Edwin Booth, Chairman of Booths, tells Retail Week about his life working in retail.
What was your first job in retailing?
A warehouseman, responsible for putting away stock delivered to the central warehouse.
Which retail company do you admire most and why?
Zara. The stores have an airy feel and the merchandise is displayed so that customers can actually see what they are buying.
What is the trait you least like in yourself and why?
Impatience – this is sometimes read as arrogance.
Who have you learnt most from in your retail career?
Not a retailer surprisingly but Gordon Baxter at Baxters of Speyside. In my early days as a junior buyer he inspired me to challenge family business taboos and learn the art of the possible.
What advice would you give someone starting out in retail?
Think only of enchanting your customers with your offer. In my first few weeks of retailing I was told ‘buy well to sell well’ in that order. This tenet has served Booths well.
What keeps you awake at night?
Very little.
What’s the most satisfying part of your job?
Seeing my colleagues develop their skills and authority such that they are able to take part in developing future growth. I love to see young members of staff given an opportunity to contribute to high-level debate.
What job would you have done if you hadn’t become a retailer?
As a child I loved wheels and wings, so perhaps a pilot.
What’s your favourite shop and why?
D Byrne & Co in Clitheroe, Lancashire. During my career I have spent a great deal of time buying wine. This family run wine merchant is unpretentious and the owners extremely knowledgeable. Perusing the cellar is a tonic on a Saturday morning.
What was your last purchase?
A pair of gaiters to take walking on the Yorkshire moors.
No comments yet