ToyFair… it’s the Birchwood Effect!

All the fun of the fair!!!! ToyFair 2013 was great fun!  It is always fantastic to see all my clients and candidates together under one roof. This year footfall was definitely down but with no Jubilee, no Olympics and a great deal of weather this is not a massive shock. I did feel that the buzz of 2012 was not quite there this year and there were a lot of people telling the Birchwood Girls that they were disappointed in product offering and that the numbers through the doors were down. It’s also fair to say that most reported that those that attended were serious buyers and were placing orders, I would much rather see a show like this than full of tyre kickers who have come along for a day out! As someone who attends the show and has no remit to buy I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every exhibitor for taking time out of their selling time to spend time with us, it really helps to see how clients old and new work at exhibitions. Also, congratulations to the organisers of ToyFair overall a very successful show for all who exhibited and visited.

As you know I recruited Caroline Rickards to the Birchwood business around 5 months ago and this was her first toy fair. Here she is with Tree Fu Tom, and I am sure she will be delighted with this picture being included. A comment from her whilst debriefing the show at the Alternative Drinks Party has inspired me to write this piece – “Isnt it interesting that your clients are the busy and successful ones?”  Well you know what?  This is not a coincidence; allow me to illustrate!

Birchwood clients had some of the busiest stands at the show.  It’s not a fluke! Birchwood knits teams together, never “puts bums on seats” and never has “a place at any cost” attitude.  Put your trust into a recruiter and allow them to work on your team with you, not just in times of strife but on an ongoing basis to ensure that the right people remain the right people.  At trade events it sticks out that Birchwood clients have the X Factor… Don’t believe me?

I am sure you will agree that the vibrancy and positivity on the Jumbo Games was plain to see, and it was not all down to the coffee and the footballers!  The stand was fantastic and illustrated brilliantly the passion that the team has for both the product range and the business, and not just their product; a company that had thought about things from their customer’s perspective (where will this product go once purchased). Yes, Gray and Kath it was worth all the hard work!  A stand alive with banter and an open approach which made all visitors feel really welcome.  As Gray Richmond (MD) put it himself “two out of two Amanda, loving your work”.  Not always plain sailing but I love it when a plan comes together!

The tag team that is Jonathan Rose and Thalia Vosper of Cartamundi is brilliant to see.  They both try to hide it behind a veil of sarcasm but they love each other and work brilliantly together.  The lovely and always smiling Chloe Fox has huge passion for her role and the products… have you seen a tidier stand?  Well done Chloe, all those perfectly balanced packs and you don’t even mind if they get moved about (my OCD would not allow for that!). The open approach and open stand of Cartamundi along with the location of the stand made for a busy and highly successful ToyFair.

The last quarter of 2012 saw the arrival of 3 new team members to the sales department at Vtech and this means a fresh and dynamic approach for 2013.  It was great to see Vtech back at ToyFair after a 5 year absence.  I was very impressed with the stand and loved seeing the whole range out of a showroom environment. Richard Hawkins – I am impressed Caroline and I did quiz you! Special mention should go to Graham Canning who did run the length of the stand to greet me… we came back three times over Wednesday and Thursday to see you and you were busy every time – I am sure it wasn’t planned but is a great measure of the quality of the 2013 range! We will make sure we come and see you during the course of 2013.

Wonderful, wonderful HEXBUGS!  Along with other delights coming from Innovation First. Delighted to see Daniel Richardson settling in so very well to the business after a very short period of time… Dan has done 3 continents with the business since mid December! (I know lots of you do this but not with a new product range to learn at the busiest time of the year). I look forward to recruiting more into the team shortly.

There are many more, you know who you are, I pride myself on keeping things confidential when asked to. Needless to say there are some exciting projects  that we are currently working  on, if you are looking for a new challenge in 2013 then please email your CV and package details to amanda@birchwoodrecruitment.com

This blog, more than any other, reflects what Birchwood does, and does bloody well!  We know we are blowing our own trumpets, but we are excited by what we do and the success we have had!! This is why businesses put their trust into Birchwood… we are good at matching; someone said to me at the show I should be a matchmaker – that is exactly what I am and what Caroline is!

Now, I could go on all day about my clients and their successes.  I am only going to mention one more and in a different way as I have not placed with this company yet!  A Girl for All Time; Frances Cain you deserve all the success you are having.  A high quality product, well-constructed and thought through with a clear target market.  I am keen to read the books myself, I love the 1940’s latest doll she is very cool… watch this space there are some interesting things set to happen for this business.

Final thanks have to go to Progressive Preschool and their tireless positivity, energy and capacity to socialise! Rob, Jacqui, and Hayley I love you all and most importantly I love the magazine. Their fresh approach to the market is new, refreshing and much-needed; if you are not already advertising with them and subscribing to the magazine then do it now at www.progressive-preschool.com

To find out how we can work together do give me a call on 07796 697100, the Birchwood offering to its clients and candidates is varied and broad. We look forward to tailoring the perfect solution for your business or career

 

On the 10th Day of Christmas Birchwood gave to thee… A Brand New Career Opportunity!!!

Are you looking to embark on a career in sales?

Do you know someone who wants to break into sales?

Do you know someone who has the X Factor?

 

I love working with businesses that are growing and evolving and my client is certainly doing that. My client is a growing collectible gift and toy business with a fantastically high quality product range. With a strong account base and accolades that include a Toy Talk Award and a Mum’s Choice award this company has a created a real niche in the girls roleplay sector.

Due to expansion and growth my client is looking to recruit a new member of the team to learn and grow as the business does. Initially this role will be geared around the various trade shows at the start of the year and will give someone a real opportunity to see how a business operates at this busy time.

To get the most from this role and to ensure both the business and the new person gets the best, the ideal candidate will be based in West London and have a real passion for business. The successful candidate will ideally be a of graduate calibre, with excellent communication skills and bags of personality, keen to work as part of a small team and eager to grow with the business.

For more information give me a call.

Interview Tips for Girls… Bloody Babies!

I know this may appear sexist to have additional interview tips for girls but the fact is that ladies have matters they have to consider before interview that men just don’t. We all know that prospective employers are prohibited from asking gender specific questions. Do not believe that just because the interviewer cannot ask the question they are not desperate for the answer.

So, let’s deal with the shocking truth… women have babies! (and here is mine, isn’t he just lush, he is a bit bigger than this now)

My general advice in interview is that you tell the truth. Honesty is always the best policy whatever the subject during interview. However, I am not suggesting that you walk into the interview and announce you have no plans to breed, and nor would I expect you to advise that you have to leave within the hour as you are ovulating! Being a woman of childbearing age puts you at a disadvantage as a candidate for many employers, I am not here to discuss whether this is right or fair; it is the reality. I never put words into the mouths of my candidates, it is not my style; you need to find your own way to deal with the ‘elephant in the room’. My advice is to use language that will put the interviewer at ease… ‘I am career focussed’, ‘In the next five years I expect to be…’, ‘I want to make a long-term commitment to a role’. Talking actively about wanting to have children is never considered a good idea during interview… and before people start shouting about feminism, burning bras, and equality in the workplace I am looking purely commercially. Women of childbearing age need to understand that:

An employer can claim 92% of the maternity pay it pays out back from the government which is why most people think it is easy to deal with. However, businesses also need to consider additional costs; holiday accrued (when someone is on maternity leave). Change in role for the pregnant woman may mean a whole new role has to be created. Loss of working hours prior to maternity leave being taken (sickness, antenatal classes). Risk assessments may mean new chairs, additional rest breaks, stopping driving. The employer has to recruit a replacement at on a temporary basis, additional training will be needed, and in many cases there will be a handover period = 2 salaries for one job, recruitment fees the list goes on and on. Then when the babies come and mums come back to work there are a billion more considerations… If you were the employer would you employ a woman of childbearing age?

If you are the best candidate you will get the job. In my experience many of my clients would rather recruit women. This is especially true at senior sales level as they are much better relationship builders than their male counterparts (client opinion, I love everyone equally). I will not work on a discriminatory job vacancy but that is not to say that they do not exist. I am aware that there are some clients who may not show me exactly what they intend to recruit.

When you are in interview show that you are committed to your career and working life. If asked about childcare arrangements do not say ‘well I will leave the office immediately if my child is unwell at school’. Answer as a man would ‘oh the other half deals with all that side of things, I am the main bread-winner’ – issue dealt with. Whether it is true is another matter but believe me you answer in the first style and that is the only thing that interviewer will remember answer in the second and the interviewer will not even mention it during the feedback.

Your aim as a candidate in an interview is to get the job offer. An interview is a sales process like any other – you are selling yourself to a business and the business is selling itself to you. All candidates have to plan and prepare answers to typical questions. If you are wise you will deal with this head on to secure that new role. Put yourself in the best possible position to make your decision… better to have been offered a role and turn it down for you are not comfortable than not be offered at all!!

To find out how we can best work together please contact me in the best way for you for a totally confidential discussion, for my contact details have a look at the ‘talk to the shoes’ page

Vtech Update!!

With lots of recruitment projects you only every see the advertising, the shouting about and then nothing more. So I thought I would take two minutes to share the latest news on the recruitment project at Vtech.

Thursday and Friday of last week saw the last of the first interviews and the second interviews for the Key Account  position. I would like to thank all of the candidates who went along well prepared and researched; you all did yourselves proud. The senior team within Vtech did say that there was no one that was not capable of doing the job and each candidate set a solid benchmark for the rest. The job offer was made on Friday lunchtime and the candidate started on Tuesday – we are all delighted with this speed of turnaround! The successful candidate has worked both within and outside of the toy sector and is set to become a real asset to the Vtech business. Watch this space for news of his development.

Vtech and I have now turned our attention fully to the National Account Manager role and are in the thick of first interviews. I do have the ability to add people to the shortlist at this late stage, so don’t sit there thinking about it, give me a call and tell me why your name should be on that shortlist… They are a global market leader what’s not to like?

I am working on UK wide vacancies across sales and marketing at varying levels and would love to talk to you about your next step on your career ladder.

NEW JOB!

I want to take the opportunity to tell you all about something good! Businesses doing well are not exciting news in some senses these days; the economic climate is in a state of chaos creates much more elaborate headlines! Now, I am not looking through rose-tinted spectacles (they would be red surely) but thought it was time to talk about something good. Birchwood is busy and getting busier all the time and I thank all my clients and candidates for their continued support.

I spoke to Vtech recently about their business and their plans and was thrilled to hear how their business is developing. VTech is the Worlds largest manufacturer of Electronic Learning Products and prides itself on  design and manufacture of industry leading products, The business has grown by a fantastic 35% in the last 2 years which is pretty bloody fantastic and they have some really exciting new products for 2013 including Outdoor products and bath toys. They have a real presence in the market and vitally the product is trusted by parents and consumers meaning that Vtech drives people to retailers. As the mother of a 6-year-old myself I am also a consumer and I love the products; mind you the ‘hello puppy calling’ song on the First Steps Baby Walker will probably haunt me forever (if you want to know all the words just ask). There is a real buzz about the business and the team is strong, this is why I recruit for them and this is why you should consider them for the next step in your career… I have an advert running in the trade press at the moment and here it is. Just a word to the wise, contact me not the Vtech office; your application will be passed back to me anyway (just sayin).

Due to sustained growth domestically and internationally Vtech is now delighted to be looking to expand its established sales team by recruiting two additional people. Successful candidates will be highly computer literate, have excellent written and verbal communicators, be highly organised and have real passion for what they do. To get the most from Vtech’s dynamic culture you will have a proven track record of success with retail customers, excellent negotiation skills and be based within an hour of their UK head office in Oxfordshire.  Experience of the toy sector, though preferable is not a prerequisite for this role as the important part is a solid working relationship with the right account base

KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER this is an ideal opportunity for someone looking to develop their existing sales skills within a fast-moving environment. The successful candidate will have a proven track record and a commitment to driving business forward. The role involves working with an exciting portfolio of accounts to include online retailers and department stores within a supportive environment.

NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER This is a role for a highly experienced Account Manager. You will be working with a portfolio of high-profile retail customers at the highest level. You will be a highly motivated individual with the ability to be both a trading partner and a pragmatic business builder within a well established account base.

To find out more about these exciting opportunities please call Amanda Holder at Birchwood on 07796 697100; our retained consult for this project. To apply please email your up to date CV along with current package details to amanda@birchwoodrecruitment.com. Please note other recruiters are not invited to submit CV’s at this time and any third party application will be referred to Birchwood.

Fantastic Opportunity to Work with a Market Leader

I want to take the opportunity to tell you all about something good! Businesses doing well are not exciting news in some senses these days; the economic climate is in a state of chaos creates much more elaborate headlines! Now, I am not looking through rose-tinted spectacles (they would be red surely) but thought it was time to talk about something good. Birchwood is busy and getting busier all the time and I thank all my clients and candidates for their continued support.

I spoke to Vtech last week about their business and their plans and was thrilled to hear how their business is developing. VTech is the Worlds largest manufacturer of Electronic Learning Products and prides itself on  design and manufacture of industry leading products, The business has grown by a fantastic 35% in the last 2 years which is pretty bloody fantastic and they have some really exciting new products for 2013 including Outdoor products and bath toys. They have a real presence in the market and vitally the product is trusted by parents and consumers meaning that Vtech drives people to retailers. As the mother of a 6-year-old myself I am also a consumer and I love the products; mind you the ‘hello puppy calling’ song on the First Steps Baby Walker will probably haunt me forever (if you want to know all the words just ask). There is a real buzz about the business and the team is strong, this is why I recruit for them and this is why you should consider them for the next step in your career… I have an advert running in the trade press at the moment and here it is. Just a word to the wise, contact me not the Vtech office; your application will be passed back to me anyway (just sayin).

Due to sustained growth domestically and internationally Vtech is now delighted to be looking to expand its established sales team by recruiting two additional people. Successful candidates will be highly computer literate, have excellent written and verbal communicators, be highly organised and have real passion for what they do. To get the most from Vtech’s dynamic culture you will have a proven track record of success with retail customers, excellent negotiation skills and be based within an hour of their UK head office in Oxfordshire.  Experience of the toy sector, though preferable is not a prerequisite for this role as the important part is a solid working relationship with the right account base

KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER this is an ideal opportunity for someone looking to develop their existing sales skills within a fast-moving environment. The successful candidate will have a proven track record and a commitment to driving business forward. The role involves working with an exciting portfolio of accounts to include online retailers and department stores within a supportive environment.

NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER This is a role for a highly experienced Account Manager. You will be working with a portfolio of high-profile retail customers at the highest level. You will be a highly motivated individual with the ability to be both a trading partner and a pragmatic business builder within a well established account base.

To find out more about these exciting opportunities please call Amanda Holder at Birchwood on 07796 697100; our retained consult for this project. To apply please email your up to date CV along with current package details to amanda@birchwoodrecruitment.com. Please note other recruiters are not invited to submit CV’s at this time and any third party application will be referred to Birchwood.

Part 2… Money Hungry Whores!

There are many reasons why I am seen by some as undiplomatic… I am honest, it saves everyone time. We know  recruiters are selective with the truth and selfish hence the label Money Hungry Whores.

I love recruiting. Love the process, the matching, the helping people, the fact that every vacancy is different. I am also deeply in love with my niche market sector… For those that don’t know I recruit within the Toy Sector and have been doing so for the last 14 years. Working in a small niche market is a double-edged sword; you get to know the people, but people get to know you too. I am not the only recruiter in the toy trade and I am normally glad that the sector has a choice but really? Think people, what you are telling to whom.

Important information about your career and/or you company is needed to find the best solution for your problem but everyone needs to be mindful that this information from you is gossip for some, and a way to ‘get in’ with clients.  Recently  I have received several complaints from candidates and clients about recruiters not being able to keep their bloody mouths shut about confidential information… and today I have had enough of it!!

The tales I am being told are appalling and those involved should be  ashamed of themselves – I am giving no specifics as this would make me no better than them, suffice to say that if I ever behave in the same manner I will shut the doors on Birchwood.

This is why employers fight against using recruiters… and who can blame them. Using information you have been trusted with in order to show off that you know people is poor practice – you can ruin a business or a range if you talk about things at the wrong time. Frankly it makes no difference which market you are in. A recruiter is put in a position of trust and we recruiters are in a very privileged position; please stop abusing this trust – or I will start naming and shaming on behalf of my clients and candidates and believe me THAT won’t be pretty!!!

Clients Bite Back!! This is the interesting (and fun) part, clients are testing you Mr and Mrs ‘Money Hungry Whore’ recruiter  – people are deliberately telling recruiters snippets of  ‘duff’  information so that they know who is spreading what around and its starting to get interesting out there, so if you are a recruiter in the Toy or associated sector and its suddenly becoming very quiet in your world you now know why!!!

So recruiters of the toy sector and indeed the whole world take a few minutes out of you KPI packed day think about this:

Clients put their trust in us. We ask lots of questions. We demand lots of information. We share that information with our candidates

So, if your candidate is a trade gossip then be selective about what you tell them. When a client instructs you ask the obvious – Can I mention this to candidates? Can I talk about all aspects of this job spec? How confidential is this assignment? You know what I thought all of this was both obvious and basic… oh dear, oh dear, now I see why I am seen as niave at times!!! Other recruiters… shame on you!!!!!!

Using a Recruiter?

It’s 930am Monday morning, its raining and the journey to work was more horrific than usual. You are on coffee number 3 and are wading through the emails deciding which ones you can delete without opening. A tap on the door “Have you got 2 minutes?”. You look up from your computer screen and see one of your members of staff looking slightly sheepish at the door, holding an envelope. Your first thought? “oh shit!!!! Not today!!!”, followed by “what do I do?”, “how do I deal with this?”, “How am I going to get my work (and theirs) done  now?”. This represents a difficult time for any hirer chiefly because you don’t do this often, you feel out of your depth, you do not have the information, you don’t have the experience, and you certainly don’t have the time.

I am a recruiter. Therefore I am biased into encouraging companies to choose to recruit via a recruiter. Why? Well its what I do for a living for a start, and because I have the information, the experience, the contacts and the time. I have been in recruitment for over 14 years and I know people. Its not about clients and companies, placements and candidates – it is about PEOPLE. I am not going to write in the same way as other recruiters I have read about and known; Im not going to tell you that I have seen it all and experienced everything because I know I haven’t – it’s the biggest threat for every recruiter to think that they know everything about people but I do have a great deal of experience to draw on.

I make this suggestion to any employer considering a recruiter… add another consideration to your buying criteria. Do you want this recruitment company to represent your business? To my mind its one of the fundamental questions employers should ask and so many don’t. Do you know the story that the potential candidates will be told about you and your business? Do you know who will be speaking to potential candidates about your business? ( it is not always the same person that you speak to). In a sense the employer has to recruit the recruiter; I feel passionately about what I do; I take time to get to know the business, the people within in the business and the dynamics of the organisation. Therefore it shocks me when candidates comment on the passion I have when I talk about my vacancies, “maybe you should apply” is quite popular. You know what as in my mind I already have and I have got the job!!

For an employer choosing a recruiter is easy, “Who is the cheapest?” Please think about it… Recruiters are selling for you, therefore we are working with you and on your behalf which means that you should not merely be looking at the cost. If your recruiter is not doing that then its time to find a new recruiter – after all if you needed solicitor you would not want to go with the cheapest; you are paying for their skill and experience.

Also well worth thinking about is that for me this is certainly a 2 way street; the employer needs to sell themselves and their business model to me. I am passionate about what I do and in the words of Paddy McGuinness “No Likey, No Lighty”. If I don’t like what I hear then I do not take on the vacancy; and you know what I am proud of that. I stand by my ethics and my principles; its all about the people and that is always at the front of my mind.

So give me a call and find out how we can work together: I work with all types of businesses on bespoke projects and really excel when working with boards to create the best possible sales and marketing teams. I work with individuals from all disciplines and at all levels who want to create their own career ladder; your career is your responsibility, my responsibility  is to make sure that you are talking to the right people at the right time.