Mr Price stole my heart


Two days, four trading updates from the retailers: Woolworths, Truworths, The Foschini Group and Mr Price. 

I waded through the results of each retailer, comparing turnovers and HEPS, nodding in agreement as  they brought up the impediments of lockdowns and social unrest during their difficult trading period. That is what an investor comes to expect from a quarterly / six-month update.

But Mr Price took it a step further…

Mr Price management’s proudly acknowledged and appreciated its staff, thanking in particular its “frontline store and supply chain staff whose dedication to making the customer shopping experience safe and satisfying”. 

These last two years have been hard, damn hard. Staff have lost family members and colleagues to COVID. They have lived through the trauma of the July social unrest and carry the burden of their personal problems but show up everyday to serve customers with a smile, albeit behind a mask. 

Employees are the real competitive advantage in any business but especially in retail...look after them and it will reflect positively on your bottom line. Guaranteed.

I leave you with a Richard Branson quote :

“If you look after your staff, they’ll look after your customers. It’s that simple.”


Disclosure: I currently hold shares in Truworths 


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