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Monday February 4 2019 THE NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM, BIRMINGHAM


On the move


Alan Hawkins, chief executive officer of bira in Birmingham, retires at the end of September aſter 33 years of service with the trade association


an email to someone - even late at night - and not get an instant reply.


What was the best career decision you made?


Where were you? I’m leaving bira (British Independent Retailers Association) after 33 years: 12 as ceo, previously as financial director.


And how did you get there? I joined from my own accountancy firm, where BHF [British Hardware Federation: the forerunner to bira] was my largest client. Moving from self-employed to employed was quite a decision at the time, but never regretted. Bira has been very fair to me and the role of ceo is the best job in the world. Well, it’s certainly better than being prime minister.


How did you spend an average day? There is no average day - that’s the variety and joy. Bira runs subsidiaries in many areas: banking, training, buying, and publishing to name but a few. I sit on all the boards, plus the main bira one, so lots of meetings is the quick answer. Our parliamentary work also drags me to


London fairly regularly, as do outside appointments such as director of the BRC (British Retail Consortium) and visits to Oxford University for our Oxford Summer School [which offers a range of retail management development programmes]. Trade shows, charity boards, our conference and overseas ones all take time. Often I have to introduce myself to the staff on my return to the office!


And how will you spend it now? A bit of outside consultancy is planned and all the usual suspects: grandchildren, taking up golf, travel and so on. Ask me again in a year’s time.


What will you miss most? My friends in the trade. But then again they have gone past being work connections and many have retired before me. I know I shall be keeping in touch as much as ever, but just for fun.


And least?


Bl**dy emails: the bane of our lives. Bring back snail mail and a day or two to reply. I can’t send


18 | housewareslive.net


Becoming a chartered accountant before moving to industry. No, accountants are not boring; figures don’t lie and they keep you grounded.


What’s been the biggest achievement of your career? Merging BHF and BSSA [British Shops & Stores Association] in 2009. It has not been easy but bira is the way our trade association can have a healthy future. The name says it all: British INDEPENDENT Retailers Association. I love independents for all my needs. Their


service and product knowledge knocks the opposition out of the ring. The general public will realise this soon - hopefully before it’s not too late.


“I love independents for all my needs. Their service and product knowledge


knocks the opposition out of the ring”


High point of your career? Opening our newly modernised and superb Birmingham offices, and taking bira’s rates reform proposals to 10 Downing Street. Is it a false hope that sorting out bricks-and-mortar rates bills, for the vast majority of shops that are independent, will become a reality? We need a level playing field with online providers.


And the low point? Knowing that we have a government so preoccupied with Brexit issues that changes to rates reform may take too long to arrive. Also, saying forced goodbyes to working colleagues is probably the hardest.


What’s been the biggest change since you became involved in the housewares industry? The internet and social media. Both are here to


HousewaresLive.net


stay and independents need to embrace their positives.


During your time in the housewares industry, which products have impressed you most? I like the cookshop side most, because I like food. That sector has introduced more design, colour and innovation than housewares in general. If I have to choose one product? My coffee machine!


Which housewares retailers do you admire? Which is my favourite grandchild?! With 6,000 members’ shops, I will stay general. The truly magnificent independent departmental stores can beat any opposition. But then again, a 1,000sq ft Aladdin’s cave is just as much fun to visit.


Which housewares suppliers do you admire?


All the ones who stay true to the independent philosophy ie those that don’t double-deal with the big players and don’t get tempted to go direct to the consumer. It has to be a win-win for both sides. Working to this end is crucial.


Name one change you would make to the housewares industry. Stop over-discounting. Consumers like a good price but don’t assume it’s the only differentiator.


What advice would you give to someone starting out in housewares retailing? Start with a small fortune! Or, more fairly, understand your market, your location and unique strengths – and then make sure you have enough capital to get through the opening period, with a team who share your passion.


What’s next? I’m off to buy a handkerchief for the day I retire… for when I have to cut up the company credit card!


Is it goodbye or au revoir to the housewares industry? Probably goodbye. But there is talk that after a suitable break, I may return as non-executive chair of bira bank. Time will tell.


twitter.com/Housewaresnews July/August 2018


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