Working For The Perfume Shop

Voices of the Perfume Shop

At The Perfume Shop we realise how important our employees are to the success of the company, therefore a Conference is held each year to reflect on the previous year, update on any event over the coming year and give our employees the opportunity to get together and let their hair down before the Christmas rush sets in. With over 170 Stores in the UK and Ireland it is now more important than ever for us to create an opportunity to get our Store Managers together at least once a year.

To celebrate some of our successes this page includes some of the Award Winners from our ‘Las Vegas’ themed conference which was held in September 2007. The comments that these winners have made reflect our commitment to invest in our employees.

Store Manager of the Year

Pauline won the Store Manager of the Year Award in 2007; she is a real asset to The Perfume Shop and continually achieves in her role. She began her journey with The Perfume Shop in September 1994 and has progressively gone from strength to strength, we felt that she should receive a thank you for her hard work, passion for the product and results orientated approach. Here is what Pauline has to say about being recognised as TPS’s Store Manager of the Year:

I’ve been with the company for 14 years now and love every minute of working here. I am so proud of my store, I feel very attached to it and work hard to make sure that it is a success. I often have the opportunity to get involved in other projects such as helping to set up new stores and training new Managers. I think it is great that we have the opportunity to go to other Stores to see how they are traded, it means that I can get ideas for my own. I feel that I am not restricted to being a Store Manager, at The Perfume Shop it is not just day to day shop work.

Even though I have been with the Company for 14 years, I feel that I am learning new skills all of the time. I passed my Certified Fragrance Sales Specialist course last year and I was really proud of that. The company were so helpful, they made sure that I got all the support I needed, especially with working on the computer.

As the company grows I still very much feel that it is a family orientated company and everyone makes you feel so welcome. All the managers in our area are like one big team, if I ever need support then I know that all I need to do is ask. The team at High Wycombe are there to support and develop us, they like to get feedback from the Stores so that we are always trading our stores in the right way.

Deputy Manager of the Year

Nehaa Patel won the Deputy Manager of the Year Award in 2007; she is a real TPS success story starting out as a Sales Assistant in October 2003, moving to a Senior Sales Assistant in September 2005 and then being promoted to her current role in November 2005. In her store she is integral to the continued success; here is what she has to say about her career with TPS:

The Perfume Shop is such a good company to work for, especially the interaction with High Wycombe which is great, I must admit that support from Head Offices at other places I have worked have not been nearly as good. I love the fact that everyone feels as though they can talk to anybody no matter what job title, and that if support is ever needed I do not need to hesitate to contact any of the Store Managers of Area Managers. I love the customers that come into the Store, they are very friendly and make it a great pleasure to work in Store. When I received the award it was a fantastic feeling, I know how hard I worked throughout the year, so being recognised for that was great. The benefits offered by the company are excellent, the incentives offered really help the team focus on going the extra mile and the bonus scheme makes you want to sell, and the scheme is even better now that the Senior Sales Assistants have an opportunity of achieving bonus.

Outstanding Achievement Award

At The Perfume Shop we like to celebrate those that have provided outstanding contribution to our success as a company. In 2007 we gave awards to both Tracey Smith who has worked as a Store Manager since July 1992 and Tina who has worked her way from Sales Assistant in September 2001 to Store Manager in March 2007. Here is what they have to say about how they felt when they won the award and what it is like to work for TPS:

I was in complete shock when I won the award, it was such a lovely feeling. I think as a company we are really good to work for. I come to work for a lot more than wages, at conference we are treated like royalty and I don’t think a lot of companies make that effort. Also my staff receive Christmas bonus which is a real plus point for them, I am sure that we are in the minority of retailers that offer that sort of incentive to Sales Assistants. The overall support received from the business and its people is great, Jeremy Seigal (now Chief Executive Officer for A.S Watson) and Jo Walker, Chief Operating Officer for The Perfume Shop are often seen out in Store especially around Christmas time, this really makes us feel that we are supported and cared about.

I was over whelmed when my name was called out to win the award for Outstanding Achievement, I did not think that I would win anything, especially because I have been with the company for so long.

I have always loved the family orientated nature of The Perfume Shop, especially in store. It helps that I work with such a brilliant team, I mean without them I wouldn’t be able to do my job.

It is fantastic that all our ideas are taken on board, and that more often than not you will be allowed to try these out; if it works then great, if not then it is all learning. High Wycombe understands that it is us that trade our Stores and have an impact on footfall so we are listened to and respected. For example, I am keen on the promotions side of the Store, as a Store Manager you have to be, and to promote your Store you need to know your customer, therefore I will often be in contact with my Area Manager and the team at High Wycombe to discuss ways in which I can make my Store as successful as possible.

Best New Manager

It is not only our existing managers that we recognise. We also like to celebrate the contribution that new managers make to The Perfume Shop. We awarded Omer the Best New Manager Award in 2007 for his contribution to the success of The Perfume Shop since November 2006. We caught up with Omar and this is what he had to say about winning his award and why he loves working for The Perfume Shop:

I was shocked when I won the Best New Manager Award 2007, especially since I had won the Best Deputy Manager in 2006; I didn’t expect it, however it goes to show that all my efforts are recognised and rewarded. I love everyone who I work with and honestly wouldn’t know what I would do if I wasn’t at The Perfume Shop, I couldn’t picture myself doing anything else. I definitely wouldn’t be able to work for any other retailer!

VIP Award

We feel that it is important to recognise all employees in the business, as without the effort that these employees put in we would not be as successful as we are today. So, in 2007 we awarded Linda the VIP Award who has been in her role as Sales Assistant since March 2000. Here is what she had to say about her time working at TPS:

‘Getting nominated for an award at Conference was such an achievement, and when I won I felt terrific. Also, being invited to conference was great, I had never been before so it was a whole new experience for me.

I do really enjoy my job, I like to have a bit of banter with the customers, and find it a real plus when they come back and ask for you personally. I find that in store we are more like a family, I love the people I work with and the atmosphere. I also find it is fantastic that I don’t have to stick to certain fragrances houses, The Perfume Shop gives us the versatility to offer a better service to our customers, which makes our lives in Store a lot happier.’

Lifetime Contributions

The Perfume Shop has been trading since 1991 and has many employees with over 10 years service, which says a lot about us as employers. In 2007 we awarded Cathy the Lifetime Contribution Award for her work since joining the company in 1997. This is what Cathy had to say about why she is so passionate about The Perfume Shop:

I love the people, the product and everything The Perfume Shop stands for. I started with the company when it when it was small and seen it grow through the years, the company has developed in a positive way and have loved every minute of it.

The Management Zone Award

We like to invest in our employees and offer a comprehensive training scheme which goes along way to aiding them to develop and progress in their roles. One part of the scheme is the Management Zone which is a development programme provided to our Store Managers to help build their skills in their role. In 2007 The Management Zone Award was presented to Dawn, who joined The Perfume Shop in early 2000. Here is what Dawn says about the her time with the company.

I was totally gobsmacked, I didn’t know it was coming. I felt that it was great that I was given the recognition for all my hard work with the company, I felt very proud of winning.

I really love my job, The Perfume Shop is a great company to work for. I manage a Store and although little there is always lots to do. I have found that our voices in the Company are always listened to so that we can change the company for the better. I know that I have made suggestions that are still being used in the company today.