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Booting up a great retail career

25/10/2016

Glenn Nielsen was plugged into studying for a degree in computer technology when a job to help pay the student loan sparked a personal discovery that changed the course of his life.


It all began 14 years-ago with a part-time job that involved helping set up retail stores for Warehouse Stationery. The experience rebooted his thinking about his career. He turned it into a full-time role selling computer technology at the Taupo store, and hasn’t looked back.

“I found my passion was working with customers and staff. I didn’t want to be shut away in a back room, I wanted to be interacting with the public.”

Glenn then gained experience through roles with Burger King and Dick Smith before finally settling on Noel Leeming, where, over a decade, he has enthusiastically worked his way up into senior management through hard work, smart thinking, and workplace training.

Today the 34 year-old assistant manager in Lower Hutt has received his next promotion and is moving to Christchurch to take over management of Noel Leeming’s bustling store in Papanui.

With a natural flair for customer service, Glenn credits much of his success to gaining qualifications on the job, and real skills and knowledge that have helped him advance his career while delivering great results for the business.

“At school I understood Pythagoras’ Theorem, but at work, I’ve been able to gain knowledge that I can use,” he says.

“This includes understanding the whole business operation, the P&L, how to be a good people manager and get the best out of your team. Coaching for performance, knowing your target market, what products sell well, and what appeals to customers in different regions.

“It’s all incredibly useful and helps you improve and do a better job by your customers and the business.”

Noel Leeming has a reputation for developing highly skilled individuals and teams through workplace training in: customer service, sales, product and technical knowledge, and management. Many staff have gained ServiceIQ’s Certificate in Retail (Level 2) qualification and the equivalent of ServiceIQ Certificate in Retail (Level 4).

Glenn Nielsen

Noel Leeming’s Glenn Nielsen with CEO Tim Edwards and Executive General Manager Operations Garth Brown. 

The allure of excellent skills and knowledge are a powerful attraction for staff and thousands of customers nationwide, with great service driving the bottom line.

“Your team will bring up the profit margin all by themselves because they are positive about what they are doing,” says Glenn.

“If your people are positive and know the products, they are motivated to sell. There’s a big difference between someone who is told to sell, and staff who believe in what they do and want to help customers.”

For Glenn, there’s no question that a career in retail offers tremendous enjoyment, variety and opportunity.

“It’s awesome. No day is the same and you get to meet new people every day. I’m looking to be the best store manager that I can be, then maybe moving up into regional management or joining the learning and development team.”

For more information, please contact ServiceIQ on 0800 863 693 or email intel@ServiceIQ.org.nz