Edward Chary, Retail director of High Street TV, tells Retail Week about his life working in retail.
What was your first job in retailing?
Working at a menswear shop called Greenwoods in Bradford during my school holidays – the store manager really knew about delivering first-class customer service.
Which retail company do you admire most and why?
John Lewis. Its product selection and customer service is second to none.
What is the trait you least like in yourself and why?
I can be impatient and I know that does not always bring out the best in people.
Who have you learnt most from in your retail career?
Our non-executive chairman, Gordon Black. He has imparted a huge amount of his knowledge into our management team and his wealth of experience has helped us grow our business.
What advice would you give someone starting out in retail?
Listen as much as possible and get the basics right.
What keeps you awake at night?
We are growing rapidly so lots of new opportunities present themselves. I generally think of them when I’m winding down late at night.
What’s the most satisfying part of your job?
Getting great sales news from my team.
What’s your proudest achievement?
Being in The Guinness Book of Records when I was 18 for playing a sport called fives for 36 hours. It’s like squash but you use your hands instead of a racquet to hit the ball.
What job would you have done if you hadn’t become a retailer?
A travel correspondent. My love of travelling would have taken me abroad to many far-flung places.
What’s your favourite shop and why?
Selfridges. You can get lost in there for ages, especially on the lower ground floor, which is packed full of great gadgets, music and home products.
What was your last purchase?
A talking dinosaur for my youngest son’s birthday.
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