Jobs and Careers Spring 2019 - 207

Our people are the core of everything we do
Lakeland has built its business on the back of strong values
that hold true throughout every area of operation. Hard
work, honesty and these core values continue to make
Lakeland an extraordinary place to work as well as shop.
Every colleague is trusted with the future of the brand. So,
wherever you work, customer focus is always the priority.
Lakeland takes great care to discover and recruit people
with potential - people with integrity who share its values -
and then look after them. It wants happy colleagues who are
confident in their roles and will give them all the support
and training needed, with opportunities to advance as they
develop new skills.

Every person in the business is important. They help
Lakeland create the perfect shopping experience
for its customers.
Once someone joins Lakeland, we want them to stay.
Progress with Lakeland
As a retail business with its head office and flagship store
in Windermere, logistics in Kendal (both in the Lake
District) and stores nationwide, there are plenty of
opportunities for people with passion to join the team.
So, whatever your skills - and whether you are interested in
finance, buying, marketing, IT, logistics, retail or the
call centre - you can grow a fantastic career at Lakeland.

Stephanie Mansfield
Catalogue Editor
Part of the Lakeland Team
for 23 years

Q: How long have you worked for Lakeland?
A: I joined in 1996, so have been a part of Lakeland's team for 23 years.
Incredible to think that's over half my life!

and gave me the job! Of course, the role has changed a great deal and now,
as well as print, my team is responsible for all the copy and content on our
website and blog.

Q: Tell us about your first role at Lakeland.
A: I was a Customer Service Advisor. We were a much smaller team back
then, so the phones were always busy, busy, busy. We'd take orders over
the phone and were empowered to deal with any customer query. It was
our job to make sure that the customer was always happy at the end of
each call. I stayed in this role for four years before moving into our
Marketing Department.

Q: What does a typical day look like?
A: Whilst my team are busy writing for the web and proofing the catalogue,
my focus has a more strategic, bigger picture position. I always have my
eye on the next campaign and how we are going to bring to life the new
products we have found. Whilst my team are working on Christmas in May,
I am already thinking about the following Easter. I am about six months
ahead of everyone else which can be a bit confusing in real life!

Q: What makes Lakeland a special place to work?
A: I think it's the people that make Lakeland different. Everyone truly
supports each other. I have seen the company grow from strength to
strength over the years but, although we've got bigger, at our heart we
remain the same welcoming family I joined 23 years ago.

With our Buying Colleagues, we identify 'push' products and key story
themes. Then I plan the 'words and pictures' needed to support our 'new
stars' throughout the business. As a brand custodian, I ensure all the
content we create stays true to our brand.

Q: Tell us how you got where you are today.
A: Through the 90s and into the next decade, Lakeland grew at quite a pace.
We started to send out more and more catalogues to customers to support
our stores, as well as our mail-order business. As more publications were
required, the two-man marketing team were, naturally, struggling to keep
up with demand!
I joined to help out just with proofreading initially but, as we had so much
product copy to write, I thought I would have a go at writing that copy.
My time in customer services had served me well: speaking to customers
every day turned out to be the perfect training to help me 'talk' to customers
through the catalogue about the fantastic new products we'd found. I just
started writing the way I'd always chatted to customers.
In 2005, I provided maternity cover for the catalogue editor. The role was
subsequently advertised on a permanent basis, Lakeland saw my potential

Once we have a plan, I then write briefs for our creative agency,
commission photography, liaise with my marketing peers to make sure
we have all the assets we need, and ensure we deliver them to the high
standards we are renowned for.
Q: What is your favourite Lakeland product?
A: That would have to be my Masha. Not only does it produce the most
amazingly smooth mashed potato, it is, in my opinion, an essential tool for
new mums. I have just weaned my little girl and everything I cooked got
blitzed for her to try!

lakeland.co.uk
workforlakeland.co.uk
http://lakeland.co.uk http://workforlakeland.co.uk
Jobs and Careers Spring 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Jobs and Careers Spring 2019
