I have worked in the retail sector in one form or another since the age of 16. I have always been a keen animal lover, and I am lucky to combine my knowledge and interests in my current job role.

I completed my degree in Engineering Studies at Coventry University and worked for a major high street retailer as a Stock Controller. This gave me experience of all stock management issues as well as supervisory skills in co-managing a team of 40 staff in a 40 000 square foot store. This gave me the necessary grounding for a step up into Store Management.

I moved into pet retail with my current company around 18 months ago and so far I have completed, First Aid training and the Amtra Horse Wormers Course. I am also currently studying for a City and Guilds accredited qualification run by the Pet Care Trust (a one year home study programme). There are other excellent opportunities to develop further including a range of courses available from certificates in Pet Nutrition Counselling to Fish Care. All of this experience will help me to develop my career in Pet Store Management. Management salaries are negotiable dependant upon experience and any relevant qualifications.

My main responsibilities are to work with the other managers to ensure our store performs to it’s full potential. This involves managing budgets, staff, and paperwork whilst ensuring all our livestock’s needs are being attended to and also being on hand to deal with deliveries, cash issues and, what we all do retail for, customer service. Of course with the ever-increasing reliance on computers, being IT literate is a distinct advantage.

I thoroughly enjoy the customer service aspects of the work. Pet retail is unique; not everyone has the skills to combine everyday retail with the livestock knowledge, to ensure the customer goes away happy, with the right pet to meet their needs, and the all the knowledge and information they need to keep it healthy and happy.