BRANXTON is home to one of the country’s best young retailers.
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It all started with work experience in year ten at high school and from there it blossomed into a wonderful career which next month could result in Liam Collier (pictured) being crowned the national Home Timber & Hardware Group Best Young Retailer of the Year.
The 23-year-old Liam is the store manager of Branxton Hardware where he runs the business for owners the Lavis family who also own the Scone and Muswellbrook Timber and Hardware outlets.
Liam has been working in the store for five years and was offered a position there after impressing the Lavis’s during his stint there for work experience.
“You could see his potential at that stage and when a casual position become available a couple of years later the first person we thought of was Liam,” said Dawn Lavis.
“He is simply amazing his dedication and commitment to every facet of the business – he is really part of our family these days.”
Now he is a finalist in the Home Timber & Hardware Group Best Young Retailer Award which recognises and celebrates the high calibre of young people employed by Home Timber & Hardware, Thrifty-Link Hardware and Plants Plus Garden Centres across Australia.
The annual award offers an employee under 30 from the Home Timber & Hardware Group the chance to win a $5,000 education grant to help them develop new skills and continue their career progression.
To enter, Liam submitted a short video demonstrating how he has implemented positive change in his store through local area marketing and store merchandising.
Liam said he was excited to be a finalist and one step closer to claiming the education grant.
Liam oversees five other staff members with the entire team keen to give sound advice, share a joke and enjoy a prank or two.
The store‘s main retail section is located in a lovely old stone premises and the banter and conservations with the customers does remind the visitor like the building of a bygone age of retailing when retailer and customer were always on first name basis.
“We know that 90 per cent of our customers come from within 10km of the store so yes we usually know then and if we don’t we soon get to know them, “ said Liam with a smile.
“Although business is down 5-10 per cent since the Hunter Expressway opened we are encouraged by the fact that those who come in say how easier it is to get a park and actually shop in Branxton these days.
“I believe that’s a really good point and we can build on that.”
Since starting in the business Liam has completed dual diplomas I business and management which he said had been a great help to him.
Before working at the store he worked casually for a builder which gave him a strong background knowledge on all thins hardware.
“But what I really love about this job is being paid to talk.”
There is no doubt about his enthusiasm for the job and in 2012 he was named the NSW Hardware Association Young Retailer of the Year.
That award pitted Liam against all the hardware chains and franchises in the state.
“I love retail and winning the Best Young Retailer award will give me the opportunity to learn more about the industry and equip me with invaluable skills for my career,” said Liam.
The Home Timber & Hardware Group Best Young Retailer winner will be announced on Wednesday, May 7 at the 2014 Home Timber & Hardware Trade Conference to be held in Cairns.