Last week was Team Member Appreciation Week and many stores went above and beyond to celebrate each other, and the incredible things team members continue to do. Stores in each region had the chance to win a $500 gift card based on their theme, decorations, activities and food. Congratulations to the Mid-Atlantic region’s winner, store #919 – Pasadena, MD, for an outstanding Team Member Appreciation Week!
Monica Crabtree, Non-Perishable Manager, shared what sparked the idea to have a “Share Your Story” theme for TMAW: “We were having a team huddle and I decided to switch things up with an icebreaker. I asked everyone at the huddle to name one thing about themselves that no one knew. Everyone was so intrigued about what they learned. Our crew wouldn’t stop talking about that day.”
From that huddle, Monica and Dan Layman, Perishable Manager, began to brainstorm a few ideas. “Dan said we need to do something big, something impactful for our team and the community,” Monica said.
Dan thought of the idea to have a book drive for the Maryland Book Bank and from there, the theme was born. “When Dan told me about the Book Bank, I thought about my team’s stories and that’s how we came up with “Share Your Story,” Monica said.
Each day was incorporated with book genres for dress-up days. They had “historical figure day”, “comic book/superhero day”, “adventure-fantasy day”, “sports day”, and “fairytale romance day.” They also incorporated team member stories by making name badges that said: My name is_____, I like to____.
In addition to the book drive and dress up days, Store #919 also had activities throughout the week like Sprouts trivia, a cashier speed contest and a speedy go-back contest. The Sprouts trivia was a fun and easy game that included 12 simple questions like “Who’s our CEO?”, “What are the 3 h’s?” and “What does Dean, our manager, buy every day?” “There were lots of laughs at each other’s answers,” Monica said.
“The entire week was a lot of fun. It was only the day after we had finished the week that Dan asked, ‘What are we planning for the next one?’ I can’t believe we already have a plan!” Monica said.
Congratulations to the winning stores of this quarter’s TMAW contest in each region that were selected based on their theme, decorations, activities, and food! Click here for the full list of winners.