Addressing the Cashier Challenge through a New Position

We’ve got some exciting things happening in Treasures Thrift Store!

At FROM (Flat River Outreach Ministries) we are blessed with an incredible group of volunteers who help keep our thrift store running smoothly and efficiently. Volunteers touch every aspect of the store – from when items are donated until they are purchased!

Over the last several years, keeping our cashier position filled for all shifts has proved to be a consistent challenge. Due to limited volunteers available for key time frames (evenings and weekends) we’ve had to make the difficult decision to limit our open hours, and periodically have to close the store early. We know that disappoints our shoppers, and it impacts our ability to serve families in need in our community

Thrift Store Manager and Thrift Store Coordinator positions have not been able to address the cashier gap due to other needs throughout the store.

With this consistent challenge, we’ve decided to create a Cashier Lead position. This approximately 20 hour a week staff position will start as a 6-month pilot position. We are excited to welcome Dolores Bell into this role!

Dolores has worked with us both as a volunteer and through a program with AARP both as a receptionist and in the thrift store. Her warm and friendly personality has welcomed countless visitors through our front door, and we know she will help us create a welcoming experience for our customers and volunteers.

She’ll be working alongside Laura, Thrift Store Manager, and Tarin, Thrift Store Coordinator, to help:

• Provide stability in the Cashier Schedule to ensure we don’t have to close early.
• Work evenings and weekends and fill in where volunteers are not available.
• Allow us to participate in special events and stay open later to provide a better customer experience!
• Help open and close the register and train other cashiers!

FROM learned about the Cashier Lead position while investigating best practices other West Michigan thrift stores. We learned that one thrift store uses all paid staff at the register while another uses a combination of paid staff and volunteers at the register. The one using a combination utilizes several managers, assistant managers and a Cashier Lead role to fill in the volunteer gaps in the schedule.

“I’m so excited to have this position which, along with our amazing volunteers, will give us the opportunity to provide the necessary coverage to help fill our gaps as well as help us provide the best shopping experience for our customers,” Laura, Thrift Store Manager, said.

We are so thankful for all of our volunteers who work so hard in the thrift store to help us make a difference in the lives of families in need in our community. We’re excited to see how this position will come alongside volunteers and make an even greater impact in our community.

Please join us in welcoming Dolores to the FROM team!