Holly changes things up at local Price Cutter, gets to know community
New Cassville Price Cutter store director Dwayne Holly is pictured above where he likes to be: running the smoker in front of the store.
October 11, 2017
Charlea Estes-Jones
“Have you tried the ribs?” “No, really, have you?” It seems like any time Price Cutter has come into conversation in the last few months, that is what I’ve been asked. So I popped down to Price Cutter in Cassville to talk to the man behind the smoker, Dwayne Holly.
Holly is the new store director at the Cassville location. He’s been with the company for ten years and got his start in the meat department in Bartlesville, Okla. Prior to his career with Price Cutter, he worked for Cloud’s Meats in Carthage for 14 years.
So, even after moving up to a management role, Holly kept going with his passion if on a smaller scale. He smokes some of the best ribs in town and uses it as a way to get to know his customers.
“You can’t just let them sit on the grill. You’ve gotta do it right. You have to have hickory, not just any kind of smoke,” Holly shared.
Standing outside of the store at the smoker, tongs in hand, I caught up with Holly and talked with him about his impressions of the Cassville store and what he has been working to change since he’s been there.
He said, “I like being out here and talking with the customers because it’s a different atmosphere. We talk about anything from what they’re doing that day to issues with the store and what they’d like to see inside.”
The benchmarks of Holly’s policies are cleanliness, variety and stocked departments. He said, “Customers are noticing how clean the store is. Our new bakery manager has more variety and keeps it stocked. The produce manager has revamped produce with more selections and keeps it fuller. We’ve changed things up.”
He continued, “Willis in the meat department is just the best. I don’t have to worry about it even though I miss it.”
He may not be in the meat department, but he definitely knows how to cook it. “At the grill, the customers see me on a personal level, and that’s important, especially in smaller communities like this.”
He said that changes in the store are to make sure shoppers have a better experience and save money. Holly shared, “If we can keep the customer happy, we will. I’ll ad match locally, as far as Seligman. I’ll substitute a similar product if we’re out of a sale item. We’re here to keep people happy and coming in.”
Price Cutter is also doing giveaways and drawings. Last month, they gave away a kayak. Other drawings are planned in the future. Holly said, “It creates some excitement and I want people to come in and see what the next thing we’re giving away is.
“I do my best to try to bring the store up and do things differently if we need to.”
He added, “We’re also lowering prices and trying to show that. I like the stores in small communities because they do notice and appreciate the things we try to do.”
Unfortunately, Holly’s last rib event for the year was last week. However, he is around the store to chat when customers want to reach out. He said, “This may be the last rib event for the year, but for Superbowl Sunday I’ll be here selling again as long as it isn’t sleeting and too nasty out.” At his last store in Granby, Holly would sell 150 slabs of ribs before the Superbowl without a problem.
Of course, he insisted I try the ribs he was smoking Friday while we talked about the store, so I can say I’ve tried them. And I’ll be in line for some more for Superbowl Sunday as well as a chat with Holly.
Charlea Estes-Jones
“Have you tried the ribs?” “No, really, have you?” It seems like any time Price Cutter has come into conversation in the last few months, that is what I’ve been asked. So I popped down to Price Cutter in Cassville to talk to the man behind the smoker, Dwayne Holly.
Holly is the new store director at the Cassville location. He’s been with the company for ten years and got his start in the meat department in Bartlesville, Okla. Prior to his career with Price Cutter, he worked for Cloud’s Meats in Carthage for 14 years.
So, even after moving up to a management role, Holly kept going with his passion if on a smaller scale. He smokes some of the best ribs in town and uses it as a way to get to know his customers.
“You can’t just let them sit on the grill. You’ve gotta do it right. You have to have hickory, not just any kind of smoke,” Holly shared.
Standing outside of the store at the smoker, tongs in hand, I caught up with Holly and talked with him about his impressions of the Cassville store and what he has been working to change since he’s been there.
He said, “I like being out here and talking with the customers because it’s a different atmosphere. We talk about anything from what they’re doing that day to issues with the store and what they’d like to see inside.”
The benchmarks of Holly’s policies are cleanliness, variety and stocked departments. He said, “Customers are noticing how clean the store is. Our new bakery manager has more variety and keeps it stocked. The produce manager has revamped produce with more selections and keeps it fuller. We’ve changed things up.”
He continued, “Willis in the meat department is just the best. I don’t have to worry about it even though I miss it.”
He may not be in the meat department, but he definitely knows how to cook it. “At the grill, the customers see me on a personal level, and that’s important, especially in smaller communities like this.”
He said that changes in the store are to make sure shoppers have a better experience and save money. Holly shared, “If we can keep the customer happy, we will. I’ll ad match locally, as far as Seligman. I’ll substitute a similar product if we’re out of a sale item. We’re here to keep people happy and coming in.”
Price Cutter is also doing giveaways and drawings. Last month, they gave away a kayak. Other drawings are planned in the future. Holly said, “It creates some excitement and I want people to come in and see what the next thing we’re giving away is.
“I do my best to try to bring the store up and do things differently if we need to.”
He added, “We’re also lowering prices and trying to show that. I like the stores in small communities because they do notice and appreciate the things we try to do.”
Unfortunately, Holly’s last rib event for the year was last week. However, he is around the store to chat when customers want to reach out. He said, “This may be the last rib event for the year, but for Superbowl Sunday I’ll be here selling again as long as it isn’t sleeting and too nasty out.” At his last store in Granby, Holly would sell 150 slabs of ribs before the Superbowl without a problem.
Of course, he insisted I try the ribs he was smoking Friday while we talked about the store, so I can say I’ve tried them. And I’ll be in line for some more for Superbowl Sunday as well as a chat with Holly.
