When I was asked to live on an Out Here Ambassador for Tractor Supply Company, I wasn't certain just what that meant, just knowing how much of my fourth dimension in addition to coin is already spent inwards TSC stores, I was optimistic that it would live on a skillful chance for all of us- you, me in addition to TSC- to connect on issues in addition to ideas that are of shared importance. I was invited downwardly to Nashville, Tennessee to the corporate headquarters to pass a few days getting to know to a greater extent than almost Tractor Supply in addition to the people behind the create in addition to what I learned was genuinely inspiring. "Whatever it takes for life out here" is the motto emblazoned to a higher house the leave of absence doors at the TSC Store Support Center inwards Nashville in addition to it chop-chop became clear to me that they believe inwards in addition to alive that motto. The folks that ARE Tractor render actually strive to run across our needs equally nosotros alive our colorful, poop-filled, food-producing, flower-growing, farming, chickening, gardening, goating, dogging, hunting, fishing, camping, working, playing, lives out here.
My objective inwards partnering amongst Tractor Supply Company is to facilitate communication betwixt you, my peeps, in addition to the people of TSC, in addition to so if at that topographic point is some agency I tin flaming assist them amend sympathize yous in addition to your needs out here, delight allow me know!
My trip to Tractor Supply HQ inwards Nashville began amongst a large honkin' loving cup of D&D iced coffee, equally all skillful trips do! It bears noting that I dropped my iPhone inwards H2O on the final nighttime inwards Nashville in addition to thought I had lost all of my photos equally a termination of clumsiness. After v days of sitting inwards a purse of uncooked rice in addition to a replacement charging port, my photos were retrieved from my phone!
I arrived inwards Nashville to gorgeous pre-autumn conditions in addition to a spunky, picayune VW põrnikas to zip around town in.
First halt was The Tractor Supply Store inwards Old Hickory where I got to run across the Digital Dream Duo, Amanda & Brettan who made me experience correct at domicile the entire trip!
The most rewarding portion of the trip was coming together amongst my Tennessee Peeps! Miss Shaylynn is a totally adorable 5 yr old fan of Rachel's who traveled over 2 in addition to a one-half hours to run across me amongst her grandma in addition to great-grandma. She was the sweetest, most engaging v yr old ever!
Miss Shaylynn, showing off her Rachel autograph!
The Pumphreys were 2 of the incredibly welcoming Tennessee residents who came out to welcome me to Nashville in addition to chat chickens for a while!
I had dinner amongst TSC Digital Marketing gurus Tim Putnam in addition to Brettan Hawkins (far right) in addition to Leanne Lauricella, (middle) of Goats of Anarchy on Instagram, also a TSC Ambassador. Puckett's had killer shrimp in addition to grits inwards a cozy surround filled amongst alive music.
Our tabular array at Puckett's was correct adjacent to the bar where Chicken Scratch beer was on tap.
Coincidence? I think not!
Leanne in addition to I drove to the TSC Store Support Center (HQ) start thing inwards the forenoon to go acquainted amongst the people of TSC in addition to the company's mission in addition to values.
This Farmall tractor sits inwards front end of the TSC Mission tilt in addition to Values tilt inwards the lobby of the Store Support Center.
I visited Tractor Supply HQ during Pet Appreciation week, which culminated inwards a grouping photograph of TSC employees, taken amongst the assistance of the Brentwood Fire Department!
The TSC folks began to trickle downwardly the stairs for the grouping photo.
We're ready for our not-so-close-up, Mr. DeMille!
(me, Brettan & Dennis Tahon)
After arriving domicile from Nashville, Amanda sent me a re-create of the photo. How cool is it that they gave everyone this token of their appreciation for their difficult go & positive energy? Very.
Game of Where's The Chicken Chick, anyone?
Game of Where's The Chicken Chick, anyone?
We spent the bulk of the twenty-four hours discussing TSC history in addition to philosophy, operations in addition to programs. What I learned to a higher house all else was that the people running this fellowship are passionate almost the go they do, the fellowship they go for in addition to the customers they serve. Real passion, naught hokey almost it. Every private I had a run a endangerment to speak to one-on-one said they loved their jobs in addition to they actually exuded positive release energy in addition to enthusiasm for it.
So, this was the sentiment from the conference room where nosotros spent portion of the day. This was the spot I chose for the chicken coop I tried talking them into. I must say they were real receptive to the idea!
After tiffin nosotros were scheduled to see a top metro location to regard what was essentially the within of a model TSC store. When nosotros arrived at the location, it was an abandoned strip mall parking lot, at which betoken I was certain nosotros were existence kidnapped- or worse. The building's windows were all blacked out in addition to at that topographic point were no signs of activity, much less an active entrance. <cue the foreboding music>
Our guide, who shall stay nameless, wasn't certain this was the house or how to acquire into it. Swell.
With a picayune poking around, nosotros flora the metro door in addition to were permitted access afterward showing the metro handshake in addition to proper credentials.
With a picayune poking around, nosotros flora the metro door in addition to were permitted access afterward showing the metro handshake in addition to proper credentials.
(This photograph is non the actual location- I told you, it's secret!)
When nosotros entered the building, the start room nosotros saw inwards this quondam retail store had this sign on the door. Behind the door was the "Pitch Room," which consisted of a conference tabular array (and other Top Secret cool stuff) where the TSC Big Dawgs take away heed pitches from potential vendors wishing to offering their products to us through TSC. Beyond that room in addition to a few portion cubicles, was similar Alice dropping downwardly the rabbit hole to Wonderland: it was TSC Mecca. Through the adjacent doorway was an entire Tractor Supply store WITHIN that abandoned edifice in addition to it was perfect- everything inwards its place, novel products, proposed shelf presentations, model displays, etc. I wanted a shopping cart to fill!
I can't demonstrate yous whatever to a greater extent than without having my safety credentials revoked, (kidding) just it is the testing Earth for every shelf, fixture in addition to production that goes into local Tractor Supply stores throughout the company. Our tour guide, Greg Womack, Manager of Visual Presentation for TSC, aka: the dude inwards accuse of that operation, brought us through TSC Mecca similar a pocket-size fry showing his pals his real ain candy store- to say that Greg loves his labor in addition to has pride inwards that facility would live on the understatement of the century. It was in addition to so cool to regard that variety of passion, knowing that nosotros are the beneficiaries of it at store level.
Here are some things I learned almost Tractor Supply Company when I was inwards Nashville that I thought yous mightiness uncovering interesting likewise (in no item order):
- TSC was started equally a mail-order tractor parts & farm render trouble organisation inwards 1938 past times Charles Schmidt inwards North Dakota.
- The e-commerce/online business is kicking into high gear.
- Tractor Supply has 1,400+ stores inwards 49 U.S. states
- TSC has to a greater extent than than 11K full-time & 10K part-time employees
- There are ix districts inwards the province in addition to is growing every yr amongst novel stores across the province every month.
- TSC has a special society program. If yous don't uncovering a production yous demand inwards store or online, they volition acquire it for you. For real! Let 'em know!
- TSC instantly carries bee-keeping supplies in addition to equipment!
- One of the Big Dawgs at TSC encourages all employees to electronic mail him using the discipline trace "THIS IS DUMB" whenever they experience it appropriate. I dearest that. Company executives amongst mutual feel trying to create the correct thing for employees on the front end lines.
- Tractor Supply is super responsive to client requests, needs in addition to thoughts, in addition to so if yous guide hold something to share, speak upward amongst a telephone telephone band or email.
These pics are from my final nighttime inwards Nashville. Brettan took Leanne in addition to I to dinner at Pinewood Social, where nosotros enjoyed getting to know each other, a drinking glass of vino, some bully music in addition to hysterical people-watching!
Night on the town amongst the ladies. The music was unbelievable no thing where nosotros went.
Good times, bully company.
I may live on the worst selfie-taker inwards the free-world, just I variety of similar this Blue Man Group-esque shot!
I returned domicile amongst some TSC swag, including this TSC branded Carhartt sweatshirt that Mr. Chicken Chick tried to swipe. ACCESS DENIED- size medium doesn't lucifer him. Nice try!
Objects inwards mirror are bigger than they appear.
