Love of the job is still there after 41 years

Press, 19 December 1985, Page 29

Love of the job is still there after 41 years

By

SARAH SANDS

Forty-one years may seem a long time to work for one company, but Mr Bruce Johnson, the wholesale sales manager for G.U.S., has the same enthusiasm for the job as when he started in 1944. A man more familiar to Christchurch retailers than the public, Mr Johnson retires on Christmas Eve.

He is the longest serving member of the company. He first worked for G.U.S. during the school holidays in his later years at St Andrew’s College. He was studying accountancy and wanted a holiday job in a grocery store — “I wanted

to be behind a counter or packing things.” The Vocational Guidance centre had sent him to Grocers United Stores, Ltd, not realising that it was an office job. “I got £2 a week for working there in the school holidays.” After getting University Entrance, Mr Johnson had been planning to go to university, but the manager of G.U.S. had offered him a job.

“I talked it over with my father, and I felt there could be something in it. People have got to eat, so it’s a safe and sure industry.”

“I started work in the

sales office (in 1944) at £1 17s 6d a week — I’d dropped 2s 6d a week.” In 1955 he was made sales manager, and for a time was in charge of sales and advertising for both I.G.A. and Supervalue stores. “I then had to make a decision on which group I was going to look after, so I went to Supervalue, which I thought had the biggest future.”

Mr Johnson said there had been tremendous changes in the grocery industry since he started, including the introduction of scanning, computer coding and EFT-POS.

“I always realised that a change is for the better, and it’s better for the customer. Changes are necessary at all times — they are part of life.”

In his time at G.U.S., Mr Johnson has organised 30 company picnics, 25 balls and caberets, 21 company golf tournaments, 15 children’s Christmas parties, and the twenty-fifth and.

fiftieth anniversaries of the establishment of the com-

pany. He has also put together the G.U.S. retailers’ newsletter for 30 years, and two years ago started a new wholesalers’ newsletter. Mr Johnson said he planned to play more golf and do more gardening once he retired.

“What people say when they retire, is that they don’t know how they had time to go to work.” Mr Johnson had a minor stroke two years ago, but has not let it slow him down.

“I proved that after my stroke I still had enthusiasm.”

A diabetic for 30 years, Mr Johnson believes he has also proved that a person with diabetes can do just about everything any other person can do. “I’ve had a rich life working for G.U.S. They have been marvellous to me.

“I’ll cry when I leave here, I know.”