Patience had just finished high school when she joined Stewart’s Shops.
She was promoted to shift supervisor shortly after her 19th birthday and became the manager of the Stewart’s in Red Hook by time she was 21.
“I came into the retail business with no experience and they taught me everything I know now. It’s pretty amazing the opportunity that they gave me,” Patience said.
It was the diversity of the job that attracted Patience to Stewart’s Shops.
“No two days are the same,” Patience said. “One minute you might be stocking the cooler or scooping ice cream and the next minute you might be making a sandwich or helping a customer play Lotto. We have a lot of fun at this shop.”
Beyond the on-the-job training and promotions, Patience said, Stewart’s also helped her become more confident working with people.
“When I started, I was very shy,” Patience said. “I was scared to even talk to customers. It really brought me out of my shell.”
Located in Dutchess County, Stewart’s Red Hook shop is part of a tight-knit Hudson River community known for its annual Apple Blossom and Hardscrabble Music festivals.
“Red Hook is a super small town. It’s very cute and we know our customers by their first name,” Patience said. “Many of our customers come in and they get their same order every day.”
Beyond the atmosphere at the shop, Patience has enjoyed helping other Stewart’s employees, who we call partners, learn and take on new responsibilities.
“One of the best parts about my job is watching somebody else grow,” Patience said. “I came in entry-level and moved up the ladder and I like to give other people the same opportunities that I had.”
Since becoming a manager, Patience has helped prepare several partners for promotions to shift supervisor. Now, she is training a partner to become an assistant manager.
“I love running my store. I love problem solving and finding new ways to help the store run better,” Patience said. “When I joined Stewart’s, I thought it was going to be a part time job for a while. I didn’t realize I was going to be a lifer.”
Stewart’s Shops, a sharing company
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