Linda Tandy – a finalist in last year’s Greats Retail Employee of the Year category – is shop manager at Joco in Nuneaton, bringing a wide range of skills to the job.
Linda, how did you begin your career in retail?
“Having started out working for WH Smith many years ago – it was my first ever job – I came back into retail in 2015 working as a shop assistant at my daughter Jo’s gift shop, Joco. Due to my experience in care, schools and the hospital environment, I believe my customer service skills, and those relating to dealing with children, have been really useful in my current role.”
What do you love most about working in a gift shop?
“I find it really fulfilling, with my favourite part of the role dealing with customers, whether helping them to choose a gift or simply by spending time with them. I also enjoy setting up window and shop displays, helping to increase footfall with ideas that can be used on social media, as well as dealing with the team members and creating a very different experience to many of the other shops people visit. I also like to ensure that the shop is clean and a place people want to come back to. Plus, I also enjoy training new team members.”
How do you feel you’ve made your mark on Joco?
“For the past few years it’s playing the shop elf at Christmas. We offer a ‘free letter to Santa’ service, and when the letters and small gifts are handed out, I dress up and hand them out to the children who have taken part. Despite reaching retirement age. I don’t want to stop watching the business grow.”
Top: Linda Tandy, shop manager at Joco in Nuneaton.
