Omar Barrientos has nearly 30 years of experience in the supermarket industry across various countries. He began his career in 1997 in the Dominican Republic as an assistant manager at CCN—Supermercados Nacional. Subsequently, he worked as the commercial director for Supermercados Bravo. By 2013, he had become the CEO of HILO Food Stores in Jamaica. For nearly seven years, he has also served as the COO of Grupo Van Den Tweel, overseeing operations in Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire.
In an interview with Abasto Media, Omar shared five tips for those starting in the supermarket industry:
1. Identity
Who is the supermarket targeting? What market is it trying to capture? It’s essential to understand positioning. Is the supermarket aimed at a specific class, focused on providing basic necessities, or is it a specialty store? First, determine the target audience, then understand their needs. Many people open supermarkets without considering what customers want or need at that time.
2. Persistence
What you sow today, you reap in six months. Every action, positive or negative, has long-term consequences.
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3. Innovation
People like to go to the store to see new things and to see what products are available. Researching trends and where the market is headed is necessary. It’s also important to decipher if a trend is a customer need. For example, in a city with a fast-paced lifestyle, people will need solutions like microwaveable meals that save time.
4. Common Sense and a Sense of Urgency
These are two qualities to keep in mind. Common sense is about trying to make the best decision as quickly as possible, and a sense of urgency is because the market doesn’t wait; it’s a living environment. If customers leave the store without buying anything, there needs to be a sense of urgency, and this should be conveyed to all staff. This way, everyone will be focused and have the same vision. If everyone knows the goal, it becomes a team effort.
5. Delegation
A solid team allows you to achieve more goals. Each person must fulfill responsibilities for the supermarket to function, retain, and gain customers. If someone is already overseeing operations, then management can focus on bigger things, like generating new ideas.