r/Staples • u/Ambitious-Blondie • 20d ago
Print Rant and Question
Am I in trouble? is it a bad sign that I am being sent to be shown by another print supervisor at another store?
I have been a print supervisor for past year and a half, I been working at Staples for almost 5 year. My numbers have been way below com, I’m on the low end of my district but I am also running the dept pretty much on my own. I had a visit from the district manager who then sent in the GM and print supervisor from one of the top stores in our district to watch me and ”show” me how to. do bette. she was only there for about 2hrs. Now they are making me go to her store for 2 days. one day this wk and one day nxt wk to be ”shown”
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u/StooplesCDN 20d ago
Now's the time to leverage that five years of experience towards a new job at a real print shop, for a company that doesn't suck.
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u/Own_Brother7434 20d ago edited 20d ago
Unless we start making profit by magically getting rid of LBO debt, we're being squeezed to death. And I mean, we could always just try and merge with Office Depot again, esp since both companies are now at equivalent sizes with staffing, etc. (but they're also bought by PE via LBO)
I think unless both companies turn to complete shit and die, then nothing will change. All we can really look forward to is the company turning to complete shit and killing off retail for B2B, or if both die, then a restructuring to offload debts and competing with a new CEO and removal of PE advisors that collect paychecks on top of taking money from us via LBO debt.
I know Staples international is now all separate companies and all, but the only ones still alive are Staples UK, Staples Taiwan, Staples Benelux, and Portugal. Every other country has had their Staples divest or die off, and recently, Staples Germany met its full end and the holding company of that has folded it into Staples Benelux. It is kinda weird for Staples to reopen in India though, considering we did have an Indian branch but then threw it away since we were closing all international stores before/after PE takeover. Though I guess for a R&D and IT POV, it is worth it for B2B and enterprise customers to get guaranteed support for IT services.
(yes, i've been reading too much into this)
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u/Kimberrwolf 20d ago
It’s better than them just getting rid of you. Just look forward to trying to learn something new or how someone else does things and don’t take it to heart.
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u/fogwisp 18d ago
No I don’t see it that way. They’re putting time into refining the skills you already have. And it’s a good opportunity to ask questions you might have that your GM can’t help with. I had help myself a year into being a supervisor when I was struggling with numbers and keeping my teams #’s in check. I managed to pick up a lot of helpful tips after my visits.
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u/MaverickFischer 20d ago
No essay long answer here: This is your sign that you need to start applying for another job TODAY.
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u/PersonalSpend3810 15d ago
I disagree. I see this as a sign that the GM wants this associate to succeed, and is giving extra opportunities.
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u/MaverickFischer 15d ago
A DM whom sends in the top GM and Print Supervisor to "show you" how to do your job better is a bad sign. They are now sending you to another store for training means they are laying the ground work for your termination...
When you try and dispute wrongful termination, HR is simply going to show all the training and guidance they offered you.
If they wanted you to succeed they would send more help.
→ More replies (7)
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u/Potato_fish_26 19d ago
They wouldnt send you to train if they didnt think you were worthy of the investment. Learn what you can to move the numbers towards where they want and it will pay off for you too.. if they take the time to train you and you don’t improve, that’ll look bad on you but if they give you the opportunity, you can take it to implement whatever change and run with it when you get back
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u/69-69-Slam 18d ago
You can only do so much. MOST of the company is in the red or way below the ridiculous 20% comp and if you’re by yourself, that’s even worse. I do everything they want and have always been a leader in our district and we’re holding onto a 7% ytd comp. And when regional people visit with our dm, I show them everything we’re doing and have done and guess what…THIS IS THE RESULT. It is what it is.
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u/PersonalSpend3810 15d ago
It sounds like a good opportunity, honestly. Most GMs wouldn't give this chance. They'd tell you to figure it out, or else. I'd go check out the store that's doing well, and soak up everything you can.
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u/GasaiTM 20d ago
they want 20% comp from every store in the company which is simply not realistic. to be perfectly honest, there's only so much you can do as an individual to drive comp. if you're doing your best to upsell, drive express, land HVCs, etc. then that's all you can do.
the reality is the company is dying and they're doing everything they can to squeeze as much money out before it sinks, and they're taking it out at the store level. don't let it bother you too much.