PH Employee Focus.qxp USE_GF.qxp_Grid 22/01/2022 16:01 Page 1
FOCUS ON RETAIL
RETAIL
SUPERSTARS
The hotly contended Excellence in Housewares Retail Employee of the Year Award was particularly significant in 2021 due to the mighty challenges scaled by shop floor, customer service and office staff members during the pandemic. PH features extracts from the industry’s nominations for superstar employees, and asks the award winner and finalists: What is the best thing about your job? What’s going to be important for your business in 2022? Candice Pradhan, customer service supervisor, Borough Kitchen Having been with Borough Kitchen since it was established in 2013, Candice has indepth knowledge, helping both customer and fellow staff with her “warm, friendly and patient” approach. “She is a consummate professional, taking praise and constructive criticism with equal amounts of grace. Her can-do attitude makes even the busiest days feel manageable (and fun!) Any environment she steps into at work she makes better. Throughout the pandemic, Candice was crucial to the success of the business, working very hard and long hours to ensure everything was running smoothly.” The best thing, according to Candice: “I am thankful for the opportunity provided to me, allowing me to take my shop floor experience of five years and leap into the E-commerce part of the business in customer services. I am grateful for the flexibility provided to me to balance home and work. Each working day is a new experience and I take it as it comes with the challenges and a few good laughs.”
Right: Borough Kitchen’s Adam Towell. Below left: Borough Kitchen’s Candice Pradhan.
Important for 2022 (for Adam and Candice): “We want to work with our brand partners to navigate and improve the increasingly complex flow of goods due to Brexit and Covid, so we can continue to provide a highly edited, curated range of items for our customers both in store and online.”
Adam Towell, sales associate, Borough Kitchen, Chiswick Extremely knowledgeable, providing “incredible in-store service and sales,” Adam is also praised for adapting to take
on whatever challenges arise, providing “indispensable” help for the online team during lockdowns. “As one of the younger members of staff, he is always helping his older colleagues understand new technology and cultural shifts. New starters look to him as a mentor; he is patient, always willing to answer questions and provide emotional support.” The best thing, according to Adam: “The team I work with, and to be surrounded by products that I love to work with on a daily basis.”
Anne Brailsford, sales manager, Camp Hopson, Newbury “Anne shows utmost dedication to both her staff and customers and is passionate about delivering the very best to her team and the store.” The best thing, according to Anne: “Working as part of a great team and supporting staff: meeting customers, learning about products and passing this information on to the customer to help them purchase the right product for their needs, and seeing the customer happy with their choice, as well as seeing the shop floor looking strong and inviting.” Important for 2022: “My focus for the upcoming year is to concentrate on staff training. This will involve asking reps to come into the store to train, especially on new products. This will increase staff knowledge and confidence, hopefully resulting in increased sales.” PROGRESSIVE
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HOUSEWARES
Inset: Camp Hopson’s Anne Brailsford.