Eno Polo, Alpargatas Europe

What was your first job in retailing?

Opening the first Juventus FC store in Turin, Italy.

Which retail company do you admire most and why?

Massimo Dutti and its ability (through the store layout and visual merchandising) to create a premium fashion buying experience at an accessible price.

What is the trait you least like in yourself and why?

I can be too competitive and I forget to relax and have fun.

Who have you learnt most from in your retail career?

Nike, after having spent 13 years at this company and being part of opening the first European franchise store in Vienna, Austria.

What advice would you give someone starting out in retail?

Triple check all costs. Then make sure you keep investing in the consumer purchasing experience.

What keeps you awake at night?

That it won’t rain all summer.

What’s the most satisfying part of your job?

Working with a product that gives the consumer the feeling of being on holiday.

What’s your proudest achievement?

Opening five Havaianas offices in Europe with a team of 60-plus in two years, and launching new product categories for the first time in 48 years of the company’s history.

What’s your favourite shop and why?

Hermès store in Paris. It pushes the limits on product quality/production to the highest level.

What was your last purchase?

Jimmy Choo shoes for my wife.

What job would you have done if you hadn’t become a retailer?

Running a kite surf/windsurf centre on a beach in Kenya.