It is raining cars

Top Store Managers in West Balkan, Hungary and Denmark have been awarded with company cars for their impressive results in the financial year.

The calendar shows 19 September, but the sun is nowhere to be seen, and it is raining hard in Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, where just a few people are standing outside Hotel Aristos.

Inside the hotel, however, the lights are on as Store Managers from Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia and Bosnia-Hercegovina are gathered to kick off the financial year (FY) 18 and celebrate the great results of FY17.

The atmosphere in the room is great: People are laughing, and with a music video featuring the management team of JYSK West Balkan the day is off to a great start.

“In JYSK it is important to combine hard work with having fun,” says Vesna Kukic-Loncaric, Country Manager for JYSK West Balkan.

But it is also about celebrating great results, and this year it includes an additional bonus as the 11 top-performing Store Managers for FY17 are awarded a company car, which they will have at their disposal for the next year.

Twinkle in the eyes

It creates quite a stir when the first of the branded cars rolls into the conference room, and Store Manager in Zagreb, Tomislav Ilija, is the first one to be awarded a car, which comes as a big surprise, and he is fighting to keep the tears from rolling down his cheeks as he is handed the keys.

Together with Country Manager Vesna Kukic-Loncaric, this is done by Executive Vice President Retail Mikael Nielsen, who underlines the importance of awarding great results.

“It is great to be here in Zagreb and feel the atmosphere and see the smiles and the twinkle in the eyes of everyone present. This is what JYSK is all about,” says Mikael Nielsen.

Started in Romania

And it is not only in West Balkan that great results and twinkle in the eyes are awarded with surprise company cars.

Romania was the first country to hand out cars when four JYSK talents were awarded a car in October 2016, and in 2017 top performers among Store Managers in Denmark and Hungary have also been awarded  company cars for their results.

“It was a Romanian initiative, which has been very successful and very well received by our employees, so I am of course happy to see that other countries has started doing it as well,” says Country Manager of Romania and Bulgaria, Alex Bratu.

And to confirm that the gesture is much appreciated, one only has to take a look at the happy faces inside the big meeting room in Hotel Aristos.

No one cares that outside it is raining cats and dogs in normally sunny Zagreb. Inside it is raining cars.

See videos below from Store Manager meetings in Hungary and Denmark: