February Fever

Things just keep getting busier and more full on, and I love it!

So much has happened in the past month that I am literally struggling with where to start.


At the end of January, as I mentioned in my last blog, myself and the others in Phase 2 of the Tore Manager Development programme attended a workshop at Store Support Office. We did activities aimed to increase our awareness around different things as leaders, which we all enjoyed. We also heard from our employment relations and health and safety managers.

The last day saw all 9 of us doing our sign off presentations. It would be fair to say that from the moment we all met in the hotel foyer that morning- the nerves kicked in.

The day was split into time slots and I was lucky last. Everybody's presentations were done really well and it was interesting to see everyone speaking for up to 40 minutes on their past role and journey. I was stoked overall with how mine went but just extra happy to have completed it so I can now focus on the phase ahead- phase 3!


I'm now a few weeks into my role as Assistant Store Manager of our Cambridge store.

I can say that things are going well. My plans of initially watching the inner workings of the store completely went out the window from the first few days, when I realised just how hard it was to be in charge of a store when your Store Manager is away. There were so many variables which popped up that required me to step up and act like a Store Manager.

Due to the nature of the business I’ve only been able to spend a handful of days with my Store Manager. This has meant I have had to pick up on his expectations fairly quickly and apply and deliver these in store through the team and team leaders.

I currently have another person on the SMDP in store working for me as a Team Leader. I'm finding that I am learning a lot through this. As we had built a relationship prior to working in Cambridge we are both learning to keep ‘outside of work’ and ‘in store’ separate so we can stay focused on the important things- what's best for the store and business.


I recently attended my first regional manager's meeting as an ASM. It is a chance every month for ASM's and Store managers from the region to get together for a couple of days to ensure we are all aligned to the objectives we set. We also get to hear from different people from different areas of the business, do activities and discuss relevant business topics.

I am still travelling back and forth lots between Hamilton and Christchurch as well as other parts of NZ to see friends. Between this and my new role it is keeping me busy which I love!!

That's me for February!