Through a special arrangement, presented here for discussion is a summary of an article from Convenience Store Decisions magazine.
Family Express' new corporate headquarters in Valparaiso, IN not only features offices and a fitness center, but combines two other training centers into one cyber training center, including a fully-merchandised Family Express store, built to scale with equipment and gas pumps.
The learning center's mock Family Express store will not be open to the public, but will be used by the human resources department for training, and by the marketing department for strategic planning initiatives.
The learning facility ties into the chain's concept as "the living brand," where employees serve as live ambassadors for the Family Express brand.
"Training and cultural engagement are an integral part of how we go to market," said Gus Olympidis, president and CEO of Family Express, which operates 52 upscale c-stores in northwest and north central Indiana. "Consequently, distance becomes a hurdle to further development for the growth of Family Express unless we find ways to circumvent its adverse effects, and this new facility has given us a way to substantially neutralize the effects of distance."
The new learning center is intended to serve both new and existing staff. By virtually connecting with individual stores, it eliminates distance from the learning equation -- allowing employees to develop the skills they need without having to travel for training, Mr. Olympidis said. "We are visually connected now with all of our stores and can combine as many as 16 stores into a single teleconference, and we can overlay spread sheets and video onto the screen, so we're able to connect without moving people," he added.
Discussion question: What do you think of Family Express' cyber training center? What are the advantages as well as any shortcomings of mock learning stores in general? Should other stores be exploring setting up cyber training centers?