Team IB - Meet Alex Davidson

Team Ickle Bubba is all about getting?#behindthescenes?of our?#brand, offering a glimpse into the everyday lives of?#ourpeople?and getting a flavour of how their roles contribute to our shared mission. It's all about championing the people who keep us going and make us stronger. Ickle Bubba is made up of truly brilliant people and we want to share this to celebrate the great?#work?everyone is doing.?

This month, we had a chat with our Product Marketing Manager, Alex Davidson. Read on to find out how Alex spends her working day and to find out how she got to where she is today…?

What’s your favourite part of your job?

My previous marketing roles have always been very desk-based so having such a diverse role here at Ickle Bubba, my favourite part has to be stepping out of the box and flexing my creative muscles. I enjoy the blend of being out and about on a photography shoot, whether that’s in the studio or on location and being in the office or working from home on projects. I also enjoy working with external agencies and freelancers; forming strong working relationships with photographers, make-up artists and influencers – it’s a chance to connect with the wider industry and come back to your desk feeling more energised and inspired.?

How did you get to where you are now??

I studied Product Design and Marketing at York St John University but I actually went into Fashion Buying for New Look when I graduated. I worked in their store at university then got the opportunity to go to their Head Office in Weymouth. I quickly realised the fashion world wasn’t for me with its super-fast pace and ‘Devil Wears Prada’ vibes. I missed the North so headed back home and then landed a role at Mamas & Papas. Initially I started out within a?Product Development Admin role that worked closely with marketing so I slowly got my foot in the door there. Working my way up through the ranks; I worked within product, trade and brand before spotting the opportunity at Ickle Bubba. I was drawn to my current role as I saw it as a chance to put all of my experience to the test put my stamp on a brand that wasn’t as established.?

How would you describe your role??

My role is quite diverse. We’ve got a small marketing team so I get involved with and influence many different aspects of marketing and brand. One month could be focussed on something creative like briefing in a photo shoot or project managing/designing a stand for a trade show. The next, I could be working on something more data-driven like reporting on customer trends to build a product campaign or working on a joint business plan for one of our key accounts such as Smyths Toys or Asda.??

What’s the most challenging part of your role??

No matter what brand you work for, retail’s always fast-paced. There are always going to be last minute amends to campaigns and projects as you’re constantly reacting to changing consumer demands and behaviours. With that in mind, being able to turn things around quickly and smoothly can be the most challenging part but it just becomes a part and parcel of the job.??

What would you say are the main skills needed to be successful in your role??

I’d say a solid background in project management is essential. I can be responsible for multiple projects at any one time so I have to have good planning skills. Beyond that, I’d say creative flair and an interest in data and analysing how this needs to feed into projects and campaigns to target the right audience are key.?Sometimes it can feel like you have a lot of balls to juggle so being able to see the wood through the trees is a good skill to have. I like to think I take a very pragmatic approach to my workload which allows me to just get things done, rather than procrastinating and getting overwhelmed by the number of things that need to get done.?

What would you say is the best part of working at Ickle Bubba??

We’re a small team which makes us a very tight marketing team. We all get to have a bit of an influence on the brand and feel like we’re building something together. In bigger companies, people at the top can often make the decisions whereas here, we all feel like we have an input and are able to make change happen quickly.??

As a single parent, having flexibility to do school drops and work at times that work for me is also a huge benefit of working at Ickle Bubba. I value the freedom of being able to balance my personal and work commitments while being trusted to do a good job.??

What did you want to be growing up??

A Visual Merchandiser. I used to go down to London a lot when was I younger, shopping with my mum. Every Christmas we always made a point of going to see the Harrods shop window, which always amazed me. I did actually get to do some visual merchandising during my time at New Look, it was then I realised it wasn’t quite as glamorous as I’d imagined it to be!?

In another life, what would you be??

I think if I could be anything in the world and someone could give me a skill, I’d say make me a sportsperson. Taking my daughter to sports clubs, it makes me wish how I’d dedicated some of my time as a child practicing ice skating or tennis, perhaps.??

Thanks Alex! Look out for more Team Ickle Bubba profiles, coming soon...?