They say that first impressions are important and, when it comes to WalMart in Port Elgin (Saugeen Shores), ‘Jerry the Greeter’ lives up to the saying.
Unfailingly cheerful and helpful, Jerry greets everyone with a smile and knows many customers by name.
He has been coming to the area of Saugeen Shores since the early age of two when his grandparents lived in Southampton and his grandfather, Archie Woods, worked in what was then the Furniture Factory (today the Southampton Market). “I always knew this is where I wanted to retire.”
With a background in sales and then as a PSW (Personal Support Worker) in long-term care for 14 years in Barry and Brampton, being a greeter was a ‘perfect fit’.
“I started out in the merchandise area in the store five years ago and then it was suggested I take on the greeter position,” says Jerry. “At first I didn’t really want to, but my background in sales and as a PSW brought together two strengths that I had … the ability to meet and talk to people and the compassion that I had as a PSW. I soon learned that it was the perfect job in retirement for me and I have made many friends of the customers who come through the door.”
In the WalMart organization, each year, an employee is chosen in a district as ‘Shining Star of the Year’ and, this year, Jerry was unanimously nominated for the district. He will be travelling to London (ON) on March 1st to join those others from other districts, one of whom will be selected for a trip to Head Office in Arkansas.
“I was shocked to have been chosen,” says Jerry. “While I feel that it is an honour to be selected as ‘Shining Star of the Year’ and appreciated for the work for that I do, to me meeting and greeting customers and giving them a good experience and making friends with many of them is so important. When I first started, i worked with greeter ‘Nigel’ and he was my mentor. I learned from what he offered and combined it with my own life experience. As I say, it has turned out to be a perfect fit.”
Congratulations Jerry!