comment KATIE HOLLOWAYSales Agent covering London and the South East On the road
contacts, answering emails and preparing for, and going to, meetings. I love the buzz of urgent requests for information and being able to fulfil them efficiently. I love it - it doesn't feel like work at all.
What’s your background? To be honest, I was going to be an artist or a jeweller. I got my Masters degree in Silversmithing and Goldsmithing at the Royal College of Art back in 1993. After graduating, I took a job as a sales assistant at London cookshop Divertimenti just to make ends meet while I figured out my next move. But I found I loved it there. My family had
always enjoyed entertaining, and would hold fabulous fancy dress parties where there was often a huge buffet, complete with many of [British cookery writer] Elizabeth David’s famous recipes, which my parents had spent days preparing. So I felt completely at home in the shop,
surrounded by a plethora of cooking equipment and beautiful tableware. I loved interacting with customers and learning all about the products, so I could give an informed service. So, my career plans changed completely,
and within 18 months I was store manager: a position which I held for 13 years before being offered the job as UK buyer for a further eight years. When my time at Divertimenti came to an
end, I was initially a little stumped. I knew I loved the homewares industry – all the products and how they are made - and I enjoyed customer service. When I initially told Nordic Ware UK sales
manager Marcus Findlay of my departure, he said he would jump at the chance to work with me, because of my reputation in the industry and our great working relationship. This helped to water the seed that was already germinating at the back of my mind of the prospect of becoming a sales agent. As I started to research the role more,
I realised what a good fit it was for my skill set, and how it could give me a freedom that I had not felt for years. So, I took the plunge.
What brands do you represent? My main brands are Nordic Ware, Charlotte Eddington, MORI, Contacto and Luin Living.
How do you spend an average day? Researching possible stockists, following up
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Which of ‘your’ products do you use? I've always enjoyed cooking. I've used Mori’s Le Pentole pans for 20 years and still love their timeless design: they give me pleasure just looking at them. Even the easiest of cake recipes made in my Nordic Ware Heritage Bundt pan never fails to make an impact. Recently, I've been road-testing towels from Luin Living. My daughter has commandeered the hair towel as her own - definitely a seal of approval!
Best aspect of your job? Meeting new people and discovering new areas. So many shops are creating their own individual styles, becoming more like boutiques, mixing high-end cookware with functional giftware and even fashion. Retail is still alive on the high street!.
And the worst? Waiting for a response… It's not that I'm impatient; I'm just keen to make this work for everyone.
What car do you drive and why? As I live in central London, I use public transport. But as I widen my net, I will be letting a Dacia into my life.
What do you do outside work? My daughter occupies most of my free time with her dancing and singing hobbies. And there's always something to do and something new to discover in London.
Biggest issue facing the housewares industry? Being responsive to current trends and shopping habits. Everything moves faster now because of the internet. Aspirations aren't regional any more, they're universal.
Biggest challenges facing retailers and suppliers? To embrace change and try and think laterally. Create an aspiration. I love my client Luin Living’s catchphrase: ‘Your Home - Your Spa.’ I
think that is so evocative. Department stores are increasingly developing their own labels but hopefully these can sit alongside smaller innovative companies, which have their own USPs.
And the biggest opportunities? To create new, affordable products that can be adapted and developed to fit the latest demands - which is why it’s great to be on the starting line with Kevin Towler’s new company Charlotte Eddington and its gold-plated products (pictured below). I hope that with an ear to the ground, and with all our previous experience, it can develop well.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in the housewares industry? Be brave. Talk to as many people as possible within the trade and try and learn from their experiences. I’ve been so fortunate to have had great support from agents, sales reps and other friends in the trade. People often have surprisingly different
perspectives. Learn to adapt and listen. It’s hard out there, but I’m determined to enjoy and adapt to my new chosen career.
• Contact Katie at
katiehollowayagent@gmail.com
Charlotte Eddington heart spoons and cake slice
•
HousewaresLive.net
•
twitter.com/Housewaresnews
March/April 2018
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