‘‘
It’s fast paced and constantly changing and
I’ve come out of my shell a lot
,,
a d v e r t i s i n g
55
f e a t u r e
move to London and an opportunity that order to get things done in busy periods.
Take it from
can only be described as one of the best The great thing about the distribution team
graduate opportunities in the sector. is that everyone helps everyone else out so
them…
even in times of high pressure we
At the end of the programme I was lucky still manage to have fun.
enough to be offered a job in my chosen area
Don’t just take it from us
of interest and I am now a Merchandiser’s
that working at Arcadia administration assistant and am
Victoria
Group is as challenging
working hard to ensure I play a vital
role in Topshop’s continued success.
Williams, Outfit
as it is exciting, and as
I was in my
demanding as it is fun.
third year of
uni when I saw the
Here are three of our
Kirsty Hudson,
Arcadia graduate
graduate recruits to tell
Evans retail management
their stories:
After graduating I programme advertised.
wasn’t quite sure I was really pleased when I joined
what I wanted to do so Outfit on the retail programme in
Lucy Ruiz,
I took a job in my local its Nottingham flagship store. This
Topshop Evans store as a sales involved relocating from London, which
Arcadia advisor. I thoroughly was quite a big step for me, but the
Group’s enjoyed working for the brand and jumped company was really supportive.
graduate programme at the opportunity to apply for a graduate
allowed me to position at head office. At first, I was given three weeks’
develop as a focused, induction training in another Outfit store
ambitious employee. I’m currently a distribution analyst for to help me understand basic procedures.
It taught me how to manage a business Evans, which includes allocating stock to Once in Nottingham I was surrounded
and, even more importantly, how to stores, analysing which stores would best by a fantastic management team. They
effectively manage a group of people. sell particular lines, answering queries from helped me pick up the day-to-day
stores and undertaking analysis for the aspects of running a store, spending 95
The programme has allowed me to develop departments for which I am responsible. per cent of the time on the shopfloor.
as an individual whose opinion counts and
whose hard work is appreciated. I’m in constant contact with the Buying and I was assigned a mentor who guided
Merchandising teams, Logistics and Branch me through the activities set by the
After completing a four-year degree in Merchandising as well as being in contact programme, which were practical and
modern languages, I was accepted for a with stores so I get to understand how the supported my development. It was
number of graduate schemes but chose brand works from a number of perspectives. initially quite challenging to juggle the
Arcadia, and more specifically Topshop. immediate responsibility with my lack of
I’ve developed a much greater knowledge, but the team supported me
My year as a retail management graduate understanding of the retail process as a and I soon picked up the skills I needed.
saw me spend time in two different whole; I never realised before the hard
flagship stores, York and Leeds, with work that goes into getting the clothes Head office also offered me a lot of
the aim to be promoted to a retail store onto the shopfloor. support. Every two months I travelled
manager at the end of the programme. with the other Outfit grads to London to
Throughout the 12 months I attended It’s fast paced and constantly changing and take part in workshops run by HR. These
monthly development sessions run I’ve come out of my shell a lot. I’m much were fantastic in equipping me with key
centrally by the field training team. The more open and outgoing, which allows management behaviours and after each
sessions ran in conjunction with the daily me to deal with the constant changes and one I would return to store refreshed and
challenges of the job; managing people, quickly develop good relationships. motivated with new ideas.
product and most importantly the tough
transition from a nice easy 13-hour week I’ve also realised how well I can cope when Since joining Arcadia I have learned so much
at university to a 40-hour working week. working under pressure. We often have quite about retail. After nine months working in
tight deadlines and so I have become more Nottingham Outfit I’ve gained a passion for
My greatest challenge came when I was organised. In addition I have become more managing both the brand and people. In
chosen to join Arcadia’s Scholarship willing to ask for help when I need it. Before, June this year I stepped into a permanent
Programme. The programme included I would try and tackle everything by myself position as a sales manager in Outfit
four three-month head office placements but working on distribution you quickly learn Croydon, although am still being
in areas of my choice, not to mention a that you need to share out your workload in supported in my development.
GradJobs Magazine | Autumn 08
P\GR000344_Prospects Ad.indd 2 20/6/08 09:25:55
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