Manager Spotlight: Crystal Pope
If you want a taste of Johnston County or customer service done right, just spend a day riding around with Crystal Pope – or “CC” for Crazy Crystal – our Store Manager in Kenly, NC. You’ll quickly learn that not only is she the go-to source for parts in Kenly, but you’ll get the scoop on everyone’s family lineage, how they met their significant other, where their grandmother lived, who’s getting married…oh and if they need any auto parts. It was proof that service is in the personal – and that no one lives up to the moniker ‘Friendly Kenly’ more than Crystal Pope.
Kenly Store Manager, Crystal Pope
How long have you worked in parts?
All my life. When I was 6 or 7 years old, my daddy was manager at the Barnes Motor and Parts in Smithfield so I would help him put up parts. When I got my license, I was not on payroll but I helped deliver parts. When I graduated high school, I went to JCC and got a degree in commercial art. When I got out I couldn’t find a job but in Greensboro but my husband was here so I went to work for Barnes full time in ’83…but this time actually on payroll! So unofficially started at age at 6 or 7, officially in ’83.
What’d you learn working with your dad?
How to have a good relationship with your customers. No one customer is the same – everybody is different. Everyone calls me either CC for Crazy Crystal or Mouth and I get it from him.
What does it mean to work in a smaller town like Kenly?
I love it. It’s more personal. I get to have a personal relationship with my customers. Everybody knows everyone it seems like.
How long have you worked in Kenly?
20 years!
Favorite memory working with Walker or Barnes?
I’m not sure if it’s a memory but my daddy always told his employees ‘Thank You’ at the end of the day. I now do the same thing with my employees. People like praise too, not just the negative. I always compliment my boys and thank them at the end of the day for the job they did that day. And I think they appreciate it.
Tell me about the store cats.
They did an article in the newspaper about my cats! At one time there were 30, but now there are 15. Thirteen of them have been fixed. This lady in Kenly, she’ll come and gets them fixed, gets shots and then brings them back. I also have people who bring in cat food the first of the month when they get their checks. Those cats have been there forever. Out of the 15, only four let me touch them but I feed them in the woods behind the store and when I go out there, they all follow me there. I love my kitty-cats – they don’t bother nobody.
What does customer service mean to you?
Customer service means everything to me. They decide whether or not they come back with the way you treat them. We try to, and it’s not always, but we try to greet every customer that walks through the door. If they have to stand and wait, be sure to speak to them. As long as I’m here, we are going to treat customers with respect and kindness.
We also take the time to look up parts for people. We go the extra mile trying to find the parts that are hard to find for people. It determines your business the way you treat your customers.
Favorite thing to do outside of work?
Playing with my grandson!
What was your first Car?
A two-door ’79 Chavette. It had a 4-cylinder engine and couldn’t go up a hill.
And Favorite Car?
Anything that’s paid for!
What does it mean to be from JoCo?
That I’m in a class of my own! JoCo is a whole different world. Everybody is crazy and crazy is okay in JoCo. I just love the community, I love my job. I wouldn’t have been in it as long as I have if I didn’t like something!
What is your favorite part of your job?
I like dealing with the public. Having good relationships with people – meeting new and different people. When you have a good crew that works for you, it makes the day go by quicker.
Team Friendly Kenly
