Employee Spotlight - Millie Eaton, Assistant Merchandiser

I first joined WoSG in May 2022 - I started on a yearlong placement on the UK Jewellery Merchandising Team as an Allocator (now known as Merchandise Admin) which was due to finish in May 2023. I extended this for a further 4 months and left in September 2023 to go back to Nottingham Trent University to finish my final year of my Fashion Management degree. As soon as I finished my dissertation in May 2024, I returned to the company on the US Watches Merchandising Team as Allocator (Merchandise Admin) and then got promoted in September to Assistant Merchandiser on the same team.

When I joined the company, this was a new area/role for me, I am extremely grateful to the company for offering student placements as it allowed me to gain experience and figure out what it was, I wanted to do with my degree. It was difficult during my degree as there were so many routes that were on offer to go down, so it was great to be offered the opportunity to participate in a placement year. I obviously loved it so much that I came back as soon as I could!! Coming back in May I was new to the watch department and the US market (having done UK jewellery prior) so this was exciting to me!

Progression is something really important to me when looking for a role and I believe WoSG career progression has been excellent. I have been supported by my colleagues and my manager continuously where needed and pushed myself out of my comfort zone to progress to the next stage. When making my goals clear I have been supported with what I need to do achieve them, I think at WoSG you are shown great appreciation and recognition when you put in the effort which is also important and motivating. Its inspiring to me to listen how other colleagues have progressed within the company and great to be surrounded by role models to look up to.

I have felt supposed by WoSG, both in work and personal life I have received outstanding support since I joined the company from both my managers and colleagues which in turn really helps keep the work/life balance. Everyone is there to help each other and achieve our goals. I particularly felt the support during my final year at university when I was writing my dissertation on Natural diamonds vs Lab grown diamonds within the luxury fashion industry and needed primary research. The jewellery team did not hesitate to help me in my studies, and this really helped with my final year of my degree. Another occasion springs to mind when applying for a promotion, my team and manager supported me and encouraged this.

I genuinely enjoy coming to work to spend time with my colleagues, everyone is so supportive of one another, and we are all trying to achieve the best for the company collectively. I also love the product, both watches in my role now and my love for jewellery that stemmed from my placement year, seeing the sales go through along with the story behind the clients is really rewarding and something I absolutely love about my job.

Seeing the expansion of new showrooms, showroom refurbishments, new product launches and acquisitions is one of the most favourite parts of my job, it makes me really proud to work for WoSG, and excited for what’s to come in the future as our amazing company develops and grows further.

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