1.
BLAINS INTERNSHIP 2016
Jacob Black
University of Northern Iowa; Class of 2017
Intern of Cedar Falls Store (32)

2.
DEVELOPING CULTURE IN BUSINESS
 Starts with a good foundation
 Customer Service should always be first priority
 Connect with associates
 Lead by example
 CEOs, managers, founders, etc. should be on same page with
company ideas, goals, and objectives
 Assign leaders who are in charge of teams
 Make sure that leadership is someone who represents the face of
the business
 Strong structure says everything, it shows that there is a plan

3.
 Trust in other employees; their ideas matter, and yours
aren’t always the best
 Keep focus on what needs to be done first, and make
that the priority
 Be serious, but also keep the mood light at times
 Enjoy what you do
 ALWAYS communicate with others
 Don’t be on two different pages
 Collaborate with others when needed
 Don’t assume

4.
DEFINED CULTURE
 Having a defined culture sets the mood for the stores and the
experience
 The customers who shop there
 The music being played overhead
 The products, fixtures, signs
 The smells or what you see when you first walk in
 What the employees wear at work
 Target the audience you want to reach and satisfy them
 There is always room for expansion once the foundation is up
and growing
 Defined culture shows stability, support, knowledge, builds
relationships, establishes trust

5.
CUSTOMER CENTRIC
 Getting what you want in one location
 Having competing, or lower prices
 Giving an experience to an individual that brings them, their
family and friends back
 Focus on the needs of that individual and build from it
 Turn a single item into an entire project
 Being sold what is best for the job
 Having the feeling of satisfaction

6.
FAMILY ORIENTATED
 Committed to what you believe in
 Building trust with other members
 Having a say and viewpoint on a topic
 Keep promises of what you say you’ll do
 Do it to the best of your ability
 Have a “second family”
 Make new friends
 Go outside of the comfort zone
 Have confidence
 When you say something mean it, don’t make it appear to be a
question but rather a statement

7.
THE BLAIN WAY
 Greet the customers
 Be sincere
 Eye contact
 Smile
 Be neighborly
 Sell them what you would use
 Engage the customer/ Be involved
 Ask questions for their needs
 What project are they doing
 Show how the product works
 Peak curiosity
 Know the product you are selling
 Be the expert
 Get familiar with products and store layout

8.
EXPAND OR EXTINCT
 Started as a business specializing in a few things, now has thousands of skus
 Living the American dream
 Being a destination
 Strong internet base
 Reach all demographics
 Focus stores in Midwest, sell to anywhere
 Opening new stores yearly
 Adapt to change
 Give customers some new places of the store to explore
 Phase 2
 Send employees to seminars to learn about new products

9.
COMMITMENT
 Blain’s Farm & Fleet is a genuine, family-owned, community-
focused, multi-channel retailer that is deeply rooted in the
traditions and culture of the Midwest.
 Our purpose is to empower our customers to fulfill the needs of
their work, home, & outdoor active lifestyle with our unique mix
of products & services.
 Our enjoyable brand experience and engaging stores showcase a
practical assortment of carefully selected brands which position
us to be an inspiring resource and destination for our customers.
 Our commitment to quality products, fair & honest prices with
friendly, straight forward expertise exceeds our customers’
expectations.

10.
MY EXPERIENCE
 Take on a lot of roles
 Have open ears to everything
 Nothing too small
 Be open to trying new things
 Listen to other managers, assistants, employees
 Some have experience in other retailers
 Control what you can
 Delays, Planograms, Fixtures, etc.
 Lead by example
 Recognize someone who does good
 Pillar cards
 Customer service pins
 Sense of endearment