Connection With Customers Defines Fort Lee Associate’s 45 Years of Service

If there is one thing Sau Campbell never questions after  four decades of service, it’s the connection she has with shoppers.

“They love me,” Campbell said. “When they come into the store, they say, ‘Ms. Sau, I missed you.  You make my day.’ It makes me feel good hearing them say that.”

Moments like that have defined Campbell’s career since she arrived at Fort Lee in 1985. Before arriving, she spent a decade overseas in Germany, where she started her Exchange career, and Japan. She celebrated her 45^th anniversary in June.

Sau Campbell is the customer experience associate at the Fort Lee Express, where she is responsible for assisting shoppers and maintaining Snack Avenue, affectionately called “Ms. Sau’s kitchen” by the team.

Fort Lee Express Manager Christopher Camps can attest firsthand to the connection Campbell has with shoppers.

“The shoppers really look forward to seeing her each day,” Camps said. “When we had more manned registers, they’d wait to go through her register and not let anyone else ring them up. She’s a staple in our store.”

Campbell said all she does is try to accommodate shoppers the best she can and hear them out whenever possible.

“If they want it, then I try my best to get it for them. I’m coming in here to do my job the best I can,” Campbell said. “That’s why they love me and come see me every day.”

She’s also had spouses come into the store, asking for her by name.

“One time, a wife came in looking for me. She said, ‘Does Ms. Sau work here? Is Ms. Sau here today?’ It kind of scared me a little bit.”

The spouse came to say thank you.

“‘My husband comes home talking about you every day,’” Campbell said. “‘I needed to come in here to say thank you for taking care of my husband. He really loves you and says how good you are to him, that talking with him makes his day.’”

Campbell made her way to the Express after working at the main store in women’s clothing.

“I worked the cash register, then worked in the booth where I helped pump gas,” Campbell said. “My boss moved me from the booth to the quick stop. It was a little store. I was the only one in there all day.”

She later transferred to the Military Clothing store but asked to transfer back to the Express when an opening was available.

“When a position opened, I wanted to come back,” Campbell said. “My Clothing Sales manager trusted me to do what I needed to do, so she didn’t want me to go, but she said, ‘OK, Sau. Go ahead. I can’t stop you. I came back here and worked here ever since.”

And since then, she’s been a familiar face for generations of Fort Lee shoppers.

They even inquire about her whereabouts when she’s off work or on vacation leave.

“When I go on vacation, they’re looking for me. My manager told me, ‘I got tired of customers asking about you, so I said you retired as a joke,’” Campbell said. “When I come back, they give me a hug. I feel good about that. A good day makes me feel like I can keep on going.”