Shopping centre manager works the shop floor

Grosvenor Shopping Centre Manager, Julie Webb, swapped her desk for the shop floor this week to continue to improve relationships with retailers in the centre. 

Julie, who started her career at Chelsea Girl (nowRiverIsland) when she was 16, jumped at the chance to go back to her retail roots to take part in a company-wide retailer relations initiative. She spent the day as a shop assistant in the centre's Dorothy Perkins store where she helped serve customers and supported the stores busy Christmas trading period.

This 'back to the floor' programme has been spearheaded by the centre's managing agents Savills who has organised all management to take part in the role reversal initiative to continue to improve relationships with their retailers and shoppers. 

Julie said: "We are dedicated to improving our excellent relationship with both retailers and customers in the centre. We are always looking out for ways to explore this relationship and the latest initiative from Savills will help to further our understanding of our retailers and provide shoppers with an outstanding customer experience."

"It was a rewarding experience to work in Dorothy Perkins for the day and helped reiterate the great job our retailers do to deliver an excellent shopping environment."

Dorothy Perkins Store Manager Lindsey Hubberstey said: "Julie was really hard-working; she had no qualms about what tasks she did and was always asking what she could do for us next. 

"I definitely think it's something more shopping centre managers should do to gain a better understanding of their stores; including the staff and products being sold. It certainly helped to have an extra pair of hands for the day during the busy Christmas period!"