A Swansea shop manager is hoping to jet away to see her son in New York after reaching the final of a nationwide competition run by a top chain of health care shops.
Jayne Thomas, who runs the Julian Graves store in Swansea’s busy Quadrant Shopping Centre, is through to the last six in the Julian Graves Store Manager of the Year.
Last year’s winner received a trip to New York to visit a number of Julian Graves suppliers and this year Jayne is hoping the prize is the same, as her son, Luke, lives and works in the Big Apple.
She said: “I am really pleased to be named in the top six especially as I am the only manager from Wales left in the competition. It’s a really tough competition and you have to work hard and know your stuff to have any chance.
“Initially all managers went through a series of tests including exams covering employment law to in-depth questions concerning our products as well as giving a presentation.”
Ian Kirkpatrick, Manager of the Quadrant Shopping Centre, said: “It’s no surprise to me that Jayne is through to the final as she is such a great manager for the store and a brilliant ambassador for Julian Graves and for the Quadrant Centre.
“She really knows her stuff too and is a delightful person and Julian Graves is an important part of the variety of retail offer that we have here in the Quadrant – we’ll all be backing her for the title.”
Now Jayne says she is studying hard ahead of the final which will be held at Crewe Hall, near Nuneaton in May and hopes the top prize will again be a trip to New York.
She said: “Luke’s wife is half American, half British, and they have lived in New York for some time. Luke is actually in banking, although I tend to tell people he’s a milkman due to the current reputation bankers seem to have!
“Tamsin, my daughter-in-law, works with the British Consul. My husband, Nigel, and I do get out to see them along with our daughter Rebecca, who still lives in Swansea. However, if I win it’s a great chance to go and spend a little bit of time with them.”
And Jayne says she is a big fan of Julian Graves’ shops even though she admits her husband does most of the cooking.
She said: “Our products are really, really good, there’s no doubt about that. Nigel loves a lot of the curry spices, chillies and dried herbs we sell and I have to admit I do like a lot of our nut products.
“There are actually 202 Julian Graves stores nationwide so to reach the last six in the manager of the year competition is something I’m really proud of.
“However, I have to say I work with a marvellous team at our Quadrant shop. It might be a small team, there are just five of including myself, but we do have a great relationship.”
Jayne added: “And I have to say we have so many regular customers and the Quadrant is such a fabulous shopping centre. We have customers that pop in for a chat and even bring in things like their holiday snaps to show us. It really is that sort of place.
“I have been the shop manager at our Quadrant store for more than three years now and I can’t see me moving any time soon. The Quadrant is just such a lovely environment.
“It is always spotlessly clean, they are always out removing chewing gum and polishing the place up and everyone is so friendly.
“And at a time when you see on the news how so many shopping centres and high streets are struggling in the economic downturn you have to say Swansea appears to be bucking the trend. It’s such a vibrant place and we are certainly nice and busy.”
She added: “I’ve just got to keep revising and make sure I know my stuff before the final. I really want that trip to New York if it’s announced that’s what this year’s first prize is to be.”
