COST-U-LESS?celebrated its first anniversary yesterday with crowds of excited shoppers.
Craig Cole, a senior manager at the Welches, St Thomas store, told them that the company had listened to what Barbadians wanted to shop for and had provided the goods.
“Cost-U-Less looks forward to a long and prosperous relationship in Barbados and the community,” he said to loud applause.
Tom Kallio, vice president and general manager of Cost-U-Less International, announced some of the fabulous prizes which the membership store will be offering its members. One lucky shopper, he said, would win free groceries for a year valued $6 000.
“This is a way of saying thank you Barbados for allowing us to become part of your community,” he said.
Cole told the SUNDAY?SUN?that providing what the customers wanted had worked for their company.
“We keep listening to what Barbadians want to shop for and we feel that if we can provide that people will continue to shop with us,” he pointed out.
As to staff, he said they did not have to lay off any even given the tough economic times.
With a complement of 90 staff members Cole said Cost-U-Less had managed to provide a family atmosphere in the workplace.
“We have not had to lay off any staff and we don’t want to. We budgeted and we planned and who we brought on was who we would have needed.
“Barbados is a great place to operate in. Our staff is very invested in the company; everyone sees it as their own. There are a lot of people we have had from day one so we really see it as a family environment.
“Even with our customers they know all of us by name and we know all of them by name.”
During the five-week anniversary celebration one lucky customer will win a prize every Saturday starting with a flat screen television which was up for grabs yesterday. There will also be special days for women, men and children.
Earlier in the day, Sharon Primary School, which Cost-U-Less has adopted, serenaded the store with a birthday song. (MB)
