Rising Star Award // November
We’ve teamed up with Blum to find the upcoming stars of kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom retail. This month’s Rising Star is Alistair Glover, showroom manager at Alexander Kitchens, who has already made a big impression
Alistair Glover Interview: Rebecca Nottingham I
t’s not often you hear about someone that set out to embark on a career in the KBB retail industry but Alistair Glover is one of the few exceptions to the rule. Inspired by his father, Jason Glover, a well-known industry figure
with over 40 years of experience, Alistair first joined the industry with a role at Claygate Distribution before he realised his passion for kitchen design. “I may have only officially started in the industry at 18, when I left school and joined Claygate, but, because my Dad has been in the industry for years, you could say I’ve grown up in it really,” explains Alistair Glover. “I was often tagging along with him on showroom visits during school holidays. I loved the people; the products, and the appreciation of the kind of career I could have in the KBB sector developed over time.” Realising that his real passion was for designing kitchens, he took on a design
role at the Kessler showroom in Hove where he gained valuable experience until two years ago, when he left to pursue an opportunity at Alexander’s Horsham studio. In the space of just two years, Alistair has gone from designer to showroom manager. But just what is it about him that impressed Alexander’s owner Phil Beechinor so much? “Alistair made some quite staggering sales in his first couple of months at
Alexander, hitting the ground running with some intuitive designs for several large-scale projects,” says Beechinor. “After a strong first year, he built upon his strong sales record by delivering a string of exceptional projects in his second year. Alistair’s stock has risen significantly and to match his rise, he has also been promoted to showroom manager.” As it turns out, once he realised he wanted a career in the KBB industry,
Alistair’s ambition was always to become the manager of a kitchen studio. So, considering he’s already achieved that goal by the age of 27, where does he see himself in the next five-to-ten years? “Honestly, I really enjoy what the Alexander business is about and what we
do here, so I’d be more than happy if I was still here in five or ten years,” he says. “I’m really enjoying doing the designs, working with the customers, doing displays here for the showroom. It’s a company that believes in nurturing young talent and I think that’s really exciting.”
kbbr
Listen to the full interview with Alistair Glover in an upcoming episode of the current season of The kbbreview Podcast
Do you know a Rising Star?
We need YOU to tell us who your Rising Star is – who are the members of your team that you believe stand out as a star of the future in this industry?
THERE ARE ONLY TWO RULES: They must be currently employed by a retailer – defined as a company that sells direct to the consumer. They must be under 30 years of age on March 4, 2025.
Other than that, they can perform any role within your business, we don’t mind as long as they’re a star!
Between August 2024 and March 2025, we’ll be picking a monthly Rising Star to feature in the magazine, online and podcast. Those eight monthly winners then become the shortlist for the overall winner which will be revealed at the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2025 in April.
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS SEND US: A clear high-resolution head-and-shoulders picture of them (one taken with your phone on normal settings is fine) Their full name and job title Up to 500 words telling us why they’re your Rising Star Your full name and job title
And don’t worry if you qualify and want to nominate yourself, that’s fine too.
This is a great opportunity to let your people know how much you value them and believe in their contribution. It’s also a way of demonstrating to the wider industry just what can be achieved if you take the time to nurture raw talent.
Email your nominations to
rebecca@kbbreview.com. See all the Rising Stars so far at
kbbreview.com/risingstar
November 2024
kbbreview
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