Best Places to Work 2007: Cody’s Convenience Stores

Implementing programs that motivate and retain employees is a hallmark of Cody’s Convenience Stores.

“We’ve applied a lot of bonus programs to incentivize our employees,” said Tom Cook, director of operations.

The Springfield-based chain with 25 stores was started in 2002 with one store in Rogersville.

New employees receive one-on-one training about all aspects of the company, from its history to its policies to how different parts of the business come together, Cook said.

More advanced employee training is geared toward “skill schools” – seminars that focus on developing skill sets that lead to exemplary customer service, Cook said. He likes employees to learn about other jobs in the company.

“We try to cross-train,” Cook said. “We definitely encourage people to learn other people’s positions as much as they can. … I don’t want to be in the position where, if I lose one person, the operation goes down the tubes because nobody else knows what to do.”

There’s no waiting period to participate in the company’s 401(k) plan, and Cody’s contributes between 1 percent and 9 percent. New full-time employees receive at least 10 days of vacation and three to four sick days.

Cody’s pays between 31 percent and 50 percent of health-insurance premiums for employees and their dependents. The average pay increase falls between 4 percent and 6 percent.

For some employees, high performance can add between $6,000 and $10,000 annually to their compensation, Cook said. “It’s nice to be able to give a cost-of-living raise, but we want our people to excel,” he added.

An employee mentoring program is a recent addition that’s still being refined, Cook said. Executive-level managers are paired with store managers with the goal of meeting once a month.

“Hopefully this is a person who wants to grow with the company,” Cook said. “It’s something I picked up from my previous employer. … This is something I found really important.”

Turnover is a constant challenge in retail, but Cody’s remains below average. Last quarter’s turnover was between 20 percent and 25 percent, which puts Cody’s in the top 15 percent among chains of its size in the convenience store industry, Cook said.

That reflects Cody’s commitment to recruitment, training and pay, said Curtis Jared, chief operating officer and executive vice president of Cody’s parent company, CRW Properties Inc.

Managers have the opportunity to earn bonuses every month through store scorecards that cover turnover, complaints, cleanliness, average transaction and customer service, Jared said. District managers then receive bonuses based on the performance of stores in their region.

“If their store’s making money, they’re making money,” Jared said. “It’s kind of a win-win all the way up.”

Cody’s Convenience Stores

Founded: 2002

Address: 2870-A S. Ingram Mill Road, Ste. A, Springfield, MO 65804

Phone: (417) 877-7900

Web: www.codyscs.com

Employees: 185

Services: Retail convenience stores/gas stations[[In-content Ad]]