7-Eleven: Answering the needs of the 24-hour lifestyle

The emergence of the BPO/call center market has elevated the 24-hour lifestyle into the mainstream, with literally thousands of employees and call center buildings sprouting everywhere requiring consumer services such as basic food supplies and other proprietary products.

7-Eleven, the country’s biggest convenience store chain, has always been quick on its foot to spot rising trends and immediately addressed this need, along with the call for total customer convenience by being where and when they are wanted. Today, it is the BPO employee market which is taking the most advantage from the offerings of 7-Eleven stores all around the country.

Being the largest and most successful store franchise in the country, 7-Eleven constantly creates broader product choices for time-strapped night workers. Each store, which serves as symbolic beacon for many night-time professionals, carries a line of top quality suppliers and proprietary products, ranging from fresh food items like sandwiches, coffee, energy drinks, and healthy snacks, packed rice meals, basic groceries and other delightful choices of treats for the hardworking grave shifters (7-Eleven also boast of a 24 hour bills payment facility).

Unlike other retailing businesses that have tried to adopt processes to bank on the graveyard work trend, 7-Eleven has been successfully operating on a 24-hour convenience setup in the Philippines since 1982, making it a natural veteran. “That’s why we fully understand the needs of call center employees because like them, we also share the same compassion in our commitment to customers by living through tough work schedule,“ said Ma. Theresa Gutierrez, PR Specialist under the business Development Division.

Surveying the streets of call center-congested districts like Ortigas Center or Makati City for a casual “tambayan” is never a problem for Jirah Santos a 23-year old agent. “After my hectic routine calls at the office, I make sure to give my body the right amount of rest and nourishment that it deserves. Thus, instead of going to pricey and often far-off dining joints, I just walk across and get my quick, healthy fix at 7-Eleven. It also has al fresco tables where I can comfortably eat and hang around with fellow agents for short chitchats.” she said.

Meanwhile, Joshua Garcia, also a call center employee, noted that the cordial ambiance is 7-Eleven’s bonus attraction. “Most of us prefer to go to 7-Eleven. Apart from the great selection of ready-to-go snacks that we can get minus the long queue, we are always treated well by friendly and accommodating staff, a nice gesture that help us relieve of our stress,” he added.

For Paul Fronda, a graveyard shift worker, dropping by the nearest 7-Eleven store in their office saves up his very limited time. “My work has very regulated policies, like we can only have our breaks on a specific time, no more, no less. Thus, having a 7-Eleven store close by allows me to have extra precious minutes to either catch some sleep in our quiet rooms or have recreational activities with my team members.“

According to Gutierrez, most of the call center clientele patronize 7-Eleven’s proprietary brand of food items, specifically the hotdogs, siopao, and stuffed pandesal. “Especially near midnight, which is considered the peak ‘eating’ hour of most BPO staff, the best sellers are our rice meals,” she said.

From quality, affordable food and personal items located in a safe, clean store, 7-Eleven has been continuously adapting innovative strategies to improve efficiency and customer service. Equipped with technology, quick processes, and trained staf that are always at their beck and call, customers like Jirah,Joshua and Paul and countless other call center agents are rest assured to enjoy more of the convenient life in and outside their office cubicles.

7-Eleven now has 318 outlets nationwide and is available for franchise in the areas of La Union, Baguio, Olongapo, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Cavite, and Manila. For inquiries, call 726-9968, 0920-9508651 or visit www. 7-eleven.com.ph.