Unit 1 Part B: Work experience - employer's feedback

Unit 1 Part B

Work experience - employer's feedback

I ran a pop up shop for 5 weeks in a suburb of Manchester from 4^th March - 6^th April and knew that I would not be able to put in the hours required every day due to professional commitments. I considered asking one of the designers who were stocking the shop to help out but then realised that this would be the perfect opportunity for my daughter, Demitra, to gain some much needed work experience. As a home educated student she is missing out on the work experience opportunities offered in school. Demitra has helped me run stalls at craft fairs and street markets before so I knew that she would be able to do the job.

I found Demitra to be extremely efficient at her work. We took on different roles in the shop, no longer being mother and daughter, but now becoming employer and employee and this did not cause a problem. Demitra's creative ability means that she understands the processes involved in the various crafts stocked in the shop. She followed instructions immediately, volunteered her own ideas and suggestions about how to display items according to craft and colour schemes. She was punctual 100% of the time when arriving for work, was organised in making lists of enquiries from potential customers or crafters that had dropped into the shop and was completely reliable and trustworthy.

I feel that as an artist and actor Demitra learnt many new skills as well as a better understanding of how small businesses are run. She recognised immediately that being a sales assistant is all about performing or acting in a certain way and was able to adapt and alter her performance depending on whether she was dealing with an outgoing or a timid customer. I believe she learnt a lot about presentation as well as acquiring a greater understanding of what makes artists and crafters tick.