A BEVY of big stars has passed through the aisles of Superdrug in Swansea’s Quadrant Shopping Centre over the years – and during almost three decades as a sales assistant there Sam Roberts has met most of them.
Sam – known affectionately by her colleagues as the ‘mum of the store’ because of her long service – recalls chatting to Swansea girl Catherine Zeta Jones in the days before she hit the Hollywood big time and Mumbles-based actress Joanna Page, who rose to stardom after taking a lead role in smash-hit TV comedy Gavin & Stacey.
Most Christmases Sam has seen big showbiz names like Jimmy Osmond, Lisa Riley and X-Factor star Chico as they called into Superdrug to do a little shopping while appearing in local pantomimes.
Swansea-born Sam, 46, who lives with her husband Paul and two grown-up daughters in Cockett, has become something of a superstar herself after just notching up an incredible 29 years’ service at the store.
She said: “Over the years I’ve met quite a few famous people at the store and a visit by Joanna Page from Gavin & Stacey comes to mind.
“At the time she had just really become famous in the TV show and was the official face of Superdrug.
“Her family’s from Mumbles, which isn’t far away, and she came in with her mum and her gran.
“It was a really big day because the store was full of people who had come to see her and there were lots of press photographers around.
“I had the chance to chat to her for a couple of minutes and I recall that she was a good laugh and really down to earth.
“Some years before that I also recall having a quick word with Catherine Zeta Jones, who is also a Swansea girl and came in with her mum.
“That was in the days when she was still doing the Darling Buds of May on TV with David Jason and before she went to Hollywood and married Michael Douglas.
“She was also a really nice and approachable. It was so long ago now that I can’t actually remember what she bought but I think it was something in the cosmetics line.
“We’ve had all sorts of other stars in the store during my time here. Every Christmas there’s a big panto at the Grand Theatre, which is just around the corner from the Quadrant, and the stars often come in to buy something or other.
“I’ve seen the American singing star Jimmy Osmond, Lisa Riley from Emmerdale and Chico who was on the X-Factor a few years ago and they all seem really nice people.”
Sam started at the store, which was then just a few years old, as a sales assistant straight from school at the age of 18 and, because she says she has enjoyed it so much, has stayed in the same job ever since.
Over almost three decades at Superdrug Sam says she’s seen many changes in the store in terms of the stock it sells, how transactions are done and its sheer scale.
She recalled: “When I first came here in 1985 the store was only half the size that it is now. A big extension was built over the loading yard in the mid-1990s and since then we’ve had loads more space.
“In my early days it was all cosmetics and toiletries but a big change came some years ago when we got a pharmacy too.
“Generally we now have a lot more products and loads more choice, and the way we do sales is also very different now than 29 years ago. Back then we didn’t scan-in the products like today and had to type the price into the till because everything was priced up with a sticker gun.
“The only time I’ve really had away from the job was to have my two daughters, Laurie who is 22 and Amy, 20.
“Actually it’s been something of a family affair for us because Laurie worked at this store for four years and Amy for three years, both as sales assistants.
“Because I’m now the oldest person working here and the rest of 18 staff are so much younger than me they tend to come to me and ask me things about the job all the time.
“It’s actually like having more children and, in fact, they all call me Mam but I don’t mind because I love working here, which is the main reason I’ve stayed so long.
“I think I’ve never wanted to leave this store because it’s such a lovely place to work. The staff are like a little family and I’ve got to know many of the customers very well over the years.
“I can’t see myself ever wanting to leave and I hope I’ll stay here until I retire.”
The store’s assistant manager Rachel Pritchard said: “I’ve known Sam since I started here 10 years when I was about 18 and she’s always been personally very helpful to me.
“She’s definitely a vital part of the team and like a mentor to everyone. In fact, we all call her ‘our other mother’.
“I think it’s fantastic she’s been at this store so long and I hope she’s here for many more years to come.”
Ian Kirkpatrick, Manager of the Quadrant Shopping Centre, said: “People like Sam are the heart and soul of the Quadrant and are much valued both by their employers and their customers.
“People who enjoy their work always do a good job too and I’m sure Sam intends to carry for a long time yet.”
