This week on Undercover Boss the CEO of Modell's >> Okay, great. >> America's largest family-owned sporting goods store >> Oh my god. >> poses as a contestant on a reality show about people trying to win funding for new businesses.
>> Hi, are you the contestant? >> I'm the contestant. >> Hi, nice to meet you.
I'm Angel. >> Oh. >> By working undercover, he'll hear the ugly truth about what his employees really think.
>> I'm going to be brutally honest. >> I want to hear it. I want to hear the real truth.
>> Okay, why treat the Connecticut stores like the red-headed stepchild? >> Most upper management and owners, they're clueless. >> What will happen in the most dramatic reveal ever?
>> Oh my god. Oh my god. >> Angel, you okay?
>> Oh. >> Find out next on Undercover Boss. Headquartered in the heart of New York City Modell's Sporting Goods sells athletic footwear, clothing, and sporting equipment to more than 10 million customers, scoring revenues of more than $600 million a year.
>> Thank you. >> Overseeing the 3,800 employees that keep these stores kicking is one man. >> I'm Mitchell Modell, CEO of Modell's Sporting Goods.
Modell's has been a New York-based company since 1889, founded by my great-grandfather Morris. It started out with a pushcart on Cortlandt Street downtown, catering to people that were coming off the ships, selling accessories, knit hats, gloves. In the '50s and the '60s, my father led us into the sporting goods arena.
Today, Modell's Sporting Goods is the largest and oldest family-owned sporting goods company in the country. We operate over 154 stores in 11 states. Modell's Sporting Goods is a major sponsor to a variety of teams, the New York Yankees, the New York Mets, the Brooklyn Nets.
And when a team wins, we pride ourselves of being first to have the team merchandise immediately after the game. We will have it before any other retailer. Retail is in my blood.
It's in my veins. My father, Bill Modell, wanted to make sure that my brother, Michael, and I learned every part of the business. We both worked every job in the company.
In 1987, my father, Bill, made my brother, Michael, and I co-presidents. >> Where do you want to go? You got to go to Modell's.
>> Michael and I took the business from 18 million to 143 million. Running the business with your brother is incredible. >> It wasn't about ego, but there was always a tremendous amount of trust and respect with one another.
>> He died of Hodgkin's, leaving three young kids behind. It's tough replacing a brother who's been your best friend. We did everything together.
We went to camps together. We played ball together. I think about him every day.
Michael was always that person who was a great listener. He always had the time, and people loved him for that. Michael was different than me as a leader because I'm a no-nonsense guy.
So, if I went a little off on the deep end, he would bring me back and reel me back in. What's going on? I couldn't check it out.
Can you call me back, please? >> Everybody in my company knows that we watch every dollar. We're spending a lot of money.
Truthfully, it's sickening. This is not acceptable. >> No.
>> If it doesn't drive sales or increase profits, then what are we doing it for? >> Hello. >> This year, I'm planning on opening up eight to 10 stores.
We're going to surround all our competition like locusts as we continue our aggressive expansion program. I have five kids all together. Two from my first wife and three with Robin.
I'm training my sons, Matthew and Max, who are 11 and 10 years old, to be the future co-CEOs. Every day, I teach them a business lesson. Whether it be at breakfast or whether it be at night when I come home from work.
What's the most amount of people online before we open up another register? >> 10. >> Three.
>> Oh, shoot. >> These are the basic principles of retail. As a matter of fact, they have business cards that say CEO in training.
Part of my job as CEO is also entertaining. Being in the sports world, we'll go to a game, uh we'll hang out with the athletes after with their wives. >> Hi guys.
>> Hey guys. >> How are you? I haven't seen you in a long time.
Nice to see you. >> Cece, we've been having some issues at Modell's. I decided I'm going to go undercover.
>> They watch all the Undercover Bosses. >> Cece, I might be calling you for some advice. >> see you like in the warehouse.
>> Cece, any advice? >> Just try to disguise your voice best you can. >> Get skinnier.
>> That won't be a problem overnight. >> Shave your head. >> You think that would stop people from recognizing me?
>> Shaved head, mustache. >> How would you like having a bald husband? >> You don't belong bald.
>> Oh my god, I'm going undercover because when your last name is on the door, it puts unbelievable pressure to make sure that the values that have been passed on for four generations continue to be passed on for the next 100 years. My wife leaves me, I'll never forgive myself. Knowing that our people know me, I plan on changing my voice to make sure that they have absolutely no clue.
My wife is definitely leaving me. While I'm undercover, I'll be posing as Joey Glick, a former pizza store owner that closed up 6 months ago. Throughout my undercover journey, my associates will be tricked into thinking they're on a host of reality show in which they will work alongside Joey and then decide whether he deserves to win the money to start a new business.
>> Today we're in Bronx, New York in front of Modell's Sporting Goods Distribution Center. >> The man pretending to be the host of the fake show will keep asking questions about whether Joey deserves the money, so my associates will have no idea that this is secretly Undercover Boss. Honey, could you come here, please?
What do you think of Joey? >> Hi, Aiden. >> Come here, sweetheart.
>> That's okay. You don't have to come near me. That's perfectly fine.
Oh my >> What do you think? >> god. Love you.
Be safe. >> Being a CEO, I'm usually the last one to know things, and unless you know what the customers and your associates are feeling and experiencing, you don't have a handle on it. And I really want to uncover things that are being kept from me that I can help fix and make the company a healthier company.
Today, I'm in Milford, Connecticut, and I will be working with an assistant manager. Connecticut is a newer market for us than Modells has only been here for about 5 years. In this particular store, we have been struggling with sales, and I can't afford to have stores that are not performing to my expectations.
We've already downsized the store once. We cannot downsize anymore. The last thing I wanted to do was have to close the store.
The same's here. >> I am James. >> James, Joey, clerk.
>> Nice to meet you. I am the assistant manager of the store. >> Okay, good.
>> All right. My first impression of Joe was I was picturing somebody possibly just a little younger. His voice threw me.
Just a little a little gruff. And he was hard to understand at first. This is your main drive aisle of the store.
This is where every customer is going to walk down. You come into a table, and every shirt is flipped over. You're going to look through the table, it doesn't look good.
You want to look presentable. You want those customers to enjoy their shopping experience. So, what I want you to do is keep them folded.
Lay it out. Give it a flip. Fold.
Fold. >> Wow. >> Flip.
Flip. Flip, flip, tuck, and fold. >> Nope.
>> Try and look for the old fold. There you go. >> There we go.
>> We got another project for you now. We're going to take this mannequin and we're going to redo him. >> So, what do you want me to put on here?
>> Anything you want. Be creative. I'll be back.
Jason? Oh, okay. All right, let me go.
He just dropped the mannequin. Okay, bye. Is the guy fighting you back?
>> I can't get this arm in here. I got one arm. >> You got one arm off.
Okay. Joey, what the mannequin looked like an infant boy trying to dress a full-size doll. >> Okay.
You work in the front section of the store. Look up, greet the customers. That's 95% of your business is greeting that customer.
>> James is on top of his game. He takes pride in the cleanliness and the merchandise presentation and taking care of the customers. >> How you doing?
>> But, I still need to find out why the store has been struggling with sales. >> You find anything today? >> Uh, we're just looking.
>> Okay. >> Taking on a shopping spree. >> All right, well, make sure you take advantage.
Take a look. We got a lot of good stuff. >> When customers come in, do you generally have what they have?
>> There are things that we get asked for all the time that we don't have them. >> You want an example? >> We don't carry the high-end sneakers here.
And we get asked for them at least three times a week. We have a like a help desk. It's called the call center.
We've called the call center. We just don't get them. >> Does that happen often?
How's business here? >> Something about this guy, some of the questions that he's asked me. >> Do you have all the sizes generally?
>> Don't have it all. >> Why, you can't go from there to here? >> It has to go to the distribution center in the Bronx first.
>> Does that happen often? >> Why is he so interested in my distribution center? I don't know.
It's weird. Um, the mustache was throwing me off a little. I have a couple of suspicions, but I don't know.
Work in this section right here. I'll be back. >> You don't think that's a mission with a shaved head, do you?
What? What? And a fake mustache.
>> How you making out there, Joe? >> Okay, I think we got everything pretty squared away. >> Not bad.
I got a question for you. I'm just curious. Do you know Mitchell at all, Modell?
>> What do you mean? >> Have you ever met him? There was a couple of questions that you asked me that that were out of the ordinary.
>> Jim, just call me out. I must have tipped my hand. >> Why would you worry about our distribution center?
Do you know Mitchell? There was a couple of questions that you asked me that that were out of the ordinary. Yeah, I got a question for you.
Do you know Mitchell at all, Modell? Just curious. >> I am Mitchell Modell.
>> I thought you were much taller. >> I need to really understand. You told me some stuff today that I obviously were really frustrated on.
You know that sales been an issue in the store. And the next thing is going to have to close the door if you don't get the sales up. What are the things you need?
How do we >> You want I'm going to be brutally honest with you right now. >> your real >> Okay. Why treat the Connecticut stores or the New England stores like the red-headed stepchild?
Why don't you give us the stuff that's on 42nd Street? You got kids playing football. They're your my size.
They're not fitting in adult pants. >> I don't have any adult pants. None.
Again, the red-headed stepchild. That's what you feel like. >> I'm not a retail guy.
I'm a retired firefighter. I've had days here with frustration being at a high level to where I've looked for a good burning building to run into on the way home from work. >> That's not who we are, okay?
It's heartbreaking to me. >> 21 years as a firefighter. I loved my job there, but I love this, too.
Why? The people. When I get a kid that comes in for a pair of football cleats, and the kid grins from ear to ear.
That makes my day. My daughter plays Little League. She's actually playing in a softball tournament today.
I'm here working, and I'm missing it. >> The schedule is flexible that >> It works great on paper, but flexibility doesn't always cut it. Sometimes there is no flexibility.
Nobody walks the talk here. It's It's a salaried position. They ask for a 40-hour week, but it It's over 40 hours, and that's why I had to quit coaching.
>> Mhm. It's painful to hear, but it's really, really important. Great feedback.
I'm throwing this off. This is my disguise. It's mind-boggling that I had to go undercover to really find out what the truth is.
And here I keep telling everybody the associates number one, but in reality, they think they're not even on the radar screen. I have my work cut out for me. Dan?
>> Hey Joe, how are you doing? >> I am so frustrated. I mean, I got to find out adult football pants.
We're in the heart of the season, and they don't have a pair. How do they not have goods? >> That's just not acceptable.
>> If I'm a district manager, I should have answers to every one of these problems. If they can't be strong enough to get things done, then then there's a problem. I don't care if they're with us 50 years, we're going to root them out.
We've got to change. And we keep asking all questions as to what's happening with Connecticut. Now the question is how quickly can we fix it?
I've done one job so far in the Milford store. They were complaining that they're not getting the merchandise the store needs, and that's totally unacceptable. Today I'm in the Bronx at the Modell's distribution center working with the shipping associate.
The reason why it's so important that I'm there is as CEO, it's my responsibility when there were problems, I have to be Mr Fix-It. >> Hey Joe, are you Christopher here in the shipping? >> Straight this way.
>> After I went through the headaches of shaving my entire head and putting on this crazy Warhol-esque mustache, the last thing I wanted to do is blow my cover like I just did in Milpitas. >> I'm going to go with Chris Rock. >> Hey, what's up, man?
Are you the contestant? >> Joey. >> Yeah, I'm going to show you basically what we're going to be doing today.
>> All right. >> I don't know. This man kind of kind of looking strong.
Chris, can I get a water? You loose. >> Intoxicated.
Like he's just been drinking all night and all morning. >> Grab a box. Let's go.
However you want to put it. As long as it's firm and sturdy. >> There we go.
>> Now what we're going to do is we're going to take this tape and wrap it all around. >> Whoa. >> All the way up.
All the way up. >> Man, this is nuts. >> All right.
Help you out a little bit. All right, you're good to go with the tape. Now I'm going to show you how we use the machine to load the truck.
Right here is what we call a walkie rider. All right, and basically what this machine does is it picks up these pallets and we can load them onto the trucks. All right?
To go forward, you just rotate forward. To go reverse, you rotate back. Now you try.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Let's take it easy. Hey, hey, hey, hey.
Ready? Ready? Now drive forward.
Nice and easy. There we go. Make sure your forks are lowered.
All right, all right. All right. When Joey was on that rider, he looked scared.
No, you're driving the wrong way, buddy. You're sweating bullets. You just looked like a scared kid.
No, up, up. Keep it up. Keep it up.
All right. Nice and slow. >> Riding that high low, it was wild.
>> Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. >> Come on. Stop, stop.
>> On a one to 10, 10 being the highest, I was a minus six. >> It'll be a little more safe about you being on the machine. So, I'm going to let you do this pump jack.
It's a little harder, but it's much safer for everybody. All right? >> I I need to live.
I need to live. You're going to use a pump jack for today. So, all you got to do is pump it up real nice.
Make sure it gets up high. Keep pumping. Keep pumping.
Roll it in. Roll it in. Slow.
Slow. OH. IT'S NOT BALANCING.
Chris to the rescue. >> He's almost getting crushed by a pallet. What's leaning over?
>> I honestly think he wouldn't be able to last this job for more than two or three months. You're going to keep building pallets. >> I can't believe how labor intensive it is.
How they do this is just incredible. >> So, where are you from, Joe? >> Brooklyn.
>> So, what kind of business are you hoping to invest in? >> I want to open up a sports memorabilia store. >> Do you plan to have workers?
>> Yeah. >> Make sure that you treat them fairly and you pay them fairly. Okay?
Cuz look at me. I'm doing manual labor for minimum wage. You see the type of work I do.
>> You know, it's it's it's it's tough work. And for the amount of pay that we get, I come home with about 230 a week. That's a pair of sneakers for some people.
>> When Chris told me that he only takes home $230 a week, my heart sunk. I know I've been putting unbearable pressure on our management team about controlling expenses, and I just wondered whether we went too far, particularly in paying people minimum wage. I never looked at it from the aspect of what is the job entail, and are they being compensated fairly?
>> I'm living check to check. Just for myself, my brother, and give my mother rent. You know?
Family over everything. >> How many in your family? >> It's me and my brother.
>> I take care of him. >> Anything happens to him, I'm there, you know? That's That's That's the one part of joy I got, my younger brother.
>> So, does he go to school? >> Yeah, my brother is smarter than me. Never been arrested, never touched drugs, never touched liquor.
I told him not to make the same mistakes that I made. I lost my dad, so I didn't have that sense of guidance, you know? >> How old were you when you lost your dad?
>> 3 years old. My father was gone, my uncle was locked up. I'm not going to lie, I'm struggling.
I'm struggling. I I may not have made it, but my brother will. >> My older brother took care of me.
Michael would love the values that Christopher espouses. It's all about family. It's all about taking care of each other.
This is something that Michael always preached. >> Let's get back to work, man. >> When I look at this situation at our distribution center, I've got to change this.
I'm going to make sure that we're a company where people feel good about coming to work and feeling that if they're going to work hard, they're going to be recognized and rewarded. Right now, that is not the case, and I feel horrible. >> That's how you do it.
>> When my brother Michael was alive, he was always that person that made us such a special business where people always felt part of the family. And obviously, somehow or another, I might have gone off track. And I'm sure if Michael was alive today, we wouldn't have gone off the path.
I would do anything to get him back to help me, but the reality is Michael is not here. And it's my job to pick up the slack. >> Coming up.
>> Find first gear. >> The boss gets kicked off the job. >> Clutch, clutch, clutch.
>> I am not getting in the truck with Joey to go anywhere out of this yard. I can't let you drive. >> And later his tough shell cracks.
>> Things are going to get better. You're going to be fine. >> Mitch Modell, the CEO of Modell Sporting Goods, is a boss undercover in his own company.
>> Joey, how you doing, man? I'm Chris. >> His employees think he's a contestant on a hosted reality show trying to win money to open his own business.
His journey continues in the Bronx. >> So far, my first two jobs led me to uncover some things about the company that really upset me. Today, I'm back at our distribution center.
The drivers are the link between the distributions and the stores. I don't get to visit this facility as often as I would like. So, I want to take this opportunity to work a different job and see if the truck drivers feel the same way that Chris did yesterday.
I'm really hoping today goes better. >> Are you Chris? >> How you doing?
You a contestant? >> Hey Joey, how are you? This is what we're going to do today.
Yeah, I'm going to teach you how to operate that tractor. Okay? Joey looks like a clown.
He looks funny. >> Okay. >> You know, I mean, but hey, but Einstein looked weird and he was a genius.
Hey Joey, please. Let's not damage nothing. You drove a car before, right?
>> Yeah. >> Forget about that. It's totally different.
Just make sure you know where everything is, right? You know where your clutch is, right? Step on your clutch.
See how it moves. You know, move it up and down. Yeah, hold the clutch in.
Now, you're going to start it, Joey. All right. Now, be very careful.
Just step on the brake. And put it in put it in first. Ease off the clutch.
You stalled it. Wait a minute. You freed it up again.
No, no, you start it. All right, clutch. Release the brake.
All right, easy. All right, up off the brake. There you go.
You All right, let's try it again. Put your clutch back in. Find your gear, okay?
Now, clutch. Brake. Clutch, clutch, clutch.
You'll never run away with me. All right, Joey, I think we going to um have to >> Yep, okay, I'm ready. >> No, you're not ready.
Made me nervous. I can't let you drive. I am not getting in the truck with Joey to go anywhere out of this yard.
I'm have to be a pilot for the day. >> So, where are we going now? We're going to >> to Waite and First in Heights.
>> We're going to get your crash course in lumping. >> Lumping? >> Yeah.
>> What's lumping? >> It means unloading the truck by hand. You going to We're going to give you a new found respect for truck drivers after today.
I will teach you everything I know if you want to learn. >> I want to learn. >> We're going to start with lumping.
>> Can we start after the lumping? >> You wish. Not in this lifetime, partner.
As they kill two birds with one stone. That's it. You carrying a lot lot of wrong with you, partner.
That way you will leave some nothing in the truck. You know you got to brace the shape and this is a real intense job. What are you doing?
>> We got some grapes? >> Nah, we're working. There's sometimes you got to skip lunch to get your job done and eat later.
Everything ain't marshmallows and cherries. >> Oh, no, they are cherries. >> I'll take your word for it.
Right now he wants to eat. Maybe he should get a good job baking pies. See here go the problem here, you see?
There's a truck out there making delivery and there's no place for me to park. This is a rough time to come to this this neck of the woods cuz this place is always crowded. >> I always think about buying and selling merchandise, making sure the customers are happy, but never thinking about the process along the way.
>> Now we we just play a waiting game. We got to wait for these this truck to move so we can move ourselves up. >> And this always happens like this.
>> Yeah, man. It's getting worse now, you know? They need management to come down here and assess the delivery process in these stores.
Make a decent time frame. We're not always in a position where we can do our job. >> And we've been here a long time and >> Been here a while.
Most upper management and owners, they're clueless. All they look at the bottom line. And because they look at the bottom line, they lose focus on what really happens.
>> My brother Michael, he is probably turning in his grave today. He probably can't believe that I would be so distant from the reality of of what's going on in the stores and the distribution center and he'd be very upset with me. >> I worked a lot of places.
I never seen drivers turn over so much in my life. >> And what's causing that turnover? >> Overall, look at the comparison of salaries to other companies for the kind of work we do.
We don't only drive, we unload, too. Look at the hours we're forced to work. You have to take all that in consideration before you make an assessment of how much you're going to pay somebody.
>> He always said we have to stay close to our people. >> I I feel that whoever, you know, won't own the company >> Who's that? >> Mitchell.
I think Mitchell would know. I feel that if he knew how his bottom line employees felt, he would he'll make a change. >> Did you ever meet this guy?
>> No, no, no. He never really comes around. >> I'm personally devastated.
We don't listen to our truck drivers. We don't respect them. I wasn't responsive to them.
I take full responsibility. Over an hour of communications is lacking or even non-existent. I'm embarrassed and I I can't believe how people Why would even people still want to be with us?
Even though our family started our business in New York, Michael and I decided in 1996 to come to Washington. Since then, we've opened up 15 stores in the area. Today, I'm in one of our stores that we've just opened last year.
I will be working with one of our managers of the apparel department. This is the last job of my journey. It's been extremely hard so far, and I know I have a lot of work to do when I get back to the office.
>> Welcome to Modell's. >> Yeah, is Angel here? >> Oh, yeah.
Let me show you where she at. >> My last retail job with James didn't go so well. >> Why don't you give us the stuff that's on 42nd Street?
>> Well, you don't you don't have no adult pants? >> I don't have any adult pants. None.
>> So, I need to make sure that the consumer here feels that we are the hometown community sporting goods store in this particular area. >> Hi, are you the contestant? >> I'm the contestant.
>> Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Angel. >> Hi, Angel.
I'm working with you today. >> Yes, you are working with me today. How's it sound?
>> Excellent. >> All right, great. What I really want you to focus on today, Joey, is customer service cuz that's the basis of everything that we do here, okay?
This is game. It's an acronym that was made up by our company, and what it shows is is basically great customer service. G in game is greet every customer with what can I help you find?
>> impression of Angel is I'm blown away. The understanding how important customer service is, and it's great to see a CEO of things that I totally believe in is being filtered down at store level. >> E is in each transaction by saying, "Thank you for shopping with us, okay?
" >> Well, you know your stuff. >> Yeah, thank you. You're going to know it, too.
>> How long you here? >> I started when the store opened. I really like it, and I know you're going to do really well, okay?
>> You know why I'm here? >> Why don't you tell me? >> I just closed up my pizza place in Brooklyn.
>> Oh, wow. >> And I want to open up a sporting goods store. >> Oh, really?
Joey, I got you. Don't worry about it. All right, go ahead and grab that.
We have some backpacks that are on sale. I'm going to have you put signs on those, okay? Are you scared of heights?
>> Yeah. >> I hope not. >> So, honest, he's getting up on that freaking ladder.
>> Oh my god. The thing was shaking. I don't know what the weight capacity was, but thank god it held.
Oh, when you're as heavy as I am, you try to save as much energy. And it's easy to water like a walrus. This is the probably the best exercise I've had in 10 years.
>> I'm going to have you work a little bit more on the floor. So, right here, all of these shirts should be going from small, medium to large. >> These are all extra larges.
>> The small and medium sell pretty fast, so we're getting another truck Monday. But if they need to be before then, we can just get it from another store. >> You got no small, mediums, or larges here, either.
>> Yeah, they all they all sold out. There's a lot of small and medium people in this town, you know? >> As CEO, when I hear that we are out of stock, it drives me up a wall.
>> What can we help you find today? >> Rubber things to put over the handlebars of my bike, but it doesn't look like you guys carry those. >> When a customer comes in and we don't have the item, my stomach turns upside down.
There are too many customers walking out without packages. >> What can we help you find today? >> Buck ball set for the beach.
We just said you guys had that one. >> When we disappoint them, we could possibly lose them for life. >> So, this is a stockroom, Joey.
So, when you start your business, you're definitely going to have to have a room somewhere to store all these all of this stuff in, okay? >> It's just good to see how big I should keep it, because >> So, you're telling me that you had a pizza business. Why did you close your pizza shop?
>> I had it for about 12 years, and it's just too much competition on the street. I I closed it up about 6 months ago. >> Wow.
>> Yeah, it's very sad thing happened to me, and >> Joey, I I think you I think you're very brave. And I you know what? Sometimes you may have ups, and some sometimes you may have downs, but as long as you drive yourself, you're going to be fine.
Just keep it going. Myself, I love this job. This is very good, but it hasn't always been this way.
>> What happened to you? >> When I turned 25, I ended up being pregnant. And I was a manager at a restaurant, then I got too far along I couldn't work there anymore.
And ever since then it's just like times have been really, really rough. It's you know, we've been homeless for a long time. We live in a shelter now.
It doesn't >> You live in a shelter? You live in a shelter? >> It's a homeless shelter.
Been there for about like 2 years now. I have three children, you know, that are in school and stuff like that. A 4-year-old, a 3-year-old, and a 20-month-old.
Yes. It doesn't matter though. Don't I don't want you to feel sad for me or anything.
It was way worse than that. We've slept at bus stops. We've been down to where so we didn't have any money to eat.
Do you understand what I'm saying? But I'm going to tell you something. Things get better.
As long as you have that drive in there, as long as you push and push, things are going to get better. You're going to be fine. >> I have never experienced a moment like this knowing what she's going to be going home to.
It literally broke my heart. I'm the one who decides how much our associates are paid. And to think that one of our associates is homeless makes me sick.
I want to listen to what you said. People like Angel deserve better. And I know this company and myself can do better.
Baseball field is such a sacred ground for me. When I reflect on this week, I feel I failed miserably as CEO. I am appalled with myself having seen some of our associates who seem so stressed and so frustrated, which I know the kind of pressure I've been exerting on the entire organization to reduce expenses and it came at the expense of our associates.
It's incredible how I see the company in a totally different viewpoint. After this week, the promise that I'm going to make to my brother Michael is that I'm going to fix it. I will reinstate the core values that he so passionately believes in.
>> Coming up, the boss summons his employees to City Field, home of the New York Mets, where they think they're meeting with an investor to give feedback on Joey's performance. How will they react when they find out Joey is really the boss? >> I'm Mitchell Modell, CEO of Modell Sporting Goods.
>> Oh my >> I've invited my associates to City Field, home of the New York Mets, because it's where my first love for sports began. They think they're coming to meet with a wealthy celebrity investor to secretly advise them on how worthy I am to receive seed money for my business. >> I honestly do think Joey's ready to open a business.
>> I think they are going to be absolutely shocked. Something wrong? >> Joey?
>> I'm not Joey. >> What do you mean? You are Joey.
>> I'm Mitchell Modell, CEO of Modell Sporting Goods. >> I've seen you before and you don't do You could they couldn't make you look that different. >> I've met Mitchell like once or twice before and he had a lot of hair.
>> I shaved my head. >> So what is this? >> Did you ever watch the show Undercover Boss?
>> No, I've never watched that. >> Oh man, that's crazy. No, you didn't do the same Why you did that to me, man?
Yeah, you got me. You really did get me. You really did get me.
Jim, I mean I just can't believe I blew my undercover there. >> Like I said, I always I always knew you were a little taller. >> How are you feeling about the whole situation?
>> Glad that I could get the candid opportunity to to say the things that I did to you. >> Why treat the Connecticut stores like the red-headed stepchild? >> I heard exactly what you said about the merchandising problems.
So, I met with my executive team and we're putting in place someone who's going to manage the inventory for the Connecticut stores so I get you the right product in the right stores at the right time. >> That's awesome. >> Jim, in addition, because of your dedication we want to make you an ambassador supervisor {slash} assistant manager whereby let's say 60% of your time we want you to go out there and talking to the league so that we could drive sales.
>> I got I'm I'm really excited about that. Thank you so much. >> We have the utmost confidence in you.
I know you're going to knock it out of the park. But, you know, there's more to life than just working and I feel terrible that you missed a lot of important events in your family and that's not who we are. I want to send you, your wife, and your girls on a family trip.
7 days, 6 nights. You'll have expense money, air airfare, transportation all provided for. Okay?
You're not being charged against your vacation. We this will be on on me. >> Uh for for me starting now.
Wow. That's great. I know the girls will definitely enjoy that, getting away.
I know my wife will, too. I'm feeling fantastic. Every time we've gone away, I've had to max out a credit card just to go away.
Um this is definitely going to be where I can sit back and relax and not have to worry for once. >> Christopher, you told me about the pay scale and I got to tell you, because of my time in the shipping department, we're going to be changing the whole compensation program in the distribution center. >> Uh Danny, that's that's amazing.
And you know, we try to work hard, and I think I think a lot of people deserve it. >> Which brings me to one more thing. After we met, I did some research, and I was looking at your attendance record.
>> Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Yeah, I've missed a few days.
Uh >> What they What they told me is if you missed one day within the next 90 days, I understand you might be terminated. >> Yes. >> Listen, I think you're a great associate.
If you make a commitment, and you show up every day for the next 90 days, I'm prepared to write a check for $20,000. >> Oh, man. Oh, man.
That's crazy. Uh Serious? >> Are you up for the challenge?
>> Yes, sir. >> You know, when I I heard you talk about your brother, it made me reflect on my brother, who I lost uh 12 years ago. And uh it brought a lot of memories back of, you know, he always took care of me.
It was really really hit home, and was really special. >> I just want to keep him on the right track, you know. >> And I love the way you're like a father figure to him.
So, what I what I want to do for you, and what I want to do for Adrian, is I've arranged for a trip for two on the Brooklyn Nets team plane to an away game. All expenses paid. You travel with the team, you stay at the team hotel with the players, you'll go to the away game, you will have the extraordinary time, and it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
>> Thank you so much. Thank you. I really appreciate that.
Thank you. Can't believe it. Really.
>> Yeah, man. >> I just feel blessed right now. I think I did need someone to come into my my and tell me that I'm added, cuz honestly, I've never heard something like that in my life.
Now that he's giving me the opportunity to do right, I'll make sure I do right for not only my brother now, but for his brother. >> Kirk, you gave me a great education. >> Clark, Clark, Clark.
>> And I'm embarrassed to say I never looked at a truck driver until I went undercover and worked a truck with you. And I have a whole different respect level for you and the other 18 truck drivers. >> Thank you.
>> You have opened my eyes about the tremendous turnover we had in truck drivers, and I love your suggestion that we should have different pay scales. If the company is expecting someone to have them wake up at 3:00 in the morning or drive a truck at midnight, >> Yeah, why don't they compensate them for that? >> So, we're going to be looking at that and changing it immediately.
Because of you. >> That's good, you know, I mean, I guess I did my part. >> You know, after going through and spending a day with you, I think that you shouldn't be a truck driver anymore.
I think you deserve to be a yard maintenance supervisor. With a lot of problems get swept under the rug. You're not afraid to deal with them.
So, obviously with this promotion, uh we're going to adjust your salary. Here's your new business card. What do you think about that?
So, there's something else I want to do for you. I have a check for you for the sum of $50,000. >> Oh.
>> And I'm paying the taxes. >> That's like that's like saving somebody's life. I appreciate this, you don't know.
>> I appreciate what you did for me and for the company. You really opened my eyes. >> It's a new beginning, then.
>> A new beginning. Thank you. >> I used to feel that all he wanted to bottom line, but Mitchell took the time to sit down with us and and see the ins and outs of the company and I really feel the Motors appreciate us now.
I got a total different outlook on them. >> Angel, here you are a department manager in apparel teaching me and showing me every inch of the way. You were just amazing.
>> I just hope that I'm doing good for you. >> It was above and beyond anything I could ever expect it from an associate. But your talent level and the way you care about the company, you're the kind of leaders that we want in our company.
And that's why I'm promoting you to assistant manager. >> What? Oh my goodness.
I'm sorry. I can't believe this. >> I'm giving you a $14,000 RAISE.
>> WHAT? >> YOU DESERVE IT. >> Are you serious?
>> I think about that homeless shelter where you go home every night. Since I left you, it kills me to see that you're still there. And so I brought you a check for you.
Cuz I want you to move out of there immediately, like tonight. >> What? No.
You cannot be serious. >> I'm serious. And so I have on me a check for $250,000.
>> Oh my god. No. No.
Oh my Oh my goodness. No. >> Angel, are you okay?
>> Oh my god. >> I have a financial advisor that I'm setting up with you. And taxes are taken out, so it's $250,000.
>> Yes. Oh Oh my goodness. And I don't want you to live in that homeless shelter ever again.
>> I'm going to tell my children that we're not going back to the shelter anymore. That we're going to have our own place. Oh my They can run out back.
Play in their backyard. They can be kids. >> What a week.
It was the most incredible journey. And I'm going to share this with the entire world organization. >> My wife has not kissed me since I took my hair off.
>> This journey for 7 days was the most incredible education both personally and professionally that I've ever witnessed. And I just want to thank all of you. After working this entire week, I'm physically and mentally exhausted.
I realize I am such poor physical shape. In order for me to make sure that I'm a successful passer on the torch to my kids, I have to make sure I'm in better physical shape so that I could be around for my kids. I could mentor my boys as they grow up.
I want to make sure that I don't leave them the way my brother Michael left me. I'm definitely committed to getting into shape as well as getting the company into shape. >> Hey.
