On the job: retail graduate revamps and relaunches an Evans branch

I started my training with the Arcadia Group at my ‘host’ Evans store in Lakeside, Essex at an exciting time, as we were about to open the latest ‘new concept’ store. I joined a week before the store was due to reopen. The team certainly had a challenge ahead: our job was to ensure that the store was set up in readiness to trade. Customers are at the heart of everything a retailer does, so it was our job to present them with a great looking store and a great shopping experience.

A steep learning curve

Helping to set up the new concept store provided me with the opportunity to gain real hands-on fashion retail experience. Typically I would deal with phone calls to and from our head office teams, and tagging and preparing the stock ready to be displayed on the shop floor. Although I was working long days, team morale was high, and we all felt energised and excited as we counted down the days to opening.

I spent a lot of time working with the visual merchandising team, and having observed them at work I was able to put what I’d learned into practice by helping arrange different display areas and dressing the mannequins.

Compared to the rest of the week, the day before the opening was fairly relaxed. There were just a few remaining tweaks to get the store looking perfect. To do this we had to make sure every item was spaced correctly and hanging at the right angle, before the store was signed off by the senior management team.

A bird’s eye view of the business

Alongside the challenges of preparing for the store opening, my first week provided me with the chance to work with and get to know the store team and management team, as well as the area manager and regional controller. I gained a good understanding that, as a manager, building strong relationships and having the ability to communicate effectively at all levels is vital.

I also received training on how to administer our new loyalty card scheme, back office and stock room procedures, and health and safety risk assessments. I also participated in a pre-opening team development event to ensure the team had a clear understanding of the new concept store and their role in delivering a great customer experience.

Being exposed to so many of the core functions within the fashion retail business was a great start to my training programme. To run a store successfully you need to understand every aspect of the business, whether that’s managing the deliveries, creating a great visual display, developing the team or dealing with operational issues.

'Much more than working in a shop': what to expect from retail management

Working in retail management you are faced with new opportunities and challenges that will stretch you and build on your experience and knowledge, whether that’s developing your commercial abilities, improving how you motivate the team, or refining your visual skills. Time management, analytical ability, interpersonal skills, creativity, the ability to lead a team and a sharp intellect are all vital components of the job.

While studying for her BA in graphic design at the University of Leeds, Kirsty Marjoribanks got a part-time job in her local Evans store. After researching the graduate retail management programme and talking to a trainee, she joined the Arcadia Group graduate scheme.