Decorflash August Newsletter
25 Years of Service On our recent staff training at the Durban Office, Allan Solomon took a moment to congratulate and award Yogeetha Audith for having been a loyal and hardworking team member for 25 years. To the right: Allan handing a certificate, Long service badge and a Game Voucher to Yogeetha
Here is what Yogeetha had to say: 25yrs ago Decorland Newcastle was the 5th store in Game Stores in KZN only Mr. Ken Solomon headed the Decorland boat with pride, respect, trust, discipline and fair dealings. His authority was never questioned or crossed. He always gave his best to his staff with understanding and compassion making sure that the older staff took the new comers under their wings and making them the best sales consultants they could be. Product knowledge was his priority and sales was his purpose. I have watched with pride as this boat grew into a yacht and now a gigantic ship with captains that share the same drive of PASSION, INNOVATION and COLLABORATION Make your vision so clear that your fears become irrelevant, No one has ever injured their eyesight by looking on the bright side, A river cuts through a rock not because of its power but its persistence, Working hard for something you don’t care about is called stress, working hard for something you LOVE is called PASSION, Refuel your fire every morning by reminding yourself that your butt is perfect, your smile lights up the room, your mind is insanely cool and you doing an amazing job DONT WISH IT WORK FOR IT :-) Whatever you do always give your 100%, unless you donating blood :-D GOD BLESS LOVE YOGEETHA
Our People Meet Brent and his region On the right: Brent and staff from the Kimberly store (left Grace Ntombela, right Michelle Meyers)
How do you start your day in the morning? I travel a lot and usually sleep in guest houses, which have become like my second home. This week I’m at home is completely different, kids need to get dressed for school, dogs all over the show, breakfast must be served and dishes must be done. What did you always want to be growing up? At first it was a vet, then it was tourist guide and then it changed to an archeologist. At the moment I would say that my dream job is to become an archeologist, travel the world and explore caves and old burial sites. What’s the funniest thing about you? Can’t say that there’s really anything funny about me but my wife reckons that I have a twitch, especially when I get caught off guard. What keeps you going and what can’t you live without? Dreams and ambition keeps me going. I have set goals for myself for the future with regards to finances, where I want to retire and where I want my kids to be. I believe that every small step I take now will have a major impact in the future. Decisions I make now will influence the outcome of my dreams. Every day for me is a step closer that end result. Which 1 thing would you like to change around or about you? Owning a business, I wouldn’t mind owning a guest house, I have a passion for entertaining and / or hosting people. I think I would do very well in that industry. What can you say to colleagues at Decorland? With over 19 years’ experience in Retail, one thing I have learnt over the years is that you can be anything you want to be, you must just make the choice. A story I will never forget is a security guard at Mr Price, he worked at the front door and was very good at what he did. Soon the store manager saw the potential in him and offered him a job as a staff member. Long story short is he became a store manager, then area manager and then became an ops manager. So don’t think that because you’re a staff member you don’t have the potential to be something more, you just need to make the choice! Which place would you like to visit and why? Egypt, I have a fascination with the Egyptian culture and their history. I would like to go there one day and visit the pyramids. In my house I have 6 papyrus Egyptian paintings, sculptures and books. I even have 3 Egyptian tattoos. How do you spend your free time? I love spending time on my adventure bike, I love exploring the country and travel the back roads where most people don’t go. I get to the see the most beautiful places in the country away from civilization. How do you uphold the 3 Decorland values? Passion: After so many years in retail it has become part of who I am, I live and breathe retail. I have a passion for customers, serving them and seeing them happy. Nothing gives me more satisfaction than a customer complimenting me on good service. Innovation: I always challenge the norm and always try and look for better ways to do things I believe in working smart, not hard. Often we need to go through a bit of trial and error until we find the right result. Collaboration: Working as a unit is the only way a business will survive, we have to work together as a team. I always try to have a good working relationship with my fellow colleagues. We all need each other’s strengths to make a success of what we do.
Long Service Awards Congratulations to the following staff members for celebrating their Long Service with the company, we wish you a much longer and fruitful stay. Sello Hlikilili - 10 Years Lettie Modibedi - 15 Years Dorethy Adam - 20 Years Yougeetha Oudith - 25 Years
Mathew Eranmonsele 10 years, Lagos
Carl Hehemeku 5 Years, Ghana
Wesley Parker 5 Years, Durban Head Office
Win Movie Tickets DOES THE BELOW LOOK FAMILIAR?
I bet it does, why don’t you and you team members do a little write up about how you follow the steps above when approaching or being approached by a customer. Explain in detail how the process unfolds, use examples of recent encounters so that other team members / stores can learn from you. Send your responses to Sithabile – hr@decorland.co.za. Only the first 5 stores to email will get voted on, the best store to respond from the 5 will win 2 movie tickets per team member. The winning store will be announced at our next Newsletter issue and will have their story featured on the Newsletter.
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Go on teams, this is an exciting opportunity for you to share your learnings with your team and inspire others.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH “It is not your customer’s job to remember you. It is your obligation and responsibility to make sure they don’t have the chance to forget you.”
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Service Excellence
The Gateway store (Mahlon, Venusha and Nokuthula) together with the Installations team and the Décor Depot factory managed to be our stars of the month by providing excellent service to a customer who boasted with the compliment below:
“Hi Yvonne Very happy with the service I have received from the store staff, the expediency of the factory and installation team” Thanks Team, let’s keep flying the Decorland flag high!
Policies - Customer Returns
The Game customer service staff must notify Decorland staff for each and every customer return. Sales Consultant will attend to customers when called by the customer service staff over the GAME PA system. Build relationship with the customer service staff members. The customer return request needs to be evaluated on its merits taking into account the appropriate applicable circumstances and situations. (Apply your mind to see the bigger picture). Staff is encouraged to discuss reasons for returns with the view to exchanging rather than refunding customer cash. Only if there is a problem that can’t be handled – or is unusual, contact Regional Manager. A Proof of purchase must be produced by the customer for any refund or exchange. If not, an item shall only be refunded on the last promotion price. Items can only be refunded or exchanged in its ORIGINAL UNOPENED PACKAGE unless it is a Manufacturing fault. On completion of return/refund transaction a Decorland staff member needs to take the refund slip to a floor manager/security for authorisation. (This may be store specific) The staff must immediately remove the stock from Customer Service and take it back to the department for resale. (Regional Managers to address this with Game management) Copies of Original Sale (till slip) and Refund slip must be kept by the staff for record purposes.
Congratulations On Andre’s recent trip to Nigeria, he personally handed over gifts to our Enugu store who won the Highest Growth and Small Store of the year in the 2016 Awards. This just shows that hard work really pays off, congratulations once again to our Enugu store. Please continue increasing your performance. Team Decorland, don’t you want your store to receive such an achievement? Of course you do! Well it’s easy, just go for it, you have been to Customer service training (if you haven’t your turn is coming) and are well equipped. Use the tips you have been given and score that sale like a pro!!!
Birthdays Simangele Mvelase Georgina Louw Nobubele Ndlumbini Yvonne Hoareau Juanita Pieterse Zelma Smith Pernelle Pillay Megan Theys Thandiwe Ngqoboyi Sibusiso Sikhosana Brent Jordaan Philani Ngema Kwasa Nkoana Linda Naidoo Lindiwe Mthembu Elizabeth Mngoma Dumisani Nyembezi Moffet Sibanda Mpho Raseroka
Nhlakanipho Mhlongo Dumsile Mnisi Matsobane Ralefatane Gerhard February Marchelle Du Plooy Nomqibelo Mphahlele Thobiswa Nxumalo Phakisho Kabinde Lerato Modiga Thembisile Miya Zama Mkhize Nokuthokoza Ndlovu Penelop Zincume Sibusiso Nkosi Aveen Dhanuk Nokuthula Mogwaxaza Zandile Mkhabela Phumzile Mweli Nompilo Nyembezi
Tsholofelo Madiba Khutjo Ledwaba Lucia Ngakaemang Joshlyn Michaels Siyamthanda Sidinile Anele Somniso Remicia Alexander Aubrey Louw Helena Paulus Tsepang Khoana Nominentle Magwa Ernest Danquah Tsholofelo Nong Zithulele Memela Anthony Arnold Shupikai Gama Blessings Kamba
In the spirit of birthdays we would also like to wish Imran Chopdat from Ladysmith all the best on becoming a proud dad for the second time. They welcome a bouncing baby boy, Mohammed Ameen in May this year. To the left, Imran, his wife and daughter welcomed baby with loads of happiness.
Reaching Out
Awesome Prize for your community Do you know of any Non Profit charity organization in your community that needs some extra assistance? Please send us information about the charity and you could win R5 000 for your charity and have them and yourself featured on the next Newsletter. Please send info to bronwyn@decorland.co.za - Marketing.