"It's the Business" programme, 2 February 1999

Recording of "It's the Business" programme for Sainsbury's staff (mainly store management teams). "It's the Business" was the anchor business television programme on the "SMART" network (Sainsbury's Management and Retail Television). This programme was broadcast live on 2 February 1999 by satellite to Sainsbury's stores, depots and offices. It was presented by John Howard in the studio.

Contents:
1. Introduction by presenter John Howard.
2. Studio interview with Ken Barden (Central Retail Operations Director) to discuss concerns from managers about a ‘squeeze on PF’ – hours available to them. Includes removal of hours allocated for ‘none in front’ policy which had been introduced in certain stores, trading hours of service counters, training, ‘no card, no points’ trial to restrict customers from claiming Reward Points if they’ve not got their Reward Card.
3. Report about the launch of Sainsbury’s Fresh Creations – a range of meal kits. Includes interviews with David Wotherspoon (Project Leader) and Stephen Parkins (Development Chef). Footage is included of cooking in the development kitchen at head office; Fresh Creations products on shelf.
4. Studio interview with Ken Barden about ‘AIM’ (Accurate Inventory Management) campaign to raise awareness of inventory management.
5. Report/interview with Martin White (Distribution and Logistics Director) about AIM including about technology being used at depots and improvements to procedures. Includes footage of: use of new scanning equipment (finger scanners); and staff at work in depots.
6. Continuation of studio interview with Ken Barden about AIM.
7. Report/interview with Simon Naish (Retail Operational Support Manager) about the introduction of a ‘one stop shop’ (a helpline to solve retail problems) as a trial by the new Retail Operational Support department. Also discusses a new bulletin board on OASIS [intranet]. Includes footage of the Retail Operational Support Team at work in their office.
8. Studio interview with Ken Barden about the new one stop shop trial.
9. News update by presenter – positive press comments about Initials clothing range; new plastic trolley being trialled; award for Sainsbury’s organic food; Shell introduce first standalone convenience store in the Strand, London; Aberdeen store receiving Investors in People recognition; data protection awareness campaign with leaflets and posters.
10. Report about the use of the closed store at Exebridge, Exeter to test for year 2000 compliance [ensuring systems weren’t affected by issues caused by year dates stored in a two digit format – the ‘Millennium Bug’]. Includes footage of the interior of the closed store, equipment being tested by technicians.
11. Live phone-in calls from members of staff, answered by Ken Barden. Questions relating to: inventory management, share dividend payments by cheque rather than shares, and issues with change of food seasonal aisle for Easter eggs.
12. Presenter discusses Sainsbury’s support for Comic Relief with fundraising packs being sent to stores.
13. Video with Lenny Henry [comedian/actor] encouraging staff regarding Comic Relief fundraising [see AV/738 for original video].
14. Final comments by presenter.

Duration: 27 minutes. Produced by Sainsbury’s Group Internal Communications in association with CTN [Corporate Television Networks].

There are eight additional videos of unedited footage ("rushes") for this video. There is also a video which appears to have been taped over a recording of this programme consisting several brief clips explaining offers available through Sainsbury's Rewards. Some clips are presented by Jayne Constantinis. It is unclear exactly how the clips were intended to be used and whether they relate to this programme or business television in general.