Manager corporate apparel division, Ezibuy

Sharon Thompson helps businesses with their clothing needs. Picture / Fotopress

My Job

Name: Sharon Thompson
Age: 38
Job title: Manager corporate apparel division
Working week: 40 hours or as required
Employer: EziBuy
Pay: Industry average from $80k to $150k

Qualifications: I have a varied career background having worked in a banking environment for 21 years. On the academic side I have a BBS (Management) and I'm in the process of studying towards a Masters in Management, but both formal qualifications and relevant experience are important.
Career prospects: As a large New Zealand-owned company with offices in Palmerston North, Auckland and Australia, EziBuy has a number of management roles, which can help me to broaden my general management experience. 

Q: What do you do?

A: My main focus is working with corporate clients in New Zealand and Australia to identify their apparel and promotional needs - this includes team wardrobes, work wear, safety wear and clothing for customer promotional days such as events and conferences.

We liaise closely with our customers to ensure their range of apparel is customised to enhance their brand while being practical for their individual work situations.

An example is a range that we're currently working on for a roading contract company, which will include everything from heavy duty hi-visibility safety wear through to apparel for the administration team.

As we supply apparel to a range of different sized businesses with customers asking us to provide anything from one garment to tens of thousands, an important part of the role is managing the manufacturing, distribution and stock holding of the garments.

Another part of the job I particularly enjoy is analysing customer and market feedback to make sure we provide a range of apparel that is appropriate for our customers' industry.

Q: What are the challenges of the job?

A: It is definitely trying to forecast what the market needs, and have it manufactured and ready to sell ahead of that need - sometimes I think a crystal ball would make it a lot easier.

Although we seek customer feedback, I need to maintain a balance between innovative new products, and manufacturing garments that I know will sell well.

Q: Why did you choose the job?

A: Because it gives me the opportunity to combine a variety of different skills into one role - overseeing design proposals, pricing, account management, sales team leadership, sales prospecting, marketing, financial budgeting, input into catalogue production, internet and call centre sales and stock control.

Having grown up in Palmerston North, I was aware of the EziBuy brand, having watched the company grow over the past 27 years and was attracted to the Ezibuy culture.

Q: Why is the role important?

A: Though EziBuy Ltd is a well loved New Zealand brand, the corporate division is relatively new, so increasing our share in that market is important.

Q: What's the best part of the job?

A: The variety - no two days are the same, and I'm continually learning in this role.

The apparel industry is fast moving, and we need to stay ahead of industry innovations to make sure we deliver the best service and product to our customers.

I work with great people in Auckland and Palmerston North - the energy levels within our team make for a great work environment.

I particularly enjoy working with corporate customers from the start of a project to the end - it's a buzz to see customer's ideas through the design, manufacturing and delivery phases.

Q: What job hunting advice would you give?

A: Think carefully about the type of organisation you want to work for and only apply for the jobs you really want - if you are passionate about the role you're applying for it will be obvious to any prospective employer.

I believe you need to balance your enthusiasm with academic qualifications, as degrees and diplomas are often used as "filters" when prospective employees are considered - that way you'll at least make it through to an interview! I had my CV professionally prepared, and highly recommend it.

Q: What are your strengths?

A: I have a consultative management style, which means our wider team has input into the future direction of the EziBuy corporate division.

I'm a firm believer that no "one person" has a monopoly on good ideas, so I encourage input and feedback from customers, our immediate team and other divisions within EziBuy.

Q: Where would you like to be in five years?

A: In a perfect world the corporate division and our team will have developed so much in the next five years that I'll have a purely strategic focus and will spend my time thinking up cunning plans for growth. Helping other people "grow their own careers" gives me a great deal of satisfaction.