Being a team manager at Primark has really taught me some valuable skills. Not only have I grown as a manager, but my skills set has also developed. The main duties I undertake in this role are. Coaching and developing my team, undertaking staff inductions, interviews, performing and undertaking commercial responsibilities, maintaining high levels of stock appearance, as well as ordering to replenish effectively and working collaboratively with the store night and visual merchandising team. During my time I have worked on several high value departments and have shown, over time, that I can train and develop the staff, improve their knowledge of the stock, standards all while improving the departments figures, standards and allow them to visually look appealing.

Before starting my role as a branch manager for Holland and Barrett, I had to first complete an e-learning programme containing specific training modules that would, not only allow me to have the adequate and sufficient knowledge to be able assist customers with any health concerns and queries to then advise on what supplements to take but also to comfortably run the store and any operational tasks such as how to maintain store standards and be compliant with any policies and company standards, complete preopening checks, recalls and write offs, stock checks, rota completion, banking and cash handling as well as being responsible for the stores fire safety and health and safety standards and compliance. As a manager of a high street store, I was responsible for a lot of things, some of which include cash handling and banking, daily sales and other KPI targets that we, as a team had to work together to hit. There were a lot of other commercial responsibilities that I was responsible for, communication with our facilities department to make sure that any faults/issues in the store were fixed, made aware of and dealt with to prevent any possible harm or loss of business. We also had some outside challenges that we would face and this would be and some of these challenges were dealing with shoplifters, scammers as well as other things like change in weather conditions all of which meant that I would often have to adapt our method of approaching customers, positioning in the shop, the movement and location of stock.

As my time in Currys went on, I was looking to broaden my horizon and look for new challenges so transferred over to the Business Centre. My main role within the business centre is to manage and maintain Business clientele accounts and dealing with anything from Charities and self-employed to Councils and Corporate Business with us being the ones to place, suggest, and deal with any issues that may arise within the customers time with us. We have helped to initiate new projects, join business up and create some amazing partnerships to help benefit all business involved

As a customer assistant with Currys, it was down to us to make sure that as soon as the customer stepped into the store that they were greeted, acknowledged and had any initial questions answered. We were also on hand to direct them to the area of the store they need to and were on hand for any assistance they would require. Due to the experience, I had from Carphone Warehouse I was approached by the store manager asking if I would like to take on the role in-store Broadband champion. This meant that I had to train, demonstrate and assist with all sales and after sales from my store. I was also in-charge of organising in-store visits from suppliers to give any member of staff training on future and current products. During my time as champion, we went from the bottom half of the region to the highest performing in the territory.

As a customer assistant with Carphone Warehouse, it was down to us to make sure that the journey and experience for the customer was as effortless and easy as possible. We had to spend time listening and taking in the information given by the customer to make sure that not only their needs were met but if they had any issues that we knew who to put them in touch with. Over time I was looking for more responsibilities and more challenges within the business. I was asked if I wanted to be the lead for home broadband, which meant that I had monitor the other stores performance, update the region on figures and hold conference calls to be able to answer and support any stores/colleagues that needed the support to help improve their input. I was also given the role of 2nd in command which meant that I was the one to make sure the shop was open on time, set up ready for the day’s work, all areas were clean and presentable, then during the shift to make sure that I was there for both customer and staff support with any questions, queries or issues. I would also update the region on tracking figures, which would be done via conference call, be on call for any support needed by stores and regional manager. Then at the end of the shift make sure staff knew they had done a good job, tills were all cashed up and the banking was done with the money noted and stored in the safe, then shop locked up with alarm set.

As a team leader, it is down to me to organise a team a team of 8 – 10 giving any new staff the till and MDU training they may need. Showing them how to use and run things through the till, noting any mistakes and serving customers efficiently. I am also able to use the tills confidently, getting customers served efficiently, making sure the customer service is to a high standard. I also had to deal with complaints and resolving any issues that the customer has. I have also worked on champagne bar at the Cheltenham festival, serving customers, with high expectations at a high pace making sure they receive the best quality of product.