CL 36
helipad | www.daat.org
A year like no other... SorrEy WE’R CLOSED
DEVON
AIR AM
BULANC
E
...but we’ll be back soon!
Three national lockdowns in twelve months have been hard for all of the staff at Devon Air Ambulance, but probably the most impact has been felt by our retail staff. They are a gregarious, outgoing bunch of people, who love interacting with customers and our volunteers and the variety ‘non-stop’ world of charity retail. With our shops closed, many of our retail staff have been furloughed and others have been asked to step outside their ‘comfort zone’ to support our new online shopping operations Retail Operations Manager Chrissie Peel talks to three of our shop managers to get their candid views on what work has been like since the pandemic started, about the steep learning curve they have all been on and some of the highs – and lows – of a year in retail like no other.
Nick Rous
I started work for Devon Air Ambulance six years ago, as the manager of the newly opened South Molton shop. I have always had an interest in technology, so I am now leading on the online website using the skills and knowledge I have learned over my years of work. However, even though I was pretty hot on IT before this happened, it doesn’t mean the last year hasn’t been without its challenges! Working online has been a really big eye-opener for me, and I’ve had to really enhance my multi-tasking and ‘juggling’ skills, particularly around how the back office and stock is managed. Putting our retail operations online during the pandemic has two major benefits, not only can we reach a much wider audience – particularly for our high quality items – but it has also helped secure our retail income that would otherwise have been lost. On a really positive note, I feel I am even more confident now and I’ve also developed new skills, like how to take
professional photos of stock and how to ‘sell’ a product without any of the usual customer interaction and feedback. I’ve even become one of the Charity’s ‘Digital Champions’, a group of staff members who look to encourage others and give them the confidence to explore new ways of working with IT, so I hope I have been able to help my fellow retail managers over the last year. Maintaining the high quality feel of our website has been really challenging, but I think we have all done a great job and we are very proud of how professional it now looks. I now spend a lot more time staring at a screen, which is very different from my previous experience in DAA retail when you never stopped moving and every day was full of variety. When you spend so much time making the website look professional, it is amazing how rewarding and satisfying it can be when you make a sale, however small. It makes all the hours of sorting, photographing, researching and uploading worthwhile! And your favourite item ? I’m a sucker for a checked shirt, and there’s a particularly nice orange and blue one by Sonoma for sale now.
Retail Meet: Chrissie Peel - Retail Operations Manager Email: c.peel@daat.org
Thank you very much for your ongoing support of Devon Air Ambulance and your understanding as we embark on the next phase of our journey. Your contribution is making a real difference to our patients and their families.
