NEW FACES
Jonathan Postle – Moda in Pelle Age - 24 Born – Leeds, West Yorkshire
How have your first 6 months been at Moda in Pelle? They have been fantastic, I’ve really enjoyed my time here so far and I am sure that will continue. I’ve learnt so much about wholesale, and also about all aspects of the business and I’m confident the past six months have given me a real scope to develop my career further. It’s been great working with John; he has got such a good knowledge of footwear and wholesale. He’s been happy to share this with me and keep me involved with the larger accounts as well as developing business with existing accounts and prospects. Everyone has been welcoming at Moda in Pelle that has made it so much easier for me to find my feet in the business. The same goes for industry in general and I’ve met some great people who I am looking forward to working with.
What was your first job? I was a kitchen porter at a restaurant.
There were eight of us from the same school who worked there, so it was great fun but you could smell me from miles away by the time the shifts had finished, it got me some extra pocket money though!
Tell us more about your background? After leaving school with my A-levels, I spent a
year playing cricket in Australia and then studied English Language and Linguistics at York St John University. I worked at the Barratts Shoes warehouse and at their shop in Leeds in my spare time to save money for my Australia trip. At university I worked at the Barratts shop in
York, and also did a work placement in the Retail Operations team. I got my first full time role from this, working in the Retail Operations team until I joined Moda in Pelle in January.
Where do you see yourself in 20 years time? It’s a difficult one to answer because I am still
only just starting out in my career. I would definitely like to remain in footwear. For now I’m enjoying my time at Moda in Pelle and making the most of the opportunity. International retail and developing brands
in emerging markets are areas that appeal to me and a path I would possibly like to take in the future. There is plenty of scope for me learn more in
this area at Moda in Pelle, so I‘m happy to focus on now, and if I carry on working hard and learning as much as I can I am sure I’ll be happy with where I end up!
16 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • OCTOBER 2013
What’s your view of the world of wholesale at the moment?
It’s challenging times for everyone in the
industry, but I think the last set of shows have shown that there is some light at the end of the tunnel. There was more optimism from everybody at
the Pure and Moda this season and this was reflected in the success we had with our new collection, particularly with the amount of new accounts we opened. Like every brand out there it is
important we try to support all our accounts as much as possible while taking opportunities to develop the brand further and expand into new areas in both the UK and abroad. On a personal note the most crucial part of my role is to build a strong relationship with all of our accounts, both big and small. I really believe independent retailers not only look for the brands have the most commercial collections, but also who can go that extra mile to provide a great service and offer as much support with the brand as possible.
What’s good about Moda in Pelle? The business is rapidly
expanding, while still keeping close to the values of its boutique roots. So much focus and attention to
detail is put into the products and this is clear for all to see when we launch our collections. The brand has a strong identity within the industry, and our customers are familiar with the brand from the retail stores we have. This is a good base for us to develop our wholesale business further.
How have you found doing trade shows? They are extremely rewarding.
It’s always good to meet with our accounts face to face. The collections always look their best when merchandised on the stand, plus it’s much easier to buy and sell. There is so much planning that goes into each show, so when you get on the stand it’s important to be focused but enjoy it at the same time.
Moda in Pelle Tel: 0844 375 2232 Web:
www.modainpelle.com
What are your interests out of work? During the summer I play cricket for my local
team in Leeds, which takes up a lot of my spare time. I’m also a big Leeds United and Leeds Rhinos fan and try to get to as many of their games as I can. Sport has always been massive for me, and a lot of that is down to watching my Dad play football and cricket when I was younger.
How do you switch off? Usually with a cold beer and Sky Sports!
I live with 5 other lads so it’s always a bonus to be around your best mates after a busy day at work. Cooking is also great for relaxing; I can cook a pretty special Sunday Roast!
What would be your ideal holiday? Somewhere hot and with
nice beaches! I’d really like to go to California. I taught myself how to surf when I lived on the Gold Coast so I’d like to see if I can still do that! I’ve always wanted to hire an old camper van and drive it around Australia too.
Are you an optimist or a pessimist? An optimist! I think you have to be when your career is in sales and retail. There’s always going to be challenging times in the industry, but no matter how hard things are I really think it’s important to try keep a positive mindset. It’s much easier to find ways to make things better by keeping upbeat and positive.
How do you feel about been tipped as a rising star? It’s great to know people are thinking of me in that light, and it’s good to see my efforts are being noticed. For now I just want to keep my feet on the ground and continue to work hard and to the best of my ability. I’ve still got a lot to learn about the industry so it’s important, for now, to keep myself focused and take it all in.
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