Claireís ëInterviewsí Nine Year Old For Merchandising Director Role

Claireís central office in Birmingham ëinterviewedí a nine year old Kent school student, Caroline Pearson, who applied for the merchandising director position.

The visit, organised by the HR director Nicki Crossland was designed to give Caroline careers advice and an insight into Claireís, as well as a tour of the model store by a Claireís merchandiser giving Caroline a chance to ask questions about working as a merchandiser.

Nicki Crossland received the hand written covering letter and job application from Caroline. Nicki comments: ìAt first I thought the application was a joke but then realised it was completely genuine. Iím impressed that Caroline is so ambitious and setting her sights so high for her future career at such a young age!

ìOne of our main objectives at Claireís is to make young people more aware of the careers available in retail, so I am thrilled as Caroline is our target audience. We have been working hard to promote the Claireís Retail Careers Campaign nationwide which we launched in April this year. This challenges negative perceptions of working in retail and raises the profile of a wide-range of opportunities available.

ìIt is particularly satisfying to know that the Claireís brand has captured and appealed to Carolineís age group. Weíre working hard to encourage Carolineís enthusiasm and interest for retail in other young people by providing informative careers advice.î

Caroline, who lives in Broadstairs, saw the merchandising director position advertised in The Daily Telegraph wrote in her application: ìI know I am probably too little for this job but when Iím older I would really like to have it. Claireís is my favourite shop, I shop there as often as I can and am really pleased that they have opened a new store in Broadstairs.î

She also sent in ideas of how she would develop the product range which includes devoting a section to bedroom accessories: ìI would have lots of things in the shop. I might have sparkly things like necklaces and earrings and in another corner I would have a ëtom-boyí section.î This feedback has been passed onto Claireís buying and merchandising departments.

Nicki comments: ìWeíve really enjoyed showing Caroline behind the scenes at Claireís and are committed to continue supporting and investing in candidates of the future, like Caroline, to help achieve their career aspirations.î