TOPSHOP / TOPMAN Recruitment

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

Department Information: If you decide to join us you will be working for a dynamic and innovative business. We can offer you an exciting and challenging career with many opportunities. Excellent career development opportunities will be on offer, along with on going training and support. With the size of the business and the quality of the training and development, there will be endless opportunities for you to progress in your career with us. Simply click on the links to the right for more information on what your future could hold! You will find information about the function, the job roles and career progression.

Retail Management:

General overview In summary the role of a Store Manager is to run, with their deputy and with support from their Area Manager, a store as an independent profit centre - focusing all activity on meeting customer needs and achieving bottom line results, whist planning and developing for the future.

The role includes: * Team management and development. * Commercialism through driving profit. * Maintaining retail standards. * Focus on customer service. * Maintaining brand integrity through instore layout/staff profile/service offered.

Career routes There are a variety of ways to become a Store Manager within TOPSHOP and TOPMAN. *You may join us straight out of school - or at any time in your life and work through our sales adviser competencies to a management appointment. *You may join after A Levels on our A Level training programme - this is a one-year course dedicated to your development to a Management role. *If you've just graduated, you can join our one year graduate programme, which again focuses on an appointment as a store manager after 12 months. *You may decide that as a manager within another fashion brand, you really want to be at the cutting edge of fashion, personal development and career opportunities - we're happy to receive your application and welcome you into TOPSHOP and TOPMAN.

area manager

mega store manager store manager

deputy manager

top level sales advisor

Personal Profile (Store Manager) January 2004

Sarah Harper is the Retail Store Manager at our Oxford Circus Flagship store.

What does your job involve? Running front of house operations, stockroom and administration department. This involves managing a number of Brand Managers all accountable for their areas including maximizing sales, reducing cash/loss, managing and developing their teams etc. I also liaise continuously with various head office departments including buying, merchandising, vm, marketing & finance regarding store performance, opportunities. A large part of my job also involves analyzing store performance and commercial decisions.

How do you go about it? As the store is very vast and fast paced it is very demanding. Communication and time management is key.

Describe a typical day I normally come in for 8am and analyze the previous’ day’s figures and stats. Then by 8.30am I hit the floors to ensure high retail standards for opening and that all departments are set up for the day’s trade. I usually do a store walk with each Brand / Sales Manager going through department figures and any commercial decisions i.e. moves that need actioning. It also allows me to communicate any initiatives happening within their areas. My meetings are planned to happen after lunch. As the Flagship store we tend to get a lot of unplanned visits from all levels of the business, from directors to Philip Green, which I always need to be prepared for.

What else might you do or get involved in? As the Regional Controller (my Line Manager) is based here I get involved in a lot of financial planning. We also have a large back of house team and a lot of what we do overlaps in many aspects we work closely together to achieve results.

Is there a downside? Although I thrive on working at such fast pace there is also frustrations due to it. You don’t always get to do all that you plan. There are also a lot of unexpected interruptions and you have to adapt and re-jig your plans constantly.

What’s best about your job? Working and meeting with loads of different people at all levels and diverse backgrounds! Taking loads of money and driving the store forward through different initiatives are very rewarding. Due to the fast pace you see instant changes. No two days are the same!

What skills do you need? Common sense. You also need to work well under pressure and be flexible and adaptable to changes. You need to be able to communicate with people at all levels so excellent communication skills are key. You have to have a passion for clothing and retail and have tons of energy!

Career progression (How have you got where you are now)? I joined Debenhams on a YTS scheme when I left school, then progressed my retail career with Burton Menswear. Starting off as a sales advisor then going onto display, where I became heavily involved within the VM department in head office and completed several secondments including a store modernization program which lead me into store management. I worked my way up through different stores and ended up running the flagship store on Oxford Street. I then moved into DP’s, which was double the turnover which gave me womenswear experience and challenged through managing a bigger team, faster pace and developed my commerciality. Within a couple of years I became a multi site manager managing 4 brands which allowed me to develop my strategic and networking skills. Then 2 years on moved to Oxford Circus where I am currently Retail Store Mgr.

Where next for you? I would love to set up and manage a Topshop flagship site in an international capital ideally New York!!!!

Personal Profile (Store Manager) January 2004

Abdul Farrah is the Store Manager for our brand new high profile store on Kensington High Street.

What does your job involve? Managing Sales by focusing on both good and poor performing departments. I also spend a great deal of time developing and motivating the store team, bringing new people into the store and driving customer service throughout the team. I also liaise with the buying and merchandising teams at head office about product and building stock, to make sure that your store has the best product.

How do you go about it? By making sure that all team members are fully aware of and meeting the brand and store expectations and getting them involved in any decision making. What else might you do or get involved in? Setting up model store, local activities i.e. student lockin’s, networking with other stores to share best practice and getting involved in local loss prevention activities etc.

Who else do you deal with? As a retail Manager you need to monitor all your competitors activities, checking the weather daily and local transport changes etc.

Is there a downside? No.

What’s best about your job? The ambition and challenges. Topshop is an ambitious company and comes with new challenges that I greatly enjoy; knowing that tomorrow there will be a new challenge and a new goal to target.

What skills do you need? Good communication skills, team builder/player, strong leadership skills, work well under pressure and self motivational skills.

Career progression (How have you got where you are now)? I started as 16 hours sales advisor but worked my way up by progressing through the competency books and receiving support from the training department and the senior managers.

Where next for you? The sky is the limit as far as I am concerned but I would like be an area manager one day.

BUYING

General overview Our Buyers, Merchandisers and their teams focus on the specific requirements of their Brand, developing the ranges, driving profits and guarding Brand integrity. They concentrate on meeting customer needs and developing strong supplier relationships. Essentially, Buyers source product and develop ranges, introducing appropriate excitement and newness each season and keeping the bullseye customer clearly in view. They work closely with the Design and Technical Services teams to ensure both designs and fabrics are leading edge and satisfy our quality standards.

Merchandisers focus on the profit drivers and work with the Buyers to ensure we have the right ranging and phasing of lines, so that opportunities are being maximised and risks are minimised.

Career routes buying director senior buyer

junior buyer

assistant buyer / junior buyer

buyers admin assistant / assistant buyer

Most people start their career with us direct from university, the first role you would apply for would be that of Buyers Administration Assistant (BAA).

Personal profile (Assistant Buyer) October 2001

TopShop - Assistant Buyer Rachel Proud is an Assistant Buyer for TopShop, responsible for Knitwear.

So, how does your department work Rachel?

Our team is made up of 5 people, Buyer, Merchandiser, Assistant Buyer, Assistant Merchandiser, Buyers' Admin Assistant. We also work very closely with our design team and our garment technologists (quality control and garment specialists) We all have regular meetings, best and worst sellers reviews, fit meetings, product reviews etc…..

What does an Assistant Buyer do?

The main aim of my job is to assist the buyer and while doing this learning more about the buying process. I liase with the buyer and merchandiser to ensure that they have all the information, sales reports, samples, sample prices etc. that they need to plan the range. I also oversee the buyer's admin assistant, ensuring she is involved in the buying process, looking after samples and deliveries. On the more creative side of the job, I get out to look at the shops as often as possible, looking at high street competitors, aspirational shops, designers etc. the information I find is then fed back to the department, via, written reports, sketches etc… As an Admin Assistant, Assistant Buyer or Buyer, you need to be really aware of what is happening in all aspects of Fashion and constantly thinking about all customers that come into our stores.

Where do you get your ideas?

Everywhere! - Magazines, people in the street, friends, shops - aspirational designers and catwalks, vintage stalls and markets.

What do you do next with your ideas? We put ideas into work with suppliers by sending them sketches pictures and they then make up sample garments. If we like them we will fit them in the fit meetings and then decide how strongly we feel for them and therefore book a quantity based on how many we feel we can sell. E.g. Just for our flagship store for really directional pieces, or for more commercial lines, an all store quantity.

Do you get involved with finance at all?

Yes - the merchandisers will work out how much we can spend by category and style. We then spend within this budget -negotiating the best cost prices for the garment, then we calculate selling prices, ensuring we reach our target profit margin. We monitor sales very closely to establish if lines are working well etc. if we think there is potential in a style, we can book more on that line, or change other styles into the one that is working.

It is vital that the buyers and merchandisers have a very good working relationship.

Where do suppliers come in?

We send out our product sketches to the suppliers and they would make up samples for us. Some also have their own showrooms and ranges, so we may visit and select from there. Knitwear suppliers are mainly based in the Far East, but we do also have some UK production.

What's the best thing about your job?

For me, it's having the idea, then seeing an idea progress from a sketch through to someone buying it, and then seeing people wearing the garments, the full buying cycle. Working in a really creative atmosphere is great and in our office, it's a young team, who are all really focused and really enjoy the job.

Also to be working for Topshop is great, it is the best place to work and train to be a buyer.

Is there a downside?

Sorry - I really like my job so……… not really!!

I guess my friends get bored with me constantly talking about clothes but that would happen even if I didn't work here.

It is really hard work though, I really want to be a buyer - and that'll take time, so I need to keep myself motivated and keep developing.

What skills/attributes do you need? *Need to be creative, obsessive about fashion! *An objective view is needed - we need to look at the whole market and our varying customer needs, not be blinkered by our personal views *Analytical *Pay attention to detail *Knowledge of working in stores is invaluable *Knowledge of fashion and some technical knowledge e.g. fits and patterns, is very useful *Interpersonal skills/communication skills

What about your training?

When you start as a BAA, the training is very systems based. Then as an Assistant Buyer you lead your own training. There are competencies to work towards - there are 3 levels of competency for an AB, but the more you drive your development and seek out opportunities, the better.

What's your career to date?

Foundation Art and Design (1 year) Textile Design and Design Management - BSc Honours @ UMIST BAA - Topshop - TS Design/Jersey basics (July 1998) AB - Topshop - Jersey basics (January 2000) AB - Topshop - Knitwear

What next?

Achieve level 3 of my AB competencies and then hopefully become a junior buyer and then…

So, can you give people some hint and tips – how to get into buying?

If you’re thinking about buying:  Get some fashion retail experience – work in a store  See if you can get some work experience in a buying department  Visit fashion shows if you can  You need to be passionate about fashion, and its direction

Update interview December 2002

How has your role developed since we last spoke to you?

A lot has happened since I last spoke to you, I have moved onto the new shoe department, which is very exciting and high profile. We launched shoes in August, and it has been really successful ever since. It has been a massive learning curve for us all, but we are now getting to grips with the world of footwear. I have recently has my level 3 signed off, which means I have much more responsibility within the areas I buy.

What have you enjoyed most in this time?

I think learning about a completely new and challenging product area has been the most fun. Very stressful at times, but also very rewarding watching new styles react and sell really well. The press coverage has also been great for us, and it is always nice to see one of our styles in vogue or I.D. etc. It is also equally rewarding to get on a bus / go to a pub and look around and see a couple of pairs of our shoes strutting around.

What would you like your next move to be?

I think for now I am really happy to be on this new area, next step now is to be junior buyer and I am really looking forward to that, and the responsibility that will arrive with it.

Update Interview January 2004

My role has changed massively, I have had lots more experience on various different departments and I am now a junior buyer, buying my own area, which is ‘ts design / boutique’ This is a multiproduct department which covers our in-house designers range ‘Unique’ and also each of our sponsored designers ranges for Topshop. I also buy our own ‘boutique’ label which is a more directional fashion area within Topshop, available exclusively in just 7 stores.

Before my promotion I was part of the in-house team that set up and launched Topshop own buy shoes. This involved many new experiences, from producing daisy de villeneuve illustrated shoe boxes, to discovering the mad world of shoe production. The experience was frustrating but very fulfilling, especially when we began to launch the shoes, watching the sales reaction and press coverage was fantastic.

Best of all seeing everyone in the office and most of the high street wearing our shoes was really rewarding – what the job is all about for me.

There have been so many new experiences and many of them once in a lifetime opportunities, so it is difficult to choose. I do think, however, that to be buying my own range is the most rewarding thing that has happened as this is what buying is all about, and the reason that I always wanted to be a buyer!! Sending sketches out to factories, sourcing fabrics and trims and seeing finished garments come into the office, go into store and watching sales reactions (both good and bad !!) Learning from the experiences and trying not to make the same mistakes again.

But most fun of all, reading magazines, going clubbing, visiting new places to see what people are wearing and shopping, all in the name of WORK!! Very very enjoyable.

As I have just been promoted to this role, I want to become proficient in this role and then wait and see what happens. A role on a single product department will probably follow, and will present many new challenges. I am happy to develop in my current role for now, but as always with topshop there are so many potential possibilities on the horizon!!

Personal profile (Buyers Admin Assistant) October 2001

Topman – BAA Pia

Pia Yazigi is a Buyers Administration Assistant for Topman – she works in the Leisurewear (long and short sleeve) department.

So what does a BAA really do Pia?

That’s a difficult question! The BAA role is multifunctional so every day is different and that’s what’s so good about it. My core responsibilities are:

Administration – I am responsible for offering full admin support to the Buyer and Assistant Buyer, and for all admin systems. I must be aware of everything that’s going on and ensure that I highlight any issues to the rest of the department as well as regularly updating the critical path (this is the timetable/log for all fit samples to guarantee delivery on time.

Fit sessions – I am involved in our twice weekly fit sessions – the great thing is that this gives me the opportunity to be creative by offering my opinion and thoughts on the range.

Supplier relationships – it is most important that I establish productive working relationships with all our suppliers through regular communication, be it verbal or by email. They should feel happy that to update me on any potential delivery / stock issues.

Involvement with any other departments – I have regular updates with my counterpart in the merchandising department. I also have contact with PR – they may ask me to pull out specific garments for a magazine/paper article – or I may just take up some new samples to them that I think are particularly press worthy and warrant some publicity. What would a ‘normal working day’ be for you?

This is difficult again – one of the most important parts of my day is updating the critical path. I gather information for those through meetings with my MAA (we discuss product problems, delays, requests for earlier or later delivery dates) and also through my communication with the suppliers. Every Monday and Wednesday I arrange our fit sessions, including organising the fit rail and the relevant paperwork for my Buyer and Asst Buyer and the QA rep who gets involved. I also help prepare for meetings on behalf of my Buyer – checking that the range information is accurate and that all the information he needs is to hand.

It sounds like your role has quite a lot of administration and organisation to it?

Yes, as my title suggests, the main part of my role does consist of admin work. However, if I’m organised and manage my days effectively, I can reduce the amount of time spent on admin work and I’m encouraged by my Buyer to get more involved in the creative side of things.

What involvement would you have with your Buyer?

We work very closely as I work on a small team and I find working with him very motivational. He lets me get on with my core tasks and also offers me extra responsibilities, giving me valued exposure to different parts of the business.

What’s the best thing about your job?

The working environment is great and there’s a real buzz in the office. Senior management are very approachable and are happy to have an informal chat with you. Everyone in the team is very friendly and willing to help.

Working for Topman , one of the leading brands on the High Street, also means that I’m involved in producing fashionable, quality product. Every day offers new and rewarding challenges.

So what skills do you need in your job?

You need to have good organisational skills. Also, need to use your initiative i.e. be forward thinking in order to identify and resolve issues. Its quite a pressurised environment, having to meet deadlines, so its important that you can work well under pressure, prioritise and keep calm. Definitely need a sense of humour, you really can’t afford to get too stressed. Good communication skills are also a must in dealing with other departments as well as suppliers. Building positive supplier relationships over the phone or by email, as well as your own confidence is vital, as sometimes to don’t always have positive conversations. You need to be very self-motivated-as this is a very administration orientated role, and you need to be able to see past it. You also need both a commercial and creative mind – which is absolutely essential for me, as my long-term goal is to be a Buyer, though I would definitely say that these skills improve with experience.

Is there a downside?

Not really, as its very important that you get to grips with this level of the business, before you move upwards. What I learn now and take with me will stand me in good stead to reach my aim to be a Buyer.

What about your training and development?

Arcadia offers excellent training. There are many internal courses provided for BAA’s, as well as some run by the London College of Fashion. So far I’ve been on ‘Garment Construction and Costing’ and this year I’m attending ‘Presenting with Impact’. ‘Introduction to Business Finance’ and ‘Fashion Trends and Forecasting’ amongst others. Each role also has Competencies that you need to work through. I’ve recently had my 3-month appraisal and I’m due another review at the end of January to discuss my development to the next level.

What’s your career been to date?

University of Nottingham – BA (Hons) Social and Cultural Studies (June 2000) Freemans Plc – BAA Ladies Footwear and Accessories Topman – BAA (August 2001)

Where next for you?

I’m hoping to be signed off to level 2 in the next 6 months, when I can start working towards being promoted to Assistant Buyer.

I have now been promoted to an Assistant Buyer!! In May I was signed off my level 2 and then in September a vacancy came up for an Assistant Buyer in the Accessories department of Topman and so the position was offered to me. This is what I have been aiming for and it was great to achieve my goal. Being promoted and moving departments has been a challenge and very enjoyable.

I’m not really thinking about next move yet as I have only just had my promotion to the next level. I am also now managing the BAA, this is the first time I have ever managed someone else, so I am quite happy learning to manage other people and my new role at the moment. Update Interview January 2004

I was promoted to Assistant Buyer in August 2002 when a vacancy emerged on the Accessories department within Topman. I was given a lot of exposure straight away, working on a department with very short lead times and requiring continual newness in the range. I was given my first area to buy, supported by the Buyer where I helped to make an impact on margin and sales. I left behind some of the admin work that I was responsible for as a BAA to enable me to get to grips more with product development, range planning and negotiating prices. I also was now responsible for managing a BAA which I found the most challenging part of the job, soon got to grips with delegating work and giving constructive feedback and appraisals. I have been signed off my Level 1 and 2 AB within 8 months as I was highlighted for the Arcadia fasttrak programme, and have just been moved onto Casual jackets and trousers, where I am responsible for buying Casual jackets, again with the support of the Buyer.

As an AB although I have still had to carry on managing a certain amount of admin work, I am able to concentrate more of my time on range planning and developing product, through working closely with the Design department and through aspirational shopping and my own commercial ideas. I also play an important role in placing orders, negotiating prices and working with the Merchandising function to react to sales figures, both good and bad. I am able to look at sourcing new suppliers to help improve our product offer.

As I have just moved departments, I am still getting to grips with my new area and new supply base. I hope to develop myself further and prove my ability through being responsible for my area and hope to get signed off my Level 3 AB as soon as I am ready.

MERCHANDISING

General overview Our Buyers, Merchandisers and their teams focus on the specific requirements of their Brand, developing the ranges, driving profits and guarding Brand integrity. They concentrate on meeting customer needs and developing strong supplier relationships.

Essentially, Buyers source product and develop ranges, introducing appropriate excitement and newness each season and keeping the bullseye customer clearly in view. They work closely with the Design and Technical Services teams to ensure both designs and fabrics are leading edge and satisfy our quality standards.

Merchandisers focus on the profit drivers and work with the Buyers to ensure we have the right ranging and phasing of lines, so that opportunities are being maximised and risks are minimised.

Career Routes Most people start their career with us direct from university, the first role you would apply for would be that of merchandise administration assistant Below is a little more detail about the role and also a brief chart showing your progression route through the merchandising function merchandise administration assistant

head of merchandising

senior merchandiser

merchandiser

junior merchandiser

assistant merchandiser

merchandisers administration assistant

The overall task of an MAA is to assist the Merchandiser/Assistant Merchandiser in the running of a department. This will involve gaining a broad understanding of all the merchandising functions in order to help in the planning and development of the future performance of the department. The focus of a merchandising team is to plan a well-balanced range by analysing sales figures and examining product performance. A flexible approach is essential in order to react to sales opportunities and limit risks.

Personal Profile January 2004

Jessica Guilfoyle is a Merchandise Administration Assistant for Topshop, she works in within the jeans, casual trousers and shorts department.

What does your job involve? I am responsible for the controlling of stock across three departments. This involves allocating new lines to stores, managing replenishment and monitoring branch stock levels. To do all of the above effectively I am constantly analyzing the performance of my department’s stock and also the performance of our branches.

How do you go about it? My role is largely PC based and the use of Arcadia’s mainframe system is vital. I use various different reports daily to carry out my work. Communication with the rest of my team is also essential.

Describe a typical day A typical day would firstly involve replenishing stores and allocating any new lines that have come into the business. I then carry out analysis on trends/my departments/any seasonal activity or any ad hoc analysis for my team. I also spend time looking at stores’ performance at department level and checking they are not under/over stocked.

What else might you do or get involved in? I am sometimes required to carry out analysis for my Merchandiser/Assistant Merchandiser. I am also involved with various projects with other MAAs or for the Stock Distribution Manager. When new stores open I am involved in putting together their package.

Who else do you deal with? I also deal with the branches, Branch Merchandisers, the DC, my Buyers and the rest of the Merchandising team.

Is there a downside? You have to be prepared to work in a high pressure, often stressful environment.

What’s best about your job? I enjoy working in a fast paced environment and for such a high profile, well reputed brand. My job allows me to use my analytical and commercial skills and work in a Fashion orientated environment.

What skills do you need? In order to perform this role you have to be organized, commercially minded and good with numbers. Working with lots of different people, at lots of different level means that good communication skills are essential.

Career progression (How have you got where you are now)? I graduated two years ago after doing a French degree. I then worked for a supplier which gave me a taste for retail and decided to apply for head office roles. I joined Topshop just over a year ago as part of the Distribution team and have since worked on several different departments which has been good in terms of my knowledge of the brand and also my development. The Distribution team as it was has now ceased to exist so we now sit with our Buyers and Merchandisers. This allows my job to be more varied and will aid me with my career progression.

Where next for you? The next step would be to progress to a Senior MAA with a view to becoming an Assistant Merchandiser or Assistant Branch Merchandiser. DESIGN

General overview Below is a little more detail about the role and also a brief chart showing your progression route through the Design function. A central TS/TM design team supports the brands and is responsible for keeping abreast of and communicating the latest fashion trends. They translate the catwalk looks into High Street styles and colours. Each buying team has a Designer who continuously presents the forward trends and helps to take a design concept through to the actual garments instore.

head of design

designer

junior designer

Personal profile October 2002

Pik-Yee Berwick is a knitwear Designer based in London.

What does the Designer's role involve?

You're rather like a big sponge, soaking up as much information as you can - about how people are dressing or want to dress (in the street, in magazines, at the clubs) sharing that with the rest of the team (including the Buyers) and moving that on in your designs.

How do you gather ideas?

We don't just look at what's going on in this country - such as a new shop opening, for instance, or what Victoria Beckham wore last night - but also at what's happening abroad. That involves shopping trips to Paris, New York, Antwerp, the Far East, Iceland - you name it. We go too to festivals and markets to see what's happening. There's a huge club scene in Ibiza, so that's a very important influence, tapping into the youth culture. We go out there and take photos, gathering ideas on everything from shape to colour and fabric.

What do you do with the information you gather?

Every month we put together 'Most Wanted' booklets for Buyers, including photos and tear sheets from magazines showing the latest fashions - anything from a new watch or pair of trainers to accessories and clothes. They help in focusing our interpretation of forthcoming ranges.

What does the design process involve? We come together first as a Design team, chatting, drawing and discussing what's happening in the year ahead. For instance, Victoriana is big at the moment, so we look at what's new about it, what makes it different. We identify other trends too. If we're looking at street wear for instance, we'll look at what Diesel and Levi's are doing and how we can move it forward to make it unique for us now.

Using photos and tear sheets to convey the feel of each look, we create visual storyboards and colour palettes on each trend for the Buyers - which they'll use throughout the season. They need to know when they buy garments which trend they fit into. We'll draw key shapes for each trend, showing them what needs to be included to complete each look (such as a jacket with puffed sleeves or a stripy jumper).

What next?

We present these ideas as a team to the Buyers, talking them through and getting their feedback. They know what will sell best, when. It's very informal, everyone contributes. Each Designer subsequently goes through in detail and makes notes with their Buyer about what they need to include in each range. That involves looking at what sold best last season and how to develop that and move it on for next season. (We work a year ahead, so in summer we're designing for the summer of next year.)

What does the design stage involve?

After I've talked through what's needed with my Buyer I draw up my ideas for each group of garments. We always question what we're doing, looking to give each design a new twist to make it new and exciting. Every designer has a 'volume line', a basic that we know will appeal to all customers and sell well (such as a basic roll neck) and which the Buyer will programme to go right through the season. All stores, whatever size, will always stock this. A slightly larger store will perhaps have an extra colour or a small programme of another line that they know will suit their customers. Then the largest, fashion trendy, stores will carry the high fashion lines that pull in customers who want something really different.

Where does the manufacturer come in?

I work a lot with manufacturers in the Far East. I build up packs of drawings - one for acrylic knitwear, for example, another for chunky knits - which show the details on each garment, and I send some out to my supplier in Taiwan. They have a sample ready for us to discuss when I go out to visit them with the Buyer. I talk to the supplier about the season's designs, what we're looking for, where the trend's going. I may have a cutting of braid I'd like them to source or a tear sheet I want them to focus on. They'll also present ideas to us - a new yarn they've found, for example. In the end, you can design as much as you like but it's no use unless the supplier can manufacture it and the Buyer wants to buy it. What's the next step?

Once we're sent samples by the supplier, we fit the garments on a model and the Buyer, a Garment Technician and I talk through any changes needed. This is the point at which we'll pick up practical information such as does the model find the garment itchy? Would she wear it? The Garment Technician's an expert in quality control, so they'll have input on how it's put together and whether that could be improved or made more cost effective. Then my role is complete and the garment goes into manufacture.

Ongoing process

The cycle doesn't stop there. I'm designing all the time - things change so quickly and we're constantly introducing new garments into the stores. I also gather feedback from the Management Team - what they think will sell well, what the Buyer hasn't bought and why not.

What's best about your job?

Seeing people wearing the clothes you've designed - they're always wearing our things in Hollyoaks, which is great. And one of S Club 7 wore a jumper of mine on Top of the Pops the other day. Travelling is a brilliant part of the job. We have a lot of fun. I can't believe I'm actually paid to do all this!

What skills do you need in your job?

Apart from the obvious design training and expertise, you need: * Good communication skills - verbally and on paper through your sketching * Drawing ability * A passion for fashion

Pik-Yee's career progression

*Left school after GCSEs - Fashion Diploma then 4-year sandwich degree in *Fashion at the University of Newcastle *Predicting trends for a fashion prediction company *Designing in manufacturing company in the North East *Moved to London, got herself an agent and touted her portfolio *Knitwear jobs with Artwork and Edina Ronay *Knitwear design for Indian importers Zygo *18 months with Naughty Clothing (jersey and knitwear for catalogues) *Fashion Accessories design and fitting *Work with large knitwear supplier, including travel to the Far East *Dorothy Perkins, then current job

'Article taken from Working in Fashion series, provided by DFES'

Update interview December 2002 How has your role developed since we last spoke to you?

I have taken on more departments, including Lingerie and Nightwear. Taking on these new products has been very interesting and a challenge as they are very different to my usual lines, considering comfort over fashion.

In store, Topshop are now concentrating on selling a look rather than individual items. The store is now merchandised so that you can buy certain look / trend rather than individual items in one area. This has changed our role as we are now pulling a look together straight from the start and this will lead how the store will look in 5 to 6 months times.

We are also now concentrating more on our designer led ‘Unique’ range. We now design our own range which we make in-house. We then have fashion shows and the Buyers can buy from our range.

What have you enjoyed most this time?

Working with the Buyers and developing as a team. I have also really enjoyed the social aspect – the team is great and we get to go to some fab parties!

As a team we would like to have a quicker process. We are hoping to get the designs, pattern cuts and fittings ready in-house and then just send to the Far East for final production.

How has your role developed since we last spoke to you? I was promoted to senior designer in October. My role hasn’t changed that much yet but I will be taking on more managerial responsibility i.e. managing junior members of the team.

What have you enjoyed most in this time? Hitting the targets that we have set on my core department.

What would you like your next move to be? I would like to work on a different department to gain more experience.

TECHNICAL SERVICES

General overview This department works with factories world wide (UK - China - Hong Kong - India - Turkey - Mauritius) - and travels to them, to ensure that our customers receive the quality of stock that they expect from TS/TM as a brand, irrespective of the different suppliers used. They work with suppliers and factories to 'potentialise' their ability to deliver the 'Right First Time' product and to ensure that they meet social and ethical responsibilities

To ensure this, they are responsible for:- *Assuring quality of product *Develop suppliers to deliver the right quality product *Manage and carry our factory evaluations to ensure they meet the code of conduct required relating to working conditions, child labour, Health & Safety *Working with suppliers pattern rooms to ensure garments fit the target customer *Liasing with Distribution centre to check the quality of stock that is arriving

Career progression

head of / technical manager

technical manager

senior technologist

technologist

junior ~(at graduate level)

student placement

This is a very stable industry - openings are few and far between, but the wait and hard work is worth it and it's a very rewarding industry for those involved. 99% of those in the industry are women - allowing for lots of freelance opportunities. Most people build their career by progressing up or between suppliers and retailers, so they understand both sides of the field

Because of the stable environment, team culture is very strong; Jo Collins (technical service manager) describes her team "MAD! They love TopShop, love to travel and get a real buzz out of making things turn out right - they look at everything and make sure its spot on from start to finish. They're a really close team, supportive and work well together.

Qualifications and key skills

Qualifications and key skills for a career in this field: *Technically based clothing degree (should inc. understanding of patterns, garment construction, fabric performance, factory management) *Numerate *PC literate *Presentation skills *Communicator - internal/external, up and down *Negotiator *Problem solver *Prepared to travel - weekly within UK, foreign trips two - three times per year *Ideal is someone who has completed an Industrial Placement at a manufacturing base, or a year in fashion retail as a technologist

Personal profile October 2001

Garment Technologist Sophie Hill explains:

'It begins with a Product Review, where the Buying team shows the Brand Director samples of the garments they're planning to buy for the next season. Following the review, I work with both the buying teams and the suppliers to develop the product for production.

What's product development?

Prior to production I need to ensure that the product is suitable for the customer in terms of construction, fit, performance and cost. You constantly have to be up-to-date with industry development to improve the garments. When our buying team decided to make corsets, the boning they had chosen had sharp ends and could have injured a customer so, with the help of the supplier, we re-sourced a more suitable alternative. Our lead times are very slim - it's a fast-moving process - so we have to work quickly and accurately, making decisions on our feet. We work to a tight 'critical path', which lays down exactly what's to happen when, from the order confirmation to delivery of the finished goods into our Distribution Centre. Once the range is agreed, each garment has at least two fit sessions with an in-house model.

How do fit sessions work?

It's important that we make sure our garments fit correctly on all sizes before they go into production. All our garments are fitted on our in-house models, whose proportions and ages relate to our target customer. The Buyer, Buyer's Assistant, supplier and I fit the clothes on the model. When we fit we decide on the look we're aiming to achieve, changing patterns and measurements accordingly. The Buying team focuses on the styling - for instance, they may decide to have a zip instead of buttons or to remove a pocket. I focus on the technical aspects such as fit and construction. It's my job to relay this information to the supplier, usually by email and ensure they understand it. As a Technologist I approve every sample for production. We tag each one as a 'sealing sample' and both the supplier and ourselves keep one. This becomes the agreed sample for quality and fit of production.

What else do you do?

The main stage in the pre-production process is test reports. We also spend a great deal of time working with suppliers and factories to ensure that they meet our requirements.

What's a test report? All our garments are tested for shrinkage, colourfastness, strength and other legal requirements. Tests are carried out at our accredited laboratories. It's important that we do this testing so that the product we sell is suitable for the target customer and its end use and to confirm the washcare instructions. As a Technologist, I approve them, which gives the supplier permission to cut the fabric and start production.

What other work do you do with suppliers?

Supplier and factory development is an important part of my job. It's very varied. One minute I could be discussing the best way to insert a zip, the next discussing working conditions in a factory. We require all suppliers and factories to follow a code of conduct, which sets standards for working conditions, health and safety and ethical responsibilities. Earlier this year I travelled to Romania - and now I'm about to go to Rome.

What's the next step in the production process?

Once production is completed and before the goods are delivered, the supplier must send us a sample from production for our approval. Once approved, the supplier is allowed to deliver the goods into our Distribution Centre, where their quality is inspected. We work closely with the Distribution Centre to ensure standards are met and to sort out any issues. Another part of my job is to decide on the best and most efficient solution to problems so that the garments are available for sale with minimum delay.

How do you know your customers are happy?

We have information that tells us the reason for customer returns, which we analyse to improve the product in future. For example on one particular garment we had returns for shrinkage. We worked with the mill to improve the fabric for our next delivery. We also spend time in stores with the staff and customers, discussing views on our product. We use this information in the product development process.

What's best about your job?

I love the product development stage, getting my teeth into research and learning something new. In four years here I've never had two days the same. You could never be bored in this job!

What skills do you need?

*You have to be a people person - you spend a lot of time talking to people and negotiating *A team worker *Fantastic at time management, constantly re-assessing priorities as things crop up during the day *Good at thinking fast and making prompt but sound decisions *Able to think laterally, to come up with different solutions

Sophie - Why Garment Technology?

*Sophie's always loved making things - which is why she decided to turn it into her career.

*She took an HND in Clothing Design and Technology and then a BSc in Clothing at Manchester Metropolitan University, specialising in Product Development.

*That involved everything from robotics and machine investment appraisal to producing a fashion collection and catwalk show.

*Her dissertation focused on the history of women's costume, which developed her interest in costume design. Sophie helped make costumes for theatre and opera in London before applying for a job as Trainee Garment Technologist for Burton's and Top Man.

*She's worked her way up, through jobs as Assistant and Junior and is now a fully-fledged Garment Technologist.

'Article taken from Working in Fashion series, provided by DFES'

We now have a new member of the team, she has just graduated and is our new Trainee Technologist, it is really exiting to see the department grow. I have travelled a lot more since I last spoke to you, I have been to Romania again and India. Visiting different countries is hard work as there is so much to do in little time, but it is great to get the opportunity to go as you learn so much. We have been very busy recently keeping up the flow of all products to stores for Christmas. We also now have training programmes set up for the Buying department. This is so they are aware of how their decisions impact on factories and the DC.

I loved India, I really enjoy travelling to different countries, as it is interesting to see the different ways that they work. I am really looking forward to going to Morocco in January, as it will be beneficial to see how factories run there. Visiting the different countries helps me to do my job better as I am more in touch with what is happening and that helps me make better judgements. We have recently been conducting a lot of customer research on ‘returns’ to find out the reason for the return and how we can improve the product, so this has been really interesting to be involved in. What would you like your next move to be?

I am very happy to continue working for Topshop. It’s fast and furious and keeps me on my toes! I’m involved with a current colour trial project at the moment which is really exciting and should be up and running this time next year.

How has your role developed since we last spoke to you? Since we last spoke I have taken on another TOPSHOP department. I am now also looking after TS design and the designer collections. This is great as it means I get to meet all the designers, i.e. Maria Chen, Marcus Lupfer, House of Jazz, Preen, etc It means that I get to fit much more diverse product rather than core TOPSHOP product. It means I have to use my brain even more!

What have you enjoyed most in this time? Our technical services team has grown over the past year. As TOPSHOP has grown, and the volume of lines we sell has grown, so has the technical team. Our team now includes 2 shoe technologists and a number of students. The team we have at TOPSHOP now is great. We all work incredibly hard but have a great time doing it.

What would you like your next move to be? I am very lucky to have been accepted to do my masters, which starts in September. I’ll still be working full time at TOPSHOP, but will be studying in my free time. I am really excited about this as I can expand my knowledge even further. I am also in the process of working with the London College of Fashion on their new technical courses, which I am enjoying immensely.

FINANCE

Below is a little more detail about the function and also a brief chart showing your progression route through the Finance function.

finance director

finance controller

finance manager

retail business analyst

finance analyst

Each "Business Unit" has a dedicated Finance team headed up by a Finance Director. Working for TOPSHOP, TOPMAN you will help set plans, monitor progress and assist decision making regarding product package, promotional offers and relationships with key suppliers/customers. You will provide support for the executive management of the business as well as undertaking a variety of adhoc analysis for the Retail Directors and Regional teams.

INTERNATIONAL Topshop and Topman are represented in 98 markets world wide (as at 01/01/04), from Barcelona through Gibraltar and Malta to Chile, Singapore and Stockholm - these offer world-wide career opportunities for the right people.

All our international outlets are owned and run by franchises. Should you wish to work in one of the international stores in a retail capacity, please visit http://www.arcadiagroup.co.uk/ for details of all store locations

MARKETING

General overview Below is a little more detail about the function and also a brief chart showing your progression route through the Marketing function.

marketing director

head of marketing

events marketing creative projects senior PR manager manager manager officer

events co-ord marketing retail PR officer co-ordinator designer

marketing assistant PR industrial placement

The role of the TOPSHOP and TOPMAN marketing teams is to communicate their brand through a variety of media to our customers. This function has a variety of specialist areas focussing on the brand, stores, direct marketing (e.g. store cards), public relations/special events, the internet, promotions and market research.

Prue Burtenshaw is the Events Manager for Topshop and Topman. Prue joined us in March 2002 as interim – Marketing Manager, covering maternity leave. At the end of her contract she was offered a permanent position as Events Manager.

What does your job involve? As Events Manager for Topshop & Topman I cover both the consumer, press and brand events throughout the year. These include fashion shows, press events, product launches, consumer competitions, student events, brand conference…. Etc!

How do you go about it? The key to getting to grips with an events/production role is to be organized, communicative, focused, have attention to detail, methodical and assume what can go wrong will go wrong!

Describe a typical day Depending on what is going on within the events calendar, my day can vary from organizing castings, arranging sponsorships, communicating plans to stores & managers, presenting ideas and concepts to senior management, producing fashion shows and forward planning.

What else might you do or get involved in? I tend to work closely with the Marketing Director & Manager who keep me up to speed with what the brand is planning/exploring and I take my brief from them. I get involved with any project that has an events angle and this could be as little as organizing a catering crew to producing a fashion show. My day to day contacts would be the marketing team, press team and our creative dept.

Who else do you deal with? I have exposure to all areas of the business. Internally I deal with everyone from store level to senior brand management. Externally I work with various suppliers, contractors, model agencies, stylists, technical advisors, sponsors and promotional partners.

Is there a downside? The only downside would be that at times there aren’t enough hours in the day- but I’m sure everyone can say that! I’m lucky- I enjoy my job and the good far out weighs the bad!

What’s best about your job? The finished product… it’s so satisfying to see the weeks & months of hard work pay off. I’m sure people don’t realise the amount of work that goes into an event and the satisfaction kicks in when you see your hard work in action and know that people appreciate what they are seeing & experiencing. What skills do you need? I would say a fashion marketing course is a good start but a lot of the skills you need you pick up with experience. Work experience is invaluable and you have to be prepared to take the good with the bad.

Career progression (How have you got where you are now)? I started at Selfridges in 1995 working on the shopfloor for Calvin Klein and Diesel and then applied internally for a job with Marketing as the Marketing Assistant, although the salary was poor, the experience I gained has set me up for every project I work on now. After 5 years I left Selfridges and set up my own fashion production company. I sold the company last year and after contracting for Topshop whilst running my company an opportunity arose to cover a maternity leave and I was fortunate enough to be offered a permanent position following the mat leave cover… and here I am.

Nicki Tilleard-Haines is the Direct Marketing Co-ordinator for Topshop & Topman.

What does your job involve? Producing all direct marketing campaigns for Topshop and Topman. This includes communication to our Fashion Privilege Cardholders and Topman Cardholders and text marketing.

How do you go about it? Pulling together a plan which is in-line with the brands overall strategy and executing that plan.

Describe a typical day  Attending team meetings  Pulling together the copy for a months communication and then briefing it in to our creative department  Setting up meetings with relevant third parties for future promotions

What else might you do or get involved in? Staff incentives, training and staff communication relating to the Topshop Fashion Privilege Card and the Topman Account Card.

Who else do you deal with? GE Capital Promotions agencies Relevant 3rd parties Retail operations department Is there a downside? No not really, Topshop and Topman are brilliant brands to work for.

What’s best about your job? Being able to get involved with a broad range of activities such as events and seeing promotions work!

What skills do you need? Qualifications relevant to marketing and a good understanding of the fundamentals of marketing. You also need to be able to learn quickly as it is a fast paced department.

Career progression (How have you got where you are now)? I have gained marketing experience from various sectors although not all retail, the marketing experience I have gained I can apply to my current role.

I started as a marketing assistant for Hodder Headline – Book Publishers then was an advertising coordinator for Christies and then was promoted to Marketing Manager at Christies. Following that I freelanced for a year and spent a few months with Dorothy Perkins and now I’m here!

Where next for you? To stay with Topshop and Topman and progress within the Marketing Dept, and continue adding value to the brands.

Personal Profile January 2004 Charlotte Jones is on an Industrial Placement within the Topman PR department.

What does your job involve? Sending out appropriate samples to magazines according to their briefs. Sorting out returns, collecting credits for the samples shot.

How do you go about it? Magazines call in ‘looks’ for photo shoots or still life. If we do not have appropriate samples in our cupboard or in the show room I go to the buyers who can give me correct/latest samples. Once samples have been sent, if the magazine shoots them they will call me for prices and stocklist number. Again, I contact the buying team for correct prices. My other day to day responsibilities are checking newspapers/magazines for coverage, updating head office display coverage and talking to press.

Describe a typical day My day begins with reading my allocated newspaper to check for coverage. We share papers with Topshop so if we come across any coverage we pass over to the correct brand. Once I have collected any Topman coverage I mount it onto A3 paper with a date and title. Next job is to have all call-ins done by 3pm to go on the van. If I don’t have enough samples or if press ask for something in particular I will get it from the buyers. The rest of the day is filled with returns, prices etc.

What else might you do or get involved in? Whenever we have a show or press event, I help out to compile guest list and sending invites. I was on the door of our Spring/Summer 04 show and then helped with the general organization of the evening. I also went to our Birmingham Bullring opening, where we took 10 favourite press to the store then out for dinner and drinks in the evening. I also went with Kelly (Senior Press Officer) to Bristol for our student lock-in event. This was a student event in store where we offered free beer and 20% discount for the evening. After the event we took the student press out for dinner to discuss future press relations.

Who else do you deal with? In addition to dealing with all members of the press, I also deal with the buyers, the design team about sample progress, prices and in-store information. I also deal with the in-store Trend Advisors who take press appointments for press who want samples that are in-store at the time of print e.g.: National Newspapers.

Is there a downside? The only downside is chasing samples back from press, when I have sent big amounts out and the buyers need them back because they are still in production!

What’s best about your job? Meeting lots of new faces and socializing with them! I really enjoy the buzz of doing the events and seeing the reaction to the new collections. It really is all about getting coverage for your brand so its rewarding to see samples that I have sent in a national or key magazine.

What skills do you need? Good communication skills, lively personality and good organization.

Career progression (How have you got where you are now)? I graduated with BA Hon’s in Fashion Design then worked at FHM on the fashion team for 9 months. I heard about the job through dealing with the Topman PR Team whilst on the mag. I am still finding my feet in the world of employment so fancied trying something different. Where next for you?

I am taking each day at a time for the moment, ask me again in a few months!

STYLE ADVISORS

General Overview

Did you know that Topshop has its own personal shopping service?

Below is a little more detail about the function, and also a brief chart showing your progression route through the Style Advisor function.

The Topshop Style Advisor provides customers with complementary shopping, helping them find anything from the perfect pair of jeans to an entire new look. They take the stores current trends and adapt them to suit their customer, picking out outfits while they relax in the VIP shopping suite enjoying hassle-free shopping.

national style advisor manager

regional style advisor co-ordinator style advisor manager

deputy style advisor manager

style advisor style advisor

Personal Profile January 2004 Louise Whiting is the National Style Advisor Manager, she joined Topshop as a Style Advisor two years ago when we first introduced the service.

What does your job involve? I look after the Topshop Style Advisor service across the UK and Ireland. My main focus is to develop the service and the people involved in it.

How do you go about it? I regularly go out and visit the Style Advisors and their management teams in their individual stores. I also get involved in recruitment, training and marketing initiatives.

Describe a typical day As with most other jobs within our brand, there is never a typical day…which is great! Usually, though I am either out and about visiting or in London either in the office or in the Oxford Circus store. The morning is normally taken up with answering e-mails and reading reports from the Style Advisors. Then it’s usually on to meetings and working on any current projects etc. There is usually some form of shopping in there as well (whether for myself or someone else)!

What else might you do or get involved in? There are always new and exciting things to get involved in. Some examples have been supporting events, fashion shows and training / marketing initiatives.

Who else do you deal with? Literally everyone as the Style Advisor service encompasses so many departments and areas. The departments that I have most contact with are Training, Marketing, Press/PR. Outside the business, I sometimes also deal with other companies such as cosmetics companies and agents and PA’s.

Is there a downside? There is no downside to my job except that there are not enough hours in the day and it gives me too many excuses to shop!

What’s best about your job? The best aspect of my job is seeing the service develop and grow at such a rapid rate. When there is a really good press piece or nice customer feedback, it really makes my day. Also, I really enjoy meeting so many different people, which makes my role really varied and interesting.

What skills do you need? Good people skills are really important. There are so many different people to deal with and I find myself in lots of different situations so being able to adapt your communication style is really helpful. Organization is also really important, as the pace of work is so fast that you can easily get left behind if not careful!

Career progression (How have you got where you are now)? I have always had a real love of fashion and worked in retail while at school and Uni. I actually did Equine Studies at Uni and had planned to go into that field, but due to ill health was unable to. I went to work at Harrods in their Equestrian department to decide what to do and it was there that I decided that I wanted to make a career in fashion. I moved to Ralph Lauren where I set up my own client base and found that I specifically liked the one to one service aspect of retail. I soon realized that I wanted to work in a really credible fashion led brand and began looking for other opportunities. By chance, Topshop had decided to create the perfect role for me (unbeknown to them!), and advertised for the new positions of Style Advisors. I came on board as a Style Advisor and worked my way to the position I am in now.

Where next for you? As the Style Advisor concept is still fairly new, I still have lots that I want to achieve within it, so I definitely see myself within this role for some time yet. As I am the National Manager at present, maybe International could be next ??!!

Personal Profile July 2003

Sarah Haymes is a Style Advisor at our Oxford Circus flagship store in London. She joined Topshop as a Style Advisor 9 months ago.

What does your job involve? My job as a Style Advisor involves styling customers and celebrities and giving great customer service. I also feedback to the buying department at head office on style fit and quality of clothes. I arrange press transfers and promote the Topshop brand.

How do you go about it? We have customer appointments, shopping sprees and queries from the shop floor. Appointments are also made via our press office and marketing department.

Describe a typical day I check the daily rota for my appointments or shopping sprees. I do these by pulling together a mini collection, describe all the trends and influences and then style the customer.

What else might you do or get involved in? I also get involved in projects, competitive shop reports and trying on sessions. I’m also involved in events like Graduate Fashion Week and styling events in conjunction with Elle or Models one and in-house fashion shows.

Who else do you deal with? I also work with the buying office, press office, magazine editors and celebrities.

Is there a downside? It can get very busy and frantic so you have to delegate your time efficiently, the shop floor can get busy on the weekends and you’re on your feet all day.

What’s best about your job? The satisfaction of knowing customers are happy, being shown new trends and the team is very supportive and friendly.

What skills do you need?  Passion for fashion  Good styling skills  Being up to date with new trends  Friendly  Confident  Outgoing  Great customer service  Patient  Ability to work independent but also be part of a team

Career progression (How have you got where you are now)? I started as Style Advisor 9 months ago, I had been a model for 6 years previously so I had a big fashion background and also worked in a shop part- time.

From the Style Advisor role it is possible to progress into sales management or head office i.e.; buying, marketing, or PR. It’s a great place to get a feel for what area fashion you want to work in.

How has your role developed since we last spoke to you? I have now been with Topshop and the Style advisors for a year and 2 months. On the 1st of September I got promoted to Deputy Manager of the Style Advisors. There have been a lot of changes to my job role. I am still floor based but other responsibilities now include:  Planning the daily rota – delegating areas and jobs to the Style Advisors  Involved in recruitment – screening C.V’s and assessment centres  Team Tasks – reviews, appraisals, uniform checks  VIP and celebrity appointments  Replying and checking emails  Running styling events within store

What have you enjoyed most in this time? I have enjoyed a lot of the new aspects to my job. For a week I went to our new Topshop store at the Bullring in Birmingham helping the Style advisors there to set it up. The new store looks really good and I got to go to the Launch party where Starsailor were performing. The Brand conference was good fun too as we got to see the new seasons collections. What would you like your next move to be? At the moment I am still settling into my new role and we have just recruited 7 more Style Advisors and 2 Style Advisor receptionists, which makes a huge difference to the team. I want to continue what I am doing and keep progressing within the company at a management level, which will also mean the team progressing too.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Below is a little more detail about the function, and also a brief chart showing your progression route through the human resources function.

director

manager

officer / advisor

administrator

The human resources function works closely with Line Managers to support the recruitment, training, development and management of individuals. It is this functions' responsibility to research and introduce the 'best practice' in employee relations and the most effective development processes. The function also has a number of specialists who work across the whole company, particularly in the field of Employee Relations and Reward. The team have a strong external focus to ensure Arcadia is both marketing itself as an exciting employer and keeping abreast of the external market trends in Human Resources.

RETAIL OPERATIONS

retail operations director

retail operations senior manager retail controller

retail operations manager area manager

assistant / co-ordinator

Supporting the store management teams is a central retail operations function. This comprises; the Area Management team who work in the field, specialists in customer service, communications and retail operations.

RETAIL BRAND VISUAL MANAGEMENT General overview The Retail Brand / Visual team is responsible for the development and implementation of visual standards across the chain. The department has two areas; Brand Management and Visual Management. The Brand team is responsible for the development and effective communication to stores of new Visual techniques, Store Design, Graphics & POS, Window and Store layout. They do this through researching the market to develop ideas (that are right for the Brand) and move the visual proposition on. They are also responsible for producing regular communication to Stores advising on correct Store layout and usage of graphics and display. They also order equipment and produce store layouts for new and modernised Stores, both in the UK and internationally.

The Visual team is responsible for ensuring the implementation of visual ideas within the Stores is to the highest standards & demonstrates sound commercial reasoning. This is achieved through training, coaching, developing staff and input into key Retail projects.

During the store visit the team would ensure the Store has correctly merchandised the shop floor, critique it’s merchandising, visual displays and make commercial recommendations relating to these issues plus, layout / space through the analysis of Store / product / line performance.

Functional Structure

Brand Controller

Brand Visual Manager (BVM) / Retail Brand Manager (RBM)

Senior Brand Assistant (SBA)

Brand Visual Assistant (BVA) / Retail Brand Assistant / Retail Brand Communication Assistant / Layout Planner / Brand co-ordinator

VM Mgr (In store)

VM Assistant

Career routes

* 50% of the current team have worked their way up through a store route, that is, they started as a Sales Advisor, then worked towards VM specialist in Store and then to Brand VM. They may have achieved this within the Company or by moving from Company to Company and attaining promotions within each move. * Some of the current team achieved a creative / design / HND or equivalent, then moved in to Retail Management, after which they specialised in Visual Merchandising.

* A couple within the team have worked as Retail Managers (working their way up) and then decided they would like to specialise. They then switched to large Store / department Stores / Area role before coming to us.

Job description and key skills *VM Assitant - works in store to ensure the brand identity is projected and those high standards of presentation are achieved consistently and creatively. They will also train and coach the staff in their Store on an ongoing basis to hone their VM skills

* Brand Visual Assistant – Manages the development of visual standards to ensure the Brand identity is protected, and that high standards of presentation are achieved consistently and creatively. Is responsible for supporting recruitment and development of VM specialists on the Area, and training / coaching Store Management. The brand Visual Assistant influences the Store Managers regarding layout / space allocation / presentation through the use of sound commercial reasoning, they also input creatively into driving the Brand forward.

* Senior Brand Visual Assistant – takes on additional responsibility of managing high profile and STRATEGIC projects, deputises for the Brand Visual Manager and supports them in the coaching and development of the Brand Assistants.

VISUAL MERCHANDISING ASSISTANT *Demonstrate potential in displays and VM skills *Passion for fashion *Creative flair *Communication skills *Prioritisation & organisation *Works on own initiative *Self-motivated *Confidence and energy

BRAND VISUAL ASSISTANT (field based) *Passion for fashion *Advanced VM & management skills at all levels *Commercial awareness *Multi task time management *Communication skills at all levels *Prioritisation and organisation *Works on own initiative *Self motivated *Confidence and energy *Proven training & coaching skills *Team management & development *Creative and strategic thinking and problem solving *Problem solving *Persuading & influencing skills *Inspirational / motivational management style.