SPAR, the major European convenience shop creates custom solution

Background to the customer

SPAR is a major convenience store group located across UK, Ireland, and Europe. The retailer puts a strong emphasises on providing excellent customer service, choice, and value to allow a more convenient shopping experience closer to home. They also feel strongly about supporting local suppliers and the local community.

Customer needs

As a result of a detailed discussion with senior leaders from  The Henderson Group  who operate the SPAR Franchise for Northern Ireland, it was established that store managers needed to spend more time developing their people to retain the best staff and to focus more on customer service to retain their loyal customers.

The solution

The chosen solution was a custom simulation developed with us - SPAR WARS.

A business unit management simulation, which allows participants to experience managing a convenience store over a 4 month period.

The key aspects of the simulation include:

• Managing your service levels across a range of business aspects via key performance indicators
• Maximising your financial performance each month and for the full duration of the simulation
• Using good judgement in moving resources from one business aspect to another as required

The feedback

Participant feedback included:

• I found this a very worthwhile sessions, my commercial awareness has increased and I need to be looking at the bigger picture when making decisions.
• I like that you are able to see the direct impact your decisions have on financial figures.
• From playing the simulation it has reinforced the importance of managing your time.
• Definitely worthwhile and will prompt managers to think more about plans and priorities.
• Fun experience which gave an insight into the whole business.

Overall conclusions and value

We asked Sam Davidson, Group Human Resources Director, Hendersons, who sponsored and provided subject matter expertise for his observations on the simulation:

Working closely with Business Simulations we have developed a powerful business simulation that allows our managers to run one of our convenience stores for 4 months in a single day. The pressurised, realistic, and highly competitive nature of the game brings a unique dimension to the learning"

Sam went on to say:

We are expecting to gain significantly higher benefits and engagement from this game than other forms of training.