KUKUI GROVE – “He came in late one night,” remembers Alyssa Stanwood, one of the 20 workers at the Kukui Grove Cold Stone Creamery. “He was the last customer. In fact, he was the only customer in the store,” Stanwood
KUKUI GROVE – “He came in late one night,” remembers Alyssa Stanwood, one of the 20 workers at the Kukui Grove Cold Stone Creamery.
“He was the last customer. In fact, he was the only customer in the store,” Stanwood remembers of the mystery shopper that, a few days following his visit, awarded her the first 100 per cent rating for any of the Kaua‘i outlets.
Don Taylor, owner of the two outlets, was pleased with the award, noting that a achievement of this type is very difficult to obtain.
Taylor explained that the mystery shoppers rate the approximately 750 outlets in the nation with about 25 per cent going towards the store’s appearance.
“The other 75 per cent is based on service,” Taylor said. “And, it’s tough to get all of the criteria.
It’s easy to get sidetracked.” Stanwood remembers that the customer wanted rasberry. She suggested chocolate, but he didn’t care for that, and in the end settled on a half-and-half with mint and chocolate.
The final order was half-andhalf, something Stanwood said is not uncommon, but he ordered it big which made her job easier.
What followed was the appearance of the shopper’s report a few days later where Stanwood’s performance behind the counter earned her a 100 per cent rating, and as a reward, a crispy hundred dollar bill from Don and Barbie Taylor.
Taylor said there are only about 20 people out of 750 stores that earn the award of excellence.
Taylor said that the Waipouli store has been operating for about 18 months, and the Kukui Grove store has been open for eight months, and Stanwood’s selection as a hundred per cent winner has him excited.
Stanwood says she’s been working for only five or six months, and was modest about her accomplishment.
When she gets back to school, she’ll continue working, but around her schedule which includes playing tennis for the Red Raiders, and possibly trying out for paddling.
As for college, she hasn’t quite made up her mind, although she says, “I would like to stay in Hawai‘i since I love it, here.” Cold Stone Creamery stores on Kaua‘i will join the rest of the 14 stores in Hawai‘i Thursday evening for the Cake Social benefitting the Special Olympics program from 5 to 8 p.m.
Taylor said that during this time, special donation canisters will be set up, and patrons may come in for a free slice of ice cream cake which will be set up on the stone.
During this time, patrons may also meet Special Olympians as well as the program administrators who will be working alongside people like Stanwood to offer customers the perfect answer to a hard day at the office.
The special event is held as a climax to honor National Ice Cream Month which is celebrated in July, and Taylor said that a portion of the proceeds from any of their ice cream cakes ordered in July will go towards the Special Olympics program, too.
Nationally, Taylor said Cold Stone Creameries will host cake socials to benefit Make A Wish Foundation, but in Hawai‘i, it was decided that the stores here would make the Special Olympics program a beneficiary since a lot more people are aware of the benefits the program provides.
Taylor said a similar program for the Kaua‘i Police Activities League (KPAL) football players will be hosted at both Kaua‘i stores on Sunday, Aug. 8 between the hours of 5 – 7 p.m. with some of the program administrators and police officers helping to serve up ice cream.
KPAL players who show up with their tee-shirts and participation medal will get a free ice cream for this event.
