Blog » Jill Bleakney

Jill Bleakney

12th August 2014

Role: Beauty World Manager

Company: Tesco Knocknagonry

Track Record:

What does your job entail?

I look after the Beauty World department at Tesco Knocknagoney — the only one of its kind at Tesco in Northern Ireland. This entails managing and motivating my team of beauty consultants and assistants to ensure they all fulfil their abilities and potential as well as achieving their goals.

I encourage my staff at all times, and I believe this is crucial to building a highly motivated team who always provide a high standard of service and advice to all of our customers.

Is it 9-5?

Generally it is, although not surprisingly the last couple of weeks I have spent more time at work overseeing the setting up of Beauty World and ensuring all the brands in the new departmenta re given a fitting platform.

I travelled to Manchester to train on the multitude of new premium and affordable cosmetic brands we now have in the store. As part of my brief I carried out some market research at London stores such as Selfridges and John Lewis to ensure we brought a really luxurious, spa-like feel to Beauty World.

Outline your career to date?

I began working at Tesco as a general assistant working on check-outs while I was studying for a degree in international business and Spanish. I enjoyed working for Tesco so much, though, that I gave up pursuing a degree to join the Options Management Programme which I was confident would lead to a rewarding career in retail management. And I was right.

At 21 I was fortunate enough to become one of the youngest managers for Tesco in Northern Ireland.

When the job for manager of Beauty World was advertised I knew it was the perfect position for me because it combines my two passions — working for Tesco and beauty.

Tell us about your qualifications/ training:

The appeal of the Tesco Management Programme was that it allows you to progress as quickly as you want to, according to how hard you push yourself — and I pushed myself quite hard. During that period I spent six months on night shifts which was extremely difficult.

However, it taught me a lot about myself, what I wanted to achieve and all about the highly competitive and challenging world of retail. When I took up my post as Beauty World manager I spent a week in the Tesco Watford Extra, which is Tesco’s UK flagship store.

Seeing how this store operated taught me a lot about putting the customer at the heart of everything we do, the importance of being knowledgeable about brands and managing and motivating your team.

What qualities are required for your job – personal/professional?

I think being a really personable person and having a clear vision of the customers’ needs.

I often tell my staff to think like a customer and approach someone as you would like to be approached, it works well.

It is also imperative to treat someone the way you expect to be treated and give the customer the respect and recognition they deserve.

What are the biggest challenges and rewards of your work?

The biggest challenge for me to date has been setting up Beauty World because it is a brand new department like no other in Tesco in Ireland. There is no point of reference for me, I can’t go to another local store and learn from it.

One of the most satisfying aspects of working at Tesco Knocknagoney is hearing that my staff are all enjoying their new roles — that is what makes me happy in my job. Knowing that they are inspired by the professional and personal goals I have set for them is the biggest payback.

What do you do in your spare time?

When I get time off, I like to watch YouTube videos of all the brilliant make-up artists online. This enables me to broaden out my make-up skills by learning about the latest techniques, and the newest developments in cosmetic brushes and tools.

I am also a big rugby fan — actually I’m a bit obsessed with the sport — and go along to cheer Ulster on whenever I can. When I’m not at Ravenhill, I like nothing better than watching Game of Thrones.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself

I used to be a coach for Portadown mini-rugby team — which is quite a contrast to my girly love of make-up. I absolutely love rugby and as I’m not a ‘sit on the sidelines person’, I had to get involved, which is why I began coaching. If I couldn’t play rugby, I was happy to coach it — it was a wonderful way to be indulge my passion for the game.

Who has inspired you most in your life?

Definitely my dad Mark Bleakney, who is a regional manager for Invest NI. Like me, he worked his way up to a senior position from an entry-level job, and that makes me a very proud daughter.

He has instilled a good work ethic in me and told me to always remember where I came from and to treat people fairly.

It is his attitude has enabled me to become a good manager.

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