Layoffs at new hill district grocery (sales, landscaping, neighborhood)

[zman63]

I wonder if this store will make it a year.

New Shop 'n Save grocery store in Hill District lays off 30 employees | TribLIVE Mobile

[UKyank]

Or such adjustments are completely normal when a large retail store just opens...

[zman63]

Originally Posted by UKyank

Or such adjustments are completely normal when a large retail store just opens...

Yeah thats a soft way of putting "we are losing money"

[I_Like_Spam]

Standard operating procedure with this kind of operation. New staff is usually less efficient than veteran staff, and business for the grand opening is higher than usual- getting a very full staff is essential to get people out of the store in reasonable time.

[SuburbanPioneer]

Channel 11 looks into down employee numbers at new Shop

The store’s owner told Channel 11 that the store opened Oct. 17 with 126 employees. As of now, the store has 80 employees, both full-and part-time.

The owner said 37 people are no longer employed for reasons such as not showing up for work. On Friday, nine people were laid off because of scheduling conflicts.

Looks like they just need to find people who would actually do the work.

Although, it would be interesting to compare initial layoff numbers with, say, the new SnS store opened in Cranberry a couple of years ago, otherwise I agree that there is nothing overly unusual in this situation...

[szug-bot]

i had been there in 3 occassions. its a weird place - huge, but devoid of the buzz you might get at a place like Marketplace District in Shadyside. perhaps its much busier on saturdays, and/or things will pick up around the holidays or in the spring months.

they need to finish the pedestrian entrance in a hurry - the landscaping and ped walkway areas arent completed yet.

the people working there are nice, at least, but unbearably slow (sorry, i have perishables and i walk a number of blocks to get them in the fridge). it will last because of its convenience to a large neighborhood, but i think it'll become as lame as other shop n saves, like the one in westwood on noblestown road.

[WPANative]

Originally Posted by UKyank

Or such adjustments are completely normal when a large retail store just opens...

I've been in retail/retail sales for 22 years, and I don't necessarily agree with this.

First of all, I think the term "layoffs" is being used to be politically correct. It appears it's more like "let go" because of people not showing up for work and other violations. It also appears that business isn't what they expected. It is NOT normal for staff to be cut within the first year of a stores operation if they are at least meeting budget

[youngabe]

Originally Posted by SuburbanPioneer

Channel 11 looks into down employee numbers at new Shop



Looks like they just need to find people who would actually do the work.

Although, it would be interesting to compare initial layoff numbers with, say, the new SnS store opened in Cranberry a couple of years ago, otherwise I agree that there is nothing overly unusual in this situation...

Good find. That Channel 11 report may be one of their more interesting, legit reports versus smoke and mirrors. I think given the neighborhood, the talent pool is going to be hit or miss. Naturally, after initial hire, all employees whom are brand new...there's going to be a period where some just don't make it because of their own doing. I'm sure it takes a bit of time to get some realistic sales expectations too.

What I also find funny is that if we look at the facts and throw around our takes on the issue, we get labeled cheerleaders. But when someone else only ever makes negative posts and always takes everything to "it's shutting down" mode, those folks aren't negative...they're just "real" or something. Nope, you're just constantly leaning negative, that's all.

[gortonator]

Originally Posted by zman63

I wonder if this store will make it a year.

New Shop 'n Save grocery store in Hill District lays off 30 employees | TribLIVE Mobile

The sky is falling ... again!!!

thx man of 63 zzzZZZzzzzZZZZzzzzZZZZzzzz's for yet another insigthtful, compelling contribution to this forum.

I counter your doom-and-gloom with:

Allegheny County liquor sales highest in state | TribLIVE

Sounds like this retail area is very strong, and I am personally proud to have contributed to this success since moving here early this year I'm sure the grocery store you mention will thrive happily too ...

[SammyKhalifa]

Originally Posted by gortonator

The sky is falling ... again!!!

thx man of 63 zzzZZZzzzzZZZZzzzzZZZZzzzz's for yet another insigthtful, compelling contribution to this forum.

I counter your doom-and-gloom with:

Allegheny County liquor sales highest in state | TribLIVE

Sounds like this retail area is very strong, and I am personally proud to have contributed to this success since moving here early this year I'm sure the grocery store you mention will thrive happily too ...

I think it's a legitimate concern though, considering the tough time the neighborhood has had attracting and keeping a grocery store. :/