Woombye Spar store boss moves on reluctantly

Sammy Boxsell says she has had to prioritise her parents’ health and her growing farming commitments and relinquish her position as Woombye Spar Store Manager.

Popular local identity Sammy Boxsell is putting her family and farming commitments first and stepping down from her role as Woombye Spar Store Manager.

Sammy said she was reluctant to leave the  business which she helped restore after the previous owners’ neglect. But she had to prioritise her parents’ health and her growing farming commitments. 

After two years in the top job and six years altogether Sammy left Woombye Spar on Friday March 18.

“I’m not really going anywhere I’m just going to have a little more life balance to be there for my parents who are unwell,” she said last week.

“I’m doing 50-70 hours a week here and then I have a 30-acre farm with cattle to maintain and my parents to take care of. I just thought, I can’t change my farm or my parents so I’ve had to make a decision to step down from the job. 

“It will be sad to leave the team we’ve worked so hard to build. In my time here we’ve regained community engagement over the years which had suffered under the previous owners.”

She said sales had followed with the renewed energy in the store.

“Sales-wise we’re talking just under $100,000 extra, a week, since I took over.

“My goal was to hit a certain target within the two-year period and we have done that, even with the challenges of Covid. Achieving that goal meant we were able to get the new flooring installed. Now we’ve also achieved a second goal which will mean the store gets much needed new lighting.

“For the future of the store, I would just like to ask the community to support the team here.

“I feel awful for having to leave. I’ve lived and breathed this store for the two years and it’s a big decision to be moving on. Anyone that knows me knows I have given my everything for this place and the people.” 

Once the dust settles Sammy has been offered some part time work in Toowoomba, for a change of scenery and to be nearer her other cattle property on the Darling Downs. “I’ll be doing a few days at  Mike Williams Country Clothing. That will be my escape.”

Shop assistant Gabby Donovan, who joined Spar in December after 35 years at Woolworths, said she would miss her boss. 

“Sammy has a very good character and is a great ambassador for Spar and for the business. Coming from Woolworths into Spar it is certainly a much nicer environment. And Sammy has everything to do with that. She made me feel welcome and took the pressure off and she gives you the encouragement and feedback to make you try harder.”

Sammy said if she had to name one secret to her managerial style it would be her ability to earn the respect of the team. 

“The team know there is not one task in the store that I ask them to do that I wouldn’t do myself,” she said. “I work beside them, not above them – even down to unloading the delivery trucks with the forklift (which she does very morning).” 

For now Sammy is looking forward to more country life, rotating between her Sunshine Coast and Darling Downs beef cattle properties. “To me down time is doing some fencing and cattle work. Putting 150-odd head of cattle through a yard to brand and drench … that’s therapy.”