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Wilkinson

From just one community store in 1930 to more than 250 today, Wilkinson is a success story in anybody's book. Now employing more than 16,000 team members and with stores on high streets across England and Wales, Wilkinson is one of the great successes of high street retailing. Today's keenly competitive, customer-focused company may seem a world apart from the Wilkinson of 1930, but at the heart much is the same. Since founder JK Wilkinson opened the first Wilkinson store in Leicester, things have certainly moved on. However, Wilkinson is still family owned and just as committed to offering the same value, quality and friendly service as it was seven decades ago. The values, then as now, are to give exceptional standards of service and customer care at the lowest possible prices - a successful recipe that explains why they continue to grow at the rate of around 20 new stores a year. Today Wilkinson offers a huge range of over 25,000 major branded and 'Wilko' brand products for the home and garden ranging from DIY and kitchenware to gardening, home accessories, pet-care, household disposables and confectionery - and all under one roof on the high street.

Values...
At the heart of Wilkinson is a desire to provide the ultimate shopping experience for their customers and a rewarding place to work for their team members. Their Vision for the business is simple:
They are committed to providing their customers on the high street with quality products at everyday low prices and friendly service that exceeds expectations. They invest in team members, logistic and information technology to make this family business a great place to work and shop.

Quality...
Providing high quality products at a low price has always been the guiding principle at Wilkinson.

Their quality management systems ensure that they provide the best possible quality and they regularly review these systems to make sure that their customers are offered the very best in quality at the very lowest price possible every day of the week.

This commitment to quality is reflected in their own Wilko brand. Whenever you see the Wilko Brand quality seal, on a wide range of products, you can be sure of the highest quality - but at an outstanding value for money price.

The Ultimate Shopping Experience
Wherever people see that familiar name in their High Street they know just what to expect.
With its distinctive red and cream colours and neat, simple frontages Wilkinson have a strong identity that is instantly recognisable and consistently conveyed. More than 150 million paying customers pass through their tills each year in more than 200 stores across England and Wales. Wilkinson is one of the fastest growing independent high street retailers in the UK and has earned a reputation as a shopper's champion because of their consistently low prices on a huge range of everyday quality items for the home and garden. They pride themselves on always creating a friendly, helpful and highly competitive shopping environment that all the family can enjoy. These were the guiding principles adopted by JK Wilkinson when he founded the company in 1930 - and more than 70 years on they embrace those same principles as heartily today as he did then. They will continue to seek new opportunities to present extensive ranges of low priced, high value products in vibrant, attractive shopping locations.

It's a simple philosophy - perhaps that's why it is so successful.

As an employer of choice with an enviable reputation as a 'people company' Wilkinson was one of the first major high street retailers to win Investor in People (IIP) status and each year since 1998, they have successfully been re-appraised for this prestigious award. But despite their success, Wilkinson never stands still as they plan for the future.

By 2006 they aim to have:

• 300 stores - in England, Wales and into the Scottish central belt
• 25,000 team members
• Sales of £1.5 billion
  

Opening on average 20 new stores a year; they are looking for units of around 20-30,000 sq ft within designated town and city centre zones across the country particularly in the South West and South East of England and London boroughs.

STRUCTURE:

General Manager
Assistant Manager
Supervisor
Team Member

General Manager:

• The Store Manager is responsible for managing and controlling the overall operation of the store in line with company policies and procedures.
  
• To manage all targets and cost elements, achieve the necessary operating standards and customer service levels to secure required profitability.
  
• To ensure that the business strategy for exceeding customer expectations is consistently delivered.
  
  

Assistant Manager:

• To manage the day to day operation of the store operation, driving sales, standards and customer service.
  
• Accountable for delivering the training and development strategy for the store.
  
  

Supervisor:

• Accountable for delivering the operation of a section of the store operation.

To apply please email us or call 0871 750 1444 to discuss your aspirations with our dedicated Wilkinson team. Alternatively please register your details with us.
 

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