RISING STARS MEET THE FUTURE
Domi Scrivener, branch manager from Jewson’s branch of the future, Farnborough tells BMJ about her industry experience so far.
What is your current role?
I work for Jewson and have climbed my way up through the business over the last 20 years to my current role, and the most exciting one to date – Branch Manager at Jewson’s new Branch of the Future in Farnborough, which opened in autumn 2024.
How did you get into this industry? I arrived in the UK from Slovakia in 2003 and took my first job here as a cleaner. Later, I was hired for a customer service role in a tile merchant. I got talking to a local Jewson Branch Manager, who said the business was looking for fresh talent – and as they say, the rest is history.
What does a typical day for you at work look like?
My typical day is centred on interactions, from the minute we open our doors to the minute they close. As anyone working in a merchant will know, it’s about the whole team working together to help the customer do their job to the best of their ability. I dedicate myself to recognising a customer’s issue or problem so we, as a branch, can provide the best possible support. Because of the customers who come through our doors, every day is different.
and I’m incredibly proud of the team I’ve built.
What are your big challenges in this role? I’m fortunate to be taking on my biggest role yet at Jewson Farnborough. When I was selected to launch our first purpose-built branch of the future I was humbled, as I knew what a big job it would be, but I am excited to be part of this chapter for Jewson and STARK UK. The business has truly transformed in the two years since we joined STARK Group, and our vision is to continue improving and growing to become the UK’s number one builders’ merchant in the eyes of our customers and local communities.
What do you think has been your biggest achievement in your role?
Building a diverse team of people who are incredibly passionate about what they do. At Jewson, our priority is to always hire the person best suited to the job and what we stand for as a business. They could be any age, gender ethnicity, have worked in any sector, and have any range of abilities – if they can represent our values, and give the customer a great experience, we want them in our team,
What would you like to achieve next? The construction industry has changed so much since I started out, and there are far more women working in the sector today than there were back then, but I think there’s more that can be done. In many cases, it requires women taking a leap of faith. We should remember that the sector isn’t all about manual labour – while that’s always an option, there are so many others, too. My role is all about people, and the skills I use are no different than a people-based role in any other industry. My career just keeps getting more interesting and I’m so pleased I chose to take that leap and walk a more unusual path.
What advice would you give to someone new to this industry?
When I started in the industry, customers would be surprised to see a woman in a sales role. Then they’d start speaking to me and realise how much I knew about our products and services. From that point on, I’d be respected and treated like any other employee
March 2025
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
“When I started in the industry, customers would be
surprised to see a woman in a sales role. Then they’d start speaking to me and realise how much I knew about our products and services”
which goes to show that in this field, knowledge and an understanding of what your customer needs is your most powerful asset. I’ve always believed that if you work hard, you will be recognised and rewarded – that’s particularly true at Jewson.
What would you say to someone who might be thinking about a career or getting a job in the merchant industry? If you know you’re able to always put the customer first, you’ll fit right in to merchanting. What matters most is that customers trust you to help them do their job to their best ability. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the welcome desk, a yard colleague or busy on the shop floor – merchants work as teams to get the job done. I always say that real people interact with real people – so we must listen to customers, be honest with them, call them back if we say we’re going to. Working this way, over the course of my time with Jewson many of my customer relationships have developed to become more like friendships. I don’t see this as a job anymore. It’s a way of life. BMJ
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