Linda Shore has worked as a cashier for Piggly Wiggly, formerly known as Save-A-Lot, for 10 years. When customers and co-workers describe Linda, the same few words are used repeatedly: friendly, smiling, and happy. Each and every day, as Linda works the cashier line, she aims to give something more to her customers: a bright spot in their day. Her personable nature and the sweet “hello” she gives to each person who comes her way are the reason many customers aim for cashier line number two every chance they can get. According to some of her customers, Linda provides the best customer service around.

As a cashier, Linda checks the items and bags the groceries, while also chatting with customers to make sure they have everything they need. Linda also has other duties at Piggly Wiggly. She is also responsible for the ordering and shelving of all baked goods and the cashier line treats. Every morning she starts her day at 5:30 a.m. by pulling out those goodies needed to fill up the tables, taking out old items while stocking the new, and resupplying the treat shelves in the checkout line like candy, chips, sodas, etc. By 7:00am she's ready to greet the first customer of the day at cashier line number two, and in between customers she keeps an eye on the baked goods. Linda has plenty to keep her busy. However, for Linda, as essential as all these responsibilities are, what's most important to her is how she treats her customers. “My customers are number one for me,” says Linda. “The most important thing anyone in customer service can do is show respect. You never know when someone's having a bad day; just a smile, a ‘Hi, how are you doing?” or a ‘Thank you, sir!’ could make them feel better."

That hospitality is one thing Linda excels at; last year she won the 2020 SWARK.Today’s Reader’s Choice Award for Best Cashier in Hempstead County. Linda Rebman, Piggly Wiggly's Assistant Manager, says the store would not be the same without her. “Linda is a credit to the Piggly Wiggly company; she’s an outstanding employee,” says Rebman. Linda’s husband, David, is also a long-time employee of Piggly Wiggly in the maintenance department, so his glowing praise for his wife is based on his personal experiences of observing Linda interact with her customers. He says, “She is always polite, she makes a point to get to know her customers, and she goes out of her way to help people. Truly, Linda has the best personality for working in customer service, and you can’t find service like that just anywhere.” 

When not at work, Linda and David enjoy camping and spending time with their eight grandchildren, and one great grand. Linda’s favorite pastime is working in her flower beds. When chatting with customers she can often be heard discussing her four o'clocks and trading gardening tips. That’s not a surprise, though; Linda sees a lot of the same customers, and after ten years she says they have come to feel “like family.” Some of her customers feel the same way. One shared with SWARK.Today the following: “Linda is my favorite cashier. She is friendly every time I see her, and she even asks me how my family is doing.”

Linda has gone above and beyond her duties as a cashier and baked goods supervisor. She embodies the true spirit of customer service and takes it even a step further. Giving someone a smile and inquiring about their day is no small thing when it comes to lifting the spirits of another member of the community. David says, “If the company had 40 more Linda’s, they would be in good shape!” That same hospitality, kindness, and dedicated customer service isn’t just reserved for the grocery store, though. Really, we could modify David’s statement to say if every business, organization, and establishment had 40 more Linda’s, we would all be in good shape! A little hospitality goes a long way, and Linda spreads it effortlessly and with care. The communities of Hope and Hempstead County are fortunate to have citizen Linda Shore serving customers each day with generosity and warmth, which is why she is this week’s SWARK.Today’s Citizen Spotlight.

Thanks to Linda and the crew at Piggly Wiggly for letting us observe and share what you do with the community.

SWARK.Today’s Citizen Spotlight is for recognizing those whose dedication and knowledge are an essential part of our community and industry. Often, those roles behind the scenes are equally as valuable, yet not common knowledge. To achieve success, every job is necessary and every person’s role is critical. If you know of someone who should be nominated for a Citizen Spotlight, send an email to [email protected] with the person’s name and a brief description of what he or she does; we would love to talk with them!