Most people have at least heard of Speedway Superstores. If you’re reading this, I assume you’ve heard of them too. The retail store chain specializes in auto parts and accessories and was founded in 1956. They operate over 220 stores in 20 countries worldwide.
Many people know them for their huge selection of tires and accessories. What they may not know is that Speedway also has a department devoted to car service and repairs. This department is called the Service Department and is operated by a team of highly-skilled mechanics. This team is known as the Service Crew and is separate from the store’s sales staff, which is called the Frontline.
The Service Crew is only available for repairs and servicing, so if you have a vehicle that needs to be fixed, you have to take it there. In some cases that can be very expensive, so it’s important to do your research before you visit a shop. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the right information online, so here’s an overview of what a district manager does at a Speedway store.
Table of Contents show
District Manager Roles And Responsibilities
A district manager’s responsibilities vary from store to store, but they all consist of the same basic duties. Here’s an overview of what they do:
- Coordination – The district manager is in charge of making sure that all the different departments within the store are working together smoothly. They do this by communicating with all the different teams within the store and by organizing regular meetings to solve any problems that might arise. When there’s a problem, it’s usually because of lack of communication or cooperation between the different departments.
- Customer Service – The district manager is responsible for making sure that the customers are feeling comfortable and are able to get the help they need without having to wait too long. The best way to achieve this is by being approachable by phone and email and by having extremely polite and attentive employees. In some cases, this might mean taking a step back and dealing with lower level employees when something needs to be fixed or resolved. (Levels of supervision vary by store – more on that below.)
- Sales – The district manager is responsible for making sure that the customers leave the store with something they came for. To do this, they need to work with the sales staff to make sure that each product that is sold is something that the customer was interested in buying in the first place. One of the best ways to do this is by following up on sales – making sure that the customer is aware that their vehicle is being serviced and that they’re being kept well informed about the status of their vehicle’s repair. It’s also important that they follow up with the customer at the end of every appointment to make sure that the customer is satisfied with the service and to find out if there’s anything else they can do to improve their experience. (This is known as customer engagement or customer experience management (CEm) and has become a critical part of most retail store businesses, especially those in the automotive industry.)
- Management – The district manager is responsible for making sure that the employees understand how each area of the business functions and how their responsibilities affect the whole operation. They do this by communicating with the employees about the big picture and by watching and participating in the work of the different teams to get a sense of how things are done. When there’s a problem, it’s usually because of a lack of communication or cooperation between the different department heads. (Levels of supervision vary by store – more on that below.)
- Monitoring – The district manager is responsible for watching the different areas of the business and making sure that everything is running smoothly. This includes making sure that the different areas communicate with each other and work together as efficiently as possible. While they may not be directly involved in the work of the different areas, they are constantly on the lookout for any problems that might arise. They also participate in the hiring, training, and discipline of the employees.
The Different Departments
There are six different departments within a Speedway store. They’re all important, so it’s important to understand how they work together and what their responsibilities are. Here’s a brief description of each:
- Finance – The Finance Department is responsible for managing the cash flow of the business. This includes handling cash payments, deposits, and withdrawals. It also handles invoicing and keeping track of all the sales, along with the taxes associated with these sales. In some cases, the Finance Department can be the bridge between the customer and the rest of the business in terms of finances – making sure that the customer has the money in the first place and that the business is keeping the correct books. The better the relationship with the Finance Department, the better the business will be able to operate smoothly.
- Sales – The Sales Department is responsible for marketing and advertising the different products that the business sells. It’s also responsible for taking inbound calls from customers and turning them into outbound calls to potential new customers. The Sales Department usually works with the Finance Department to make sure that the right marketing materials are in place and that the customers are able to receive the best possible service. One of the main responsibilities of the Sales Department is to follow up with the customers, making sure that they’re informed about the status of their vehicle and answering any questions that they may have. (This is known as customer experience management (CEm) and has become a critical part of most retail store businesses, especially those in the automotive industry.)
- Human Resources – The Human Resources Department is charged with handling the hiring, training, and disciplining of the employees. This includes everything from the corporate staff, to the part-time and full-time hourly employees. One of the main responsibilities of the Human Resources Department is to make sure that the employees understand what is expected of them and to handle any disciplinary action, regarding both employees and customers, with the utmost professionalism and respect. (This also includes providing a comfortable and pleasant workplace for the employees.)
- Information Technology (IT) – The Information Technology Department is responsible for keeping the business’ computers and other equipment in good working order and for expanding the business’ computer network. This includes, but is not limited to, setting up backup systems, installing software for the business, and troubleshooting any problems that might arise from using the equipment. (This is also known as infrastructure management (IM) and has become a critical part of most businesses, due to the amount of information that is now floating around in computer systems all over the place. This is also changing the way businesses operate – requiring a more centralized approach, in which everything from payroll to purchasing is handled online. This also means that any employee, regardless of their technical expertise, now has the ability to perform these tasks. In most cases, the IT Department is also in charge of ensuring that the employees understand what is expected of them and of helping them with any problems that they might have. (This is also known as employee engagement or (Eem) and has become a critical part of most businesses, especially those in the service industry, as those employees often have to be available 24/7 to take calls and to stay late to help customers.)
- Logistics – The Logistics Department is in charge of making sure that the different parts that the business sells are moved to the right place at the right time. This includes taking care of shipping and delivery, as well as receiving the parts and making sure that they are packed with the proper paperwork, etc. In some cases, the Logistics Department can be the bridge between the customer and the rest of the business in terms of logistics – making sure that the customer has the parts in the first place and that the business is keeping the correct books. (This is also known as procurement management (Procurement) and has become a critical part of most retail store businesses, especially those in the automotive industry. The better the relationship with the Procurement Department, the better the business will be able to operate smoothly.)
- Marketing – The Marketing Department is responsible for coming up with different ways to help the business get the word out there about what they sell. This includes things like advertising (billboards, TV, radio, etc), as well as the creation of product promotions. The Marketing Department works with the Sales Department to come up with different ways to get the word out there about the products that the business sells. One of the main responsibilities of the Marketing Department is to make sure that the customers are kept well informed about the business and the different products that they sell. (This is also known as customer engagement (Ce) and has become a critical part of most retail store businesses, especially those in the automotive industry.)
Specialties And Skills
As a general manager or a district manager, you may not necessarily have a specialty, but you’ll definitely have skills. Here’s a list of some of the specialties and skills that you’ll need, regardless of which role you end up taking on: