decades/

[emsimon33]

1. Great article

But it is not about communication alone--especially when one side has the moral advantage.

[MADem]

3. Yes, the approach that this could have been mitigated by "communication" is not entirely valid.

They may have bullshitted their way for a time, but they would have ended up losing customers. They were intent on selling the franchise to some jerk who would ruin it. In the interim, they wanted to cut costs in any way possible. They were intent upon firing workers, reducing benefits, cutting salaries, divesting themselves of their part-time (surge) staff--nothing like a crew of high school kids stocking shelves before a snowstorm--and raising prices/cutting product inventory, which is the whole reason why people GO to the store in the first place; for their varied selection and the ability to really stretch a buck there.

However, the communication from the aggrieved workers--and the impromptu communication from the supportive customers--is nothing short of astounding. I've never seen anything like this--it's like Norma Rae on steroids!

[emsimon33]

4. Yes! It shows the power that "the people' have if only they use it!

[MADem]

6. In this day and age of couch potatoes and cocooning, it's amazing to me to see

so many people, on a hot humid day, too, out in force and determined to see this through. The customer reaction, though, is what takes the cake. People fricking LOVE MB--no matter what store you go into, you can find your shit. The layout of all of them are similar, and the workers are always nice. I've never met a surly person in one of those maroon grocer's shirts they wear. They're just...nice folks. And I've never been in another commercial grocer that has prices as good as theirs. In many ways they beat military commissaries, particularly in the fresh fruit/veg arena.

[emsimon33]

7. I am so jealous

Our local healthy market has been taken over by Whole Foods and has gone to hell in a basket.

I wish we had MB here.

[MADem]

8. It sure was a great place!

I say "was" because, as a customer, I'm out on strike too!

I've been to the Stop and Crap three times since the walkout, and the Whole Paycheck once. We've also started patronizing our local home delivery food joints in the area--pizzas, subs, dinners in styrofoam...It's been a while since I've eaten so much take-away/delivered stuff, but hey, it's summertime and my grocery store is Off Limits for the duration!

[Cha]

10. We out here across the country appreciate you strikers in all forms. Mahalo, MADem~

[graywarrior]

11. It's astounding to still see customers in front of stores with signs supporting the cause

Every day I drive by any of the stores in my area, there they are. Amazing.

[MADem]

12. +++++++1! nt

[Populist_Prole]

13. Man oh man did you ever nail it!

Reading all the corporate jargon-laden talking points in that article made me want to retch, it was so gratuitous. "The company", as it were, don't give a damn about the actual dynamic that created their "opposition" ( what they call the protesters ). They're reeling from a dynamic they can't seem to correct with heavy doses of bullshit business-speak and they're desperate to find a way to quell the masses in a way that will allow them to enact their Wall St slash & burn model and milk that cow of cash till it's dry.

I would also imagine there is much prodding in the background from Wall St / the business world et. al. too: They fear future push backs of this sort with other comapnies and are desperate to nip this one in the bud.

[MADem]

15. The relationship between the workers, the store itself where the groceries are found, and the

customers is like a Holy Trinity--and the corporation just never saw that.

[Populist_Prole]

16. Exactly

They're so far removed from the process it's hard to put into words. It would be like this: A headline we can imagine:

"Omaha steaks exiting the meat business, to concentrate on its successful sizzle unit" Without a hint of irony.

[MADem]

17. +1 nt

[MADem]

2. I had business today that took me past a couple of MB's!

There were upbeat demonstrators out in force, the cars passing by were honking, waving, giving the thumbs up, and telling the workers to not give up. The workers were waving back at the traffic, thanking them for the support, it was amazing to see.

I haven't seen a work action like this in years, and the support from the "fan base" of customers is nothing short of remarkable. It's a real "We're all in this together" situation.

[emsimon33]

5. Thank you for the update

My admiration for the employees and customers.

[Cha]

9. Mahalo graywarror.. off to read it now..

[steve2470]

14. k&r nt

[MADem]

18. Great pic, courtesy of WCVB - Shopping cart art for Artie T!