An interview with ego Store Manager Alistair Divers

Clare Burgess talks to Alistair Divers, the new Store Manager of ego, about what it is like to be a Store Manager.

Why is it a good profession to get into?
Being a Store Manager is a very varied profession because you have deal with every aspect of the store, the most important aspect being customer service. I believe in good customer service and you can get a kick out of doing something for your customer. If I have made my customers happy and have given them really good service then I know I have done a good day’s work.  It is also a very rewarding profession because you have the responsibility to make valuable changes and improvements that will benefit the business.

What does the work involve?
Store management is all about multi-tasking so you are dealing with suppliers, doing the admin, cleaning, organising staff rotas and you might have a staff issue to deal with. Creating a good shopping environment for our customers, managing stock levels and keeping everything running smoothly is of paramount importance. But above all you have to serve the needs of the business and ensure that you make a profit. I think this is done through excellent customer service as if people know that your staff will make them feel welcome and valued they will always come back. ego is a buy and sell fashion boutique, our suppliers bring their designer clothes, we agree a price and sell their items for them so another part of my role is being selective, almost like a buyer. I have to make sure that the items we have in our store are of good quality, will appeal to our customers and will sell on our shop floor. 

What are the positives/negatives of the job?
Store management is an enjoyable, fun and friendly profession. It is very personable job and I think you get out of it what you put in to it. However the job comes with a lot of responsibility so you never really stop but if you like the responsibility then it’s also the reward. Sometimes people think being a store manager is a much easier job than it actually is and I think that you are almost undervalued as a professional business person because you work in a shop but there is much more to it than that. 

Is there much local demand for people trained in this area?
I think there is a demand as these days customer service is a key element in every business so what you learn by working in the retail sector is transferable to almost any job.

What would employers look for in someone applying for a vacancy?
You need to be an all-rounder so you need to be good with people, administration and figures. Ideally you also need to have knowledge of the sector that you are working in so if you are working in a fashion store you need to be clued up with the latest fashion trends. Most importantly, you need experience and a good understanding of customer service.The great thing about retail is that you can work your way up but these days the job market is so competitive so if you can arm yourself with not only the experience but the knowledge as well that will be what the employers want to see.