Ep 8. Yankee Candle

The episode begins with the CEO of Yankee Candle, Harlan Kent, leaving his executive suite to go undercover and work in his own company. Yankee Candle is a large manufacturer and retailer of scented candles and home décor items. Kent's mission is to discover what it's like to work at various positions in the company and to learn firsthand about the challenges facing his employees.

Kent's first stop is the shipping department of the company's facility in Massachusetts. Here, he meets Billy, a forklift driver who trains Kent on how to move the pallets of candles and other products through the warehouse. Kent is shocked by the difficult working conditions in the facility and the physical strain experienced by Billy and his colleagues. He realizes that much of the company's success has been built on the hard work and dedication of its employees.

Next, Kent goes undercover as a sales associate at a Yankee Candle store in New Jersey. Here, he meets Cindy, a sales associate who teaches Kent about the various products and how to interact with customers. Kent is surprised to learn that the company creates unique fragrances every year and that the employees take great pride in helping customers find the perfect candle or home décor item. He is humbled by the dedication of the employees and their ability to connect with customers on a personal level.

Kent's third assignment is at a manufacturing plant in Virginia, where he works as a production associate who makes the wax for the candles. Here, he meets Tracy, a mother of two who has worked at Yankee Candle for over a decade. Kent is amazed by the complexity of the manufacturing process and the importance of maintaining high quality standards. He is impressed by the expertise and dedication of Tracy and her colleagues in ensuring that each batch of wax is of the highest quality.

Finally, Kent travels to the company's flagship store in Massachusetts to work as a candle maker. Here, he meets Ashley, a candle maker with a passion for creating unique products. Kent is thrilled to learn about the process of making candles and how each candle is crafted with precision and care. He is inspired by Ashley's creativity and dedication and makes a promise to invest in new equipment that would help her team work more efficiently.

At the end of his journey, Kent reveals his true identity to each of the employees he worked with and praises them for their dedication, market knowledge and skillset they apply in executing the tasks. He surprises them with rewards and promotions based on their exceptional performance. He also takes away with him valuable insights on how to improve the working conditions and enhance employee satisfaction. The entire experience has been a humbling one for Kent, who has learned that his company's success is built on the hard work and dedication of its employees.