Stuart Lewis

What was your first job in retailing?

A young management trainee at Marks & Spencer. I was very lucky to be trained by a fantastic team in Northern Ireland.

Which retail company do you admire most and why?

Tesco. It has total focus on customers throughout every part of the organisation and continual innovation. It always seems to be one step ahead.

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

I can let my Blackberry distract me too much.

Who have you learnt most from in your retail career?

I have been privileged to work with some great operators and leaders. One of many would be Simon Roberts [now retail director at Boots]. He had high energy and infectious enthusiasm. Simon kept everything simple, commercial and he lead totally by example.

What advice would you give someone starting out in retail?

Be prepared to work hard. Always make time to talk and listen to customers.

What keeps you awake at night?

Every day is so busy so I always sleep well.

What’s your favourite shop and why?

Selfridges on Oxford Street. There is always something exciting and new to inspire you. I could just spend all day shopping there.

What’s the most satisfying part of your job?

Working with such an inspirational team at Lombok to continually improve our business together.

What’s your proudest achievement?

I have two fantastic kids.

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

A football coach.

What was your last purchase?

Running trainers from the Adidas store on Oxford Street. The team at Lombok is doing a walk for charity so I need to get fit. The service was fantastic.