That night, Gray and Mara didn’t waste any of their time.
They gathered the day’s observation notes and turned them into a to-do list for Ron and the rest of Jet2’s backend team.
By Thursday morning, improvements were already rolling out. They were thankful that the company was really hands-on in everything they said.
The "out of stock" fix was improved. Every category’s image were now faster to load when you click on it. Even the product search was now smart enough to catch common typos.
It was something that Gray specifically requested after overhearing one customer type "tomatto" and get no results.
Alongside that, they started preparing the store itself for the official launch.
They handpicked a few of their own staff who were quick learners and patient with customers.
Those people would be assigned as the first official overseers of the online delivery app from their side. Each one went through a detailed training session on Thursday afternoon.
It was handled by Jet2.
"Remember, everyone," Gray told them at the end of it, "your job is to make sure every order that comes in is handled quickly, correctly, and carefully. They are paying extra, so we need to match that with our speed in-store."
"Yes, Sir!"
Mara agreed with Gray. And as someone who has personally handled clients, she followed up and gave them a small tip, too.
"Even if you’re only talking to them through chat, your tone matters. Be polite, be clear, and be patient. If they want a replacement item, give them options. Don’t just say, ’We don’t have it.’"
"Yes, Miss Mara!"
"Now, rest for a bit, and we can get started."
"Yes, Sir!"
Their store closed earlier than usual. It allowed them to have time on their own. Everyone worked overtime that day. It was also a paid one, so they didn’t complain that much.
Once everyone was rested enough, they started their training again. They ran through simulated scenarios for everyone. They made sure everyone knew exactly what to do when there were wrong orders, sudden stock-outs, or delayed driver pickups.
Jet2’s drivers had also been integrated into the plan. By afternoon, the side of the store had a clearly marked loading and parking spot for them. It was right next to the storage area to minimize delays when picking up packed orders.
The drivers themselves were briefed by Jet2’s logistics team. They were told how to check in upon arrival, where to wait, and the store’s cutoff time for same-day deliveries.
Ron also stayed for both days, monitoring the backend while occasionally giving tips to the staff about features they might not have noticed yet. The collaboration between Jet2’s team and Gray’s store staff was smooth, with each side understanding their workflow now.
And so, by Thursday evening, the store was finally ready.
They have a work system in mid, and their stocks were newly updated in the system. The trained staff had their stations set up. Even the in-store signage was increased to promote their online delivery mode.
- - -
After a tiring day, Friday came faster than expected.
The same as the last two days, Gray arrived at the store an hour earlier, with a coffee in his hand. He didn’t say it out loud, but he was really worried and excited about what might come ahead of them.
Today, their store’s name would officially appear on Jet2’s delivery app for anyone within delivery range. There were no more testing phases. No more backing out.
Today was the real deal.
The staff arrived early too, some even before their shifts started. They wanted to see the launch happen in real time.
It was obvious how excited and expectant everyone was.
Some of them were gathered near the staff room, holding their morning coffee while talking to one another.
"I still can’t believe this is happening," one of the cashiers said, eyes wide with a grin.
"We’ve been here for, what, six years? And this is the first time something this big is rolling out."
"Yeah," another replied, leaning on the counter. "Before, our biggest change was when we switched to the barcode scanners. And that already felt like a huge upgrade for our store."
A stockroom staff member chuckled.
"Remember when the old scanner would freeze if you scanned too fast? And now, with Sir Gray, in just a few months, we already have an online store!"
"I know, right? I even boasted this to my family and told them to order here if they could!"
On the other hand, near the entrance, two of the newly trained app overseers compared their notes from yesterday’s practice.
"I’m telling you, the seafood category is the trickiest. Those orders have to go straight to packing before the ice starts melting."
"Yeah, but it’s fun," the other said, smiling. "It feels like we’re part of something new now. Imagine, people could be ordering from us while they’re still in bed."
"This means we also get more orders!"
"Maybe more salary for us too when we do well!"
In the middle of it all, Joel came in, looking far too cheerful for someone who’d barely slept the night before.
"Alright, people," he said, clapping his hands, "today’s the day we make history. The boss is here early, our online store is already live, and we’ve got drivers ready. Let’s make sure we give them a reason to keep ordering from us."
"Yes, Manager!"
The room answered in unison.
"Good," Joel grinned with his hands on his hips. "Let’s not disappoint our good boss."
"Yes, Sir!"
"We know, Sir!
"We’re thankful to Sir Gray!" the group chorused, some laughing as they said it, but all of them meaning it.
Joel chuckled before shaking his head and gesturing toward the clock.
"Alright, 7:45. You all know the drill. Go to your stations and start preparing. Let’s make this launch smooth."
Immediately after that, the staff went to the staffroom to fix themselves. They double-checked how they looked and made sure their uniforms were all straight and clean before running out like a well-rehearsed team.