Insider
A Day In The Life
Our TK Maxx buyers travel the world all year round to find the best designer deals to pass onto our lovely customers. Our childrenswear buyer, Jette, has given us a sneaky peak into a typical day in her life.
06:15 WAKE-UP CALL
I am woken nice and early from my dreams by my iPhone playing out my favourite tunes. Let the day and the fun begin!
07:15 UP AND OUT
I leave the house early and head straight to Heathrow Airport for an early flight to a european city. I like to get to the airport early so that I can get breakfast and a coffee whilst looking at the reports and sales figures to track the progress of my department.
08:30 AT THE AIRPORT
I always have my laptop with me, so I can carry on working remotely wherever I am in the world. I always need to prepare for the meetings I am going to, so go through my notes and ensure I am confident with the figures I am going to discuss. Before I fly off, I always call in to speak to my manager to update her on my schedule and check-in for any changes that I need to be aware of.
09.30 FLIGHT
I am such a regular flyer now, that a 2 hour flight feels like a usual commute for me. Depending on what time of day this is, I will often continue my preparation. If it is a late flight I will read my book or catch up on some sleep. The days are long and any rest is really important to be sure we preserve our energy when we can. The flights can be tiring and sometimes the time difference can be really draining, but the excitement of the job keeps the adrenaline pumping.
13.00 MEETING A NEW BRAND
When I first arrive at a new brand, I like to intoduce myself and have a chat about the weather, football or whatever might crop up into the conversation. I like to make the Sales Director feel comfortable with me and the deal that I'm going to propose, so it's an important job to break the ice before we start talking about business. My favourite part of the meeting is getting to browse the stock, I get to touch and feel the products and decide what merchandise has the wow-factor for our fashion-loving TK Maxx customers.
15.00 STRIKE A DEAL
After deciding which products I am interested in, I will start the negotiation process. I will always have it at the front of my mind that I am out to get the best deal for our customers. I love the feeling of striking a good deal and knowing the product is good quality resulting in a successful meeting.
16:00 COMP SHOPPING
This is probably one of the best parts of my job, shopping around to see what our competitior retailers are stocking. I basically get to shop for work! I'll also always try and visit a TK Maxx store when I am in Poland or Germany to see how the stock looks.
17:30 HOMEWARD BOUND
Head back to the airport. I pick up any outstanding emails and confirm my appointments for the next day.
20:00 RELAX
Back to London and head straight home to bed, to be up fresh and ready for a new day in the exciting world of off-price buying.
