Part 1:

You can never tell how life is going to go.  I never imagined that I’d find myself in the retail industry, but here I am, over 20 years later with many experiences to share.

My journey began when I decided to leave teaching, a job I took to fund my travels after uni. I wanted to branch out and learn a little more about the business world.  It was a conversation with an old school friend that set me on this path—the path that led me to the highs and lows of retail.

My first step into this career was as an allocator for H. Samuel in the watch department. I was fascinated by the strategic thinking required to ensure the right products were in the right place at the right time (yes, I said that in my interview! Cringe time). This role was my introduction to the fast-paced environment of retail, and I quickly realised that I had found my niche.

The Christmas sales peak was full on, it was here that I learned the importance of preparing for customer demand, what a margin was and how to focus on profit as well as applying the 80/20 rule, which would become a cornerstone of my retail strategy.

The experience was exhausting, overwhelming and fun all at once, and it laid the foundation for my future in the industry. It was where I made some lifelong friendships and started to understand what a career in retail was really about. I loved it but needed to move on.