When HAD sought help to improve our retail operations we went to the experts - John Lewis Welwyn.
We sought the advice of John Lewis Service Desk Manager Linda Cudmore. Linda will be on three-month secondment with HAD from September and will be introducing the latest electronic EPOS system at the Terry Stevens Centre.
We already sell a huge range of products at the Centre - ranging from walking sticks to wheelchairs. Linda has been brought in to increase sales and help improve the look of the Centre.
Linda has more than 25 years retail experience with John Lewis, including 15 years in customer service. Her job on the service desk at John Lewis involves after-sales for all electronic and white goods in the store.
'I am often involved in both before and after-sales so I get to see both sides of the retail coin,' Linda explained. 'Because of this I think I understand what customers want and how they like to be treated.'
Together with colleague Mark Yelland, Linda has already started looking a appropriate hardware and software packages and has had several meetings with Terry Stevens Centre Co- Managers Chris Bellia and Jonathan Hill (pictured above with Linda). It is hoped that there will also be an EPOS system on board our mobile equipment service - Ivanhoe as well as at the Terry Stevens Centre.
'The package we want to bring in will have enough capacity and capability to be rolled out in several areas throughout HAD’s services,' Linda explained.
Linda's appointment marks the latest in a long line of ventures between HAD and John Lewis. 'Thankfully John Lewis has helped us in many ways over the years,' Chief Executive Annabelle Waterfield explained.
'From auction and raffle prizes through to decorating our counselling room they have been extremely supportive. I am sure Linda’s wealth of retail knowledge will help us enormously as we enter a really exciting period of growth,' Annabelle continued.