South African author Steven Boykey Sidley has recently launched his latest book, Checkmate: How Shoprite Checkers rewrote the rules and won. The book tells the story of Shoprite Checkers' ascendance to a position of unchallenged competitive dominance in the South African retail industry. Sidley's book is not a traditional business book, but rather a narrative non-fiction story that explores the company's transformation and success. The book is based on extensive research, including data, statistics, anecdotes, and interviews with employees, executives, and shoppers.
Sidley, a self-described Woolworths/PicknPay loyalist, became fascinated with Checkers after visiting a Checkers Hyper store in Cape Town and being amazed by its appearance. He likened the store to Disneyland and wanted to know how the company achieved such success. Sidley's research involved gathering information from a vast array of sources, including company data, news articles, and interviews with key stakeholders. The result is a story that is both surprising and amusing, according to the author.
The book explores the significant changes that have taken place at Shoprite Checkers since the era of Clive Weil and the 'twolley for twolley' slogan. Sidley notes that the company has evolved into an advanced technology company that happens to operate in the retail space. The company's ethos and identity have undergone significant transformation, with a strong focus on data analysis and technology. Sidley argues that Weil, a former CEO, would not recognize the company today.
Sidley's book is structured around a narrative arc, with each chapter building on the previous one to tell a dramatic story. The author conducted extensive research and refined his writing through multiple drafts. The book includes stories about the company's Sixty60 service, which has been successful despite being offered by other retailers. Sidley describes the story of Sixty60 as "completely unlikely" and attributes its success to a combination of factors, including a global pandemic and the company's willingness to take risks.
The book's launch events took place in Cape Town and Johannesburg, with Sidley discussing his research and findings with attendees. The author notes that he had to be "very charming" to secure interviews with company executives and employees. Shoprite Checkers' executives did not see the final version of the book before its publication and had no control over its content. Sidley describes the book as a story about a business, but one that is accessible to readers who are not necessarily interested in business.
Sidley's experience writing the book was enjoyable, and he learned a great deal about the company and the retail industry. The author was surprised by many of his findings, which he attributes to the company's complex and fascinating story. Checkmate: How Shoprite Checkers rewrote the rules and won provides insights into the transformation of South Africa and its habits, as well as the retail industry as a whole.
The book's publication marks a significant achievement for Sidley, who has also written about technology and fiction. The author's experience writing about Shoprite Checkers has demonstrated that business stories can be engaging and entertaining, even for readers who are not typically interested in business. The book is available for purchase at major bookstores, and Sidley is promoting it through a series of events and interviews.
Key points
- Shoprite Checkers has become South Africa's largest company by revenue and employees, with 170,000 employees and 35 million customers.
- The company's Sixty60 service has been successful despite being offered by other retailers.
- Sidley's book is a narrative non-fiction story that explores the company's transformation and success.
