Hein Gerike Braintree New Management

[ben@gerickes]

Well kept it quiet, but basically im the new store manager of Hein Gerike in braintree!

I should be in store within the next month, so what im after from you guys is some feedback. I mean I shop there so I know how crap things can be. But for me to grasp how to move the buisness forward I wanna know your thoughts!!!

[v8-powered]

Nice discount? :clap

Well done....

[CBR-Dave]

Congrats mate, great news.

Let me know when ya in fella and I'll do a mystery shop for ya lol. Put the kettle on!!!

[ben@gerickes]

Haha.... Discount didnt expect it in the first post but knew it would come up!

[RaceMeNSee]

FIRE ALL THERE STAFF!!! lol MWahahahahha

[ben@gerickes]

You wicked wicked man!

[MSmilleR]

Nice work mate!:clap

[slydog]

well done m8 . yessss discount for forum members lol . well we can hope

[kasandrich]

Batteries, its mad, why do they stock batteries but not the acid? They told me its health & safety, but you can get a battery and sealed acid pack mail order through the post, so why can't they stock it.

To be honest I don't think that as a branch manager you will have the power to change much, the stock the prices and the image are all fixed aren't they?

[ben@gerickes]

The stores are run as franchises.... So I can change quite a bit within reason! I like the store as it sits but a few ideas came to mind to drive awareness of the store.

I thought maybe a bike wash or a dyno day with a cafe van etc would go down well

[CBR-Dave]

awsome ideas, if its lovely ladies in bikini's doing the bike wash i'm bringing some mud so i can go through a few times LOL

[auroredj]

Congratulations and well done :clap:clap:clap

[v8-powered]

You could always try to get HG to sponsor a few up and coming young racers.

Like the idea of a Dyno van, also some kind of weekend meet with burgers, coffee etc would bring in trade....

[NinjaMad]

congrates and wel done fella good one ya, now ya might return my text haha

get rid of the bould bloke, his always been moody to me when i shopped there, personally great shop, good 0% finance but some prices needed sorting out to be truthful,

[NinjaMad]

awsome ideas, if its lovely ladies in bikini's doing the bike wash i'm bringing some mud so i can go through a few times LOL


VERY NICE IDEA HAHA

[fall off]

manager of a shop ,how the hell you get that as you can't manage your hair lol ... well done fellow good luck hope you make a better job of it then the other lot of ++++.

[two]

congratulations on the new job

an event would be a great idea to drum up business...

copy the hideout dyno day formula

have the portable dyno bloke turn up
get a burger van sorted
bike safe people (always funny when they test your visor)
and 10% discount on everything on the day
(if you can get all the older stock you can from other stores and flog it cheap out of a bargin bin to get it shifted...)
get a essex race team involved (or maybe a bike tuner..?)

bikini bike wash... (as long as its not you doing the washing it'll be alright)

on a different note... if i can buy a new helmet online for £100 less... match the price ;)

employee some tasty looking birds ;)

[kasandrich]

The stores are run as franchises.... So I can change quite a bit within reason! I like the store as it sits but a few ideas came to mind to drive awareness of the store.

I thought maybe a bike wash or a dyno day with a cafe van etc would go down well

If its a franchise you would certainly have more freedom, so do you own the franchise or are you managing it for the person who owns the franchise?

Rideouts are always popular, a photo gallery would be good, but the main thing, I think is to make people feel comfortable to come in and browse. I have never felt comfortable in that shop, you need to feel you are welcome, not out of place and if you need help it is there on hand.

If you could get a cafe van in regularly on a weekend, and encourage ride outs in the area, you may even be able to become a North Essex biking hub, like High Beach, the Burnham Cafe and Orwells at Ipswich.

[sniffer dagenham]

Haha.... Discount didnt expect it in the first post but knew it would come up!

I'm suprised it took 7 minutes for someone to post that.

Also what dicount do I get for a pair of SMX boots????????????? lol

[MSmilleR]

Just to add, what has annoyed me about that shop was, when i first went there and a few times after that, as i was getting ALL my gear there, i could never get any real assistance either the staff were young and with a group of their mates sitting on the bench near the tv (wtf) or the answers i got, my sister could have told me, when people go to buy things they want to hear why they should buy the product. So going with TWO's plan to hire hot birds, yeah that would be great but unless they know much about bikes its just going to get annoying!
Saying this the last time i went there to buy a tail pack, there was a new guy there and he was a real help, actually took the time to go through with me what i wanted in a product! (ended up walking out with a pair of arlen ness gloves, but not the point)

I suppose my point is staff mean everything! They have to be as interested as you are in what you are going to buy.

so rant over:angrypun:grin2

[ben@gerickes]

Hmmmm well the new SMXR boots are due in soon and they are like £220 sooo I spose i can do them for £220??

:laugh1

[STEALTH52]

FIRE ALL THERE STAFF!!! lol MWahahahahha

Right as well there all a bunch of twats!

[CBR-Dave]

get one of those wheelie machines that you see at the shows, they look awsome fun.

[RaceMeNSee]

Right as well there all a bunch of twats!


Agreed!!!

[STEALTH52]

Thats handy, after donny today the track bike is going up for sale & the gixxer is getting a track set up with a daytime mot for road riding so will need some bits very soon...

[stusgsx]

well done mate, so.....can i hav a job?!

[firestarter]

What he said !!!:grin1:grin1:grin1:grin1

[Jetski]

congratulations on the new job

an event would be a great idea to drum up business...

copy the hideout dyno day formula

have the portable dyno bloke turn up
get a burger van sorted
bike safe people (always funny when they test your visor)
and 10% discount on everything on the day
(if you can get all the older stock you can from other stores and flog it cheap out of a bargin bin to get it shifted...)
get a essex race team involved (or maybe a bike tuner..?)

bikini bike wash... (as long as its not you doing the washing it'll be alright)

on a different note... if i can buy a new helmet online for £100 less... match the price ;)

employee some tasty looking birds ;)

Now that sounds like a good day out! I'm not a lesbian so I can't vouch for the tasty looking birds lol but I'm sure the blokes would appreciate it LOL. But as ideas go, all the above sound like top ideas to me to drum up some business!

[falcophil]

Make people feel comfortable in there!
At present it seems to have a real attitude problem, i took my 1st HJC A11?(cheaper) lid in for a visor, and got it totally slated, more or a less had an argument with the guy!! came out fuming, that aint service.
never feel very relaxed in there.
Having said that they do some good stuff, an just as important, are easy to get to.
with the right management (thats you Mr Gates:grin2) and a more `biker` feel if that makes sense, it could improve.
not to fussed with the bikini bike wash, last time I did that the nieghbours all complained, I thought i looked quite nice in a thong!

[harriebird]

i went in there recently for the first time in ages. i was really unimpressed. we were looking for a back protector for my ex hubby. we were barely acknoewldged by the 2 staff working in there. the girl was unlpacking a delivery and didnt even look up when we walked past her.

the range of sizes and products was crap. we needed to ask about level 1 and level 2 protection as while i am quite well up on bike kit generally, i couldnt remember which models were which and the labels werent very helpful. i didnt dare ask because i got the impression they wouldnt know or care!

phil tried on about 5 back protectors for about 20 minutes, not once did eitehr of the staff to come over to see if we needed some help.

when we were ready to pay i resorted to tapping phil's card loudly on the cash desk to get some attention as we waited a few minutes before anyone twigged we were ready to pay.

it used to be quite a good place to pop in for a brew at the weekend as a couple of folks i knew worked in there, but i hadnt been in since they left and it wont be a destination of mine again unless i'm desperate tbh!!!

the range of girls stuff was pathetic, and when i have tried stuff on in there before, their girls sizing has to be the most bizarre i've ever encountered.

i dont know if james still has the franchise? i think you've got your work cut out mr gates, but i'll pop in soon to check it out!

sorry for the rant but having worked on the girlsbike2 stands at the bike shows where we have all worked so hard to make sure even the most unusually sized girl goes away properly kitted out, it makes me mad when people cant be arsed to give proper customer service when it is their job :shooter i know it's not great money in retail but come on!

good luck Jay !:cuddle

oh and bikini bike washes are all very well, and i appreciate that most bikers are blokes and its a great way to raise moneyfor charideeeee, but make sure there is a little something for the girlies too please :grin2

[NinjaMad]

Mate having another thought as well, bring back that stand in the middle where the kettle was and the fridge etc and could chill arounnd there..... As for what everyone has been saying its true people arnt that friendly in there not anything like biker friendly at all............. I wish you good luck Ben sure you will turn it around

[rembrandt]

post this on gixer junkies to m8, The Braintree store really got slated just recently on there , there is also a manageress of another store on there further up country , might be able to swap ideas etc

[STEALTH52]

post this on gixer junkies to m8, The Braintree store really got slated just recently on there , there is also a manageress of another store on there further up country , might be able to swap ideas etc

Yep i remember that one mate, they are not well liked at all on there....

[v8-powered]

In defence of what may be the minority in the store, I went in to H-G a few weeks back and the guy that dealt with me was very helpful.
Can't remember his name but he rides an Aprilia anyway, so he must be OK:grin2

Hopefully the new management can get the store back on track.....

[kasandrich]

Hmmmm well the new SMXR boots are due in soon and they are like £220 sooo I spose i can do them for £220??

:laugh1

I am sure you could be more creatives than that, what about buy the left (at £220) and get the right boot free?

[sniffer dagenham]

I am sure you could be more creatives than that, what about buy the left (at £220) and get the right boot free?


Wow thats a real bargin if ever I see one. :laugh1:laugh1:laugh1

[NinjaMad]

Its BOGOF

Buy one get one free LOVE IT :laugh1

[ben@gerickes]

Some good feedback peeps,
My intention is actualli to make sure that I have a team who know the products and everything that surrounds them. Fits, sizes, safety and prices... Also how to get hold of stock for people when they need it. I want people to come hang out in the store, thats how it used to be!

Also thought of a fitting service....
Displaying race bikes with HG and other race products bolted on....
Charity and funday bike events... Hopefully get bike safe etc involved....

Among others! I cant wait to get stuck in!

[STEALTH52]

You can stick a for sale sign up for my track bike then!

[Fenix]

I agree with harrie about the womens clothing. Very limited choice - could only find two styles and one was in a disgusting lime green colour :confused:. A couple of guys in there were quite friendly the first time I went there but I didn't exactly find it a welcoming place to be on my return visits.

[STEALTH52]

There's a girls clothing shop in Braintree town centre I think..Obviously I dont know what it's like though...

[AlexG]

You thinking of bikersparadise, near the fountain?

[STEALTH52]

Thats the one...

[CBR-Dave]

Well went for a blast today to braintree to check the shop out, was very quiet, walked in and was a good few minutes before i got acknowledged but i walked straight passed him so expected a hello which i got but that was it, started looking at the 1 piece suits but no one asked me if i needed any help etc.

Nice tidy shop, good size and absolutely loads of potential fella. Staff need to work on their approach and helpfulness. knowledge is down to training and easy to sort out, changing their attitude into a more customer focused one will be the tricky part.

[SDM]

When I go in to a shop, a hello or alright from the staff would be nice but not a necessity, I like to look around on my own, if I need help I will ask, but prefer not to be asked if I need any help whilst looking, not everybody is the same, and thats where it becomes hard to judge what the customer wants.

Customer service is great in a shop but how do you satisfy everybody that comes in, just a nice friendly atmosphere is all I want, product knowledge and a FREE coffee.

[Lateshift]

Its funny you mention that Kev, one of my pet hates is when sales assistants come over and ask if they can help.

I am a big believer in asking for help if i need it, but not wanting someone sticking their nose in until i have asked (where shops are concerned).

Even worse is a shop assistant that knows less about the products than the buyer, but you can have some fun with them :D

[STEALTH52]

I think they should ask if you need any help, BUT when it annoys me is when you have someone pounce on you as soon as you walk in the door, but you can always tell if an assistant looks like they want to be helpful when they acknowledge you rather than ignore you.

Think you'll do ok in there Ben, Just hopefully the staff are willing to back you up.....

Get some new blood in there would be the best way to get it moving i think..

[ben@gerickes]

Quick wins....

Free Coffee
Racing on TV
XBOX with moto GP on

I will need to review the staff before making any decisions. One of my worries is that I have had a 16/17 year old telling me how a £1200 set of leathers will be after i crash.... How the hell do they know they aint old enuf to ride!

I think as Latey and SDM have said. Theres nothing more annoying then a SALESMAN bugging you. BUT a person with a mutual love for all things bike and a friendly open approach I think will make people feel more comfortable!

[rovens]

Last time i went in there they were unpacking a delivery right in the middle of the store. I don't like being pounced on by someone trying to sell me stuff straight away but some acknowledgment and maybe moving the boxes out the way after i trip over them for the 3rd time trying to look at back protectors. Also when im standing at the till with something on the counter and my wallet in my hands looking straight at the three assistants that were unpacking stuff and using the computer, maybe one of them could ask if i want some assistance, waiting 10minutes to give someone money because they are ignoring me kinda makes me want to put the stuff back on the shelf and go somewhere else to spend my money.

I like the shop, its a good size and the range of products is fine, but the staff are pretty useless, the bald guy (James maybe?) is the only one thats ever been any help when im in there, and even he is a bit pushy.

[bayonet]

My favourite bike shop had a grumpy old man who knew all about his stock and could provide bits from other models that would fit your bike at half the cost. His shop looked like it closed down circa 1972 from the outside..... even when it was open. He only did Suzuki stuff unfortunately, I was at the mercy of the whole twattish bike shop world for my Honda bits.

If you'd asked for a free coffee he would have taken a set of handlebars to you and beaten you senseless for being cheeky, then tell you you'd have to pay for them cos they had blood on them now.

Unfortunately he retired a few years back and no one wanted to take over the shop as a going concern, so he sold all his stock and it turned into something that there is a real shortage of nowadays. A fast food/takeaway with salmonella running down their walls 21 hours a day.

[sniffer dagenham]

Customer service is great in a shop but how do you satisfy everybody that comes in, just a nice friendly atmosphere is all I want, product knowledge and a FREE coffee.


And Jaffa cakes please. Or do I have to supply my own.

[ben@gerickes]

And Jaffa cakes please. Or do I have to supply my own.

Hmmmm

Bring your own tight git! lol

[v8-powered]

Free use of the H-G staff bikes would be nice too......

[Fenix]

There's a girls clothing shop in Braintree town centre I think..Obviously I dont know what it's like though...

You thinking of bikersparadise, near the fountain?

Thanks... I'll go take a look...

[NinjaMad]

Hmmmm

Bring your own tight git! lol


Tights not the word im still waiting for mine

[CBR-Dave]

agreed with all of the above, its not being pressured to be served or to by something but a friendly " hi, how you doing" kind of thing is what i like (not in the Joey way though lol)

[MSmilleR]

I think some body at the store has read this thread as i went in there today to pick up a tail pack and they couldn't have been more helpful the whole time i was in there.

[bikermad]

sorry aint been on herre 4 ages, but well done on the job and gd luck 2 u fella

[becky]

Ben, think you should sort out getting some womens alpinestar leather suits. They do mens so whats wrong with getting womens ones in. The desingners of most of those hein geriks womens suits should seriously think about a re-design!

Oh and Well done on the new job :grin2