Matilda Cherry

I joined this family run business with great excitement as the store was about to undertake a major renovation. The owner involved me in every stage and I had a lot of input into the layout and design of the store. I have worked very hard for my current employer by increasing sales, staff management, constantly trying to achieve better results within the shop by obtaining better promotional deals, merchandising and bringing in new products/companies.

My duties within the store are endless. My goal in my current job is to always do better and achieve better results. To find a better deal and to achieve high standards of customer service.

I joined this family run business to gain insight into what it would be like working for an independent retailer.

In 2007 I started of as store manager with many responsibilities. I worked extremely hard and many long hours in order to achieve success which in turn led to great job satisfaction. After fours years I stood down to purchaser as I had my first child. My boss still wanted me to be part of the management team dealing with staff, money handling, employing new staff, Health & safety and doing all the purchasing for the store.

In September 2021 my employers decided to retire and the store was taken over by Musgrave. As I lived in Cookstown I decided that it was time to find a job closer to home and left in November 2021.

As an assistant manager within Henderson Retail Group I was responsible for the day to day running of the store. I worked for Henderson's company owned stores and was sent to many locations within the group which I really enjoyed. I worked in fuel and non fuel sites. I worked very well with my staff and feel I got the best out of them. As a result I was up for an award within the company for staff training. I had many responsibilities including cash handling, wages, daily and weekly reports, recruitment, health & safety, stock take and many more duties.

I was also recognised by my area manager on ideas on how to increase sales and I achieved the best stock take result in the Cullybackey store since taking over the store from an independent. My manager at the time was on holidays and I was left to organise and oversee that particular stock take.