What did you want to be when you were younger?
Successful at something but I didn’t know what! I tried being a nanny. I tried hairdressing and catering. I even applied to be in the Army! Like many others I fell into retail and now I’m so glad I did. The role is so varied and stretches me in so many different ways!
What attracted you to work for New Look?
I joined the business in 2000. New Look looked very different then and catered for the low price market, with very little fashion. I liked the fact that the company was small and that you could make a real difference and most importantly, accept that everyone is different. New Look really embraces that.
Describe your career path at New Look.
I started as the Store Manager of Kingston Upon Thames which had a £2.5m turnover. I managed this store and looked after four others locally for two years. I was then promoted to Deputy Manager of the Oxford Circus store in London. Five months later I was promoted to Store Manager of the Oxford Circus store which had an £8m turnover. I stayed in this position for one year.
I really enjoyed the London West End so when the Store Manager position was made available for the brand new flagship store at Marble Arch, I jumped at the chance The store had a turnover of £10m and I held this position for three years. To broaden my experience and knowledge of the business, I then applied for a one year secondment into HR. In that role as HR Business Partner I provided support to 96 stores.
From this position I then applied to be a Regional Business Manager. After a rigorous recruitment process I was promoted into the role. I take responsibility for 29 stores in London and have been in this role since 2007.
What does your job involve?
Where do I start! I manage 29 stores within London and develop the team to deliver targets. My role involves controlling costs in store and delivering excellent standards of visual execution. I am also responsible for training and development in my region as well as delivering on key projects. I am the retail representative for Health & Safety and manage the visits in our Brand Flag stores from our investors, Executive Directors and other VIPs. Most importantly, I inspire and encourage my team to deliver the best results with maximum fun! In a nutshell…to take loads of money!
How do you aim to progress further within New Look?
New Look has grown so fast over the years, here at home and internationally, so there are always opportunities that you may like to pursue. My Dad once said “you get on with the day job and let everyone else worry about where you’re going.” I believe that when the right opportunity comes your way you will know about it. I can honestly say that I have never been bored!
What is it like working for New Look?
Fast paced, exciting and never a dull moment! New Look encourages autonomy and allows you to manage accordingly within frameworks. Results are recognised and rewarded in different ways all the time and everyone including the Retail Controllers and Retail Directors work as a team.
What advice would you give new starters?
If you work hard, show commitment and are passionate about everything you do, you will go far! I believe that the reason that people do well in their career is because they love what they’re doing. We spend so much time at work, so for me it’s a non negotiable.
Remember though Rome wasn’t built in a day and I had 12 years’ Retail experience before I started in New Look working for Habitat, Topshop, Topman, Racing Green and Gap. Like everybody else I had to earn my stripes, so relish each and every moment as you climb the ladder to success!