Kerry Wilkes
What is it like to work in AGA Retail?
Kerry Wilkes is a Sales Executive for AGA Retail based in Telford. She has been with AGA for just over a year. The company specializes in selling AGA cookers, cookware, Rayburn cookers, stoves, Rangemaster products, and textiles.
Kerry Wilkes
What is it like to work in AGA Retail?
Kerry Wilkes is a Sales Executive for AGA Retail based in Telford. She has been with AGA for just over a year. The company specializes in selling AGA cookers, cookware, Braeburn cookers, stoves, Rangemaster products, and textiles.
What made you join AGA?
My passion for AGAs started from when I was just a small child. My grandmother owned an oil-fired AGA and even at a very young age I loved the cooking that the AGA produced.
I enjoy working in retail. I come from a very long sales background – mainly kitchens and bathrooms and working at AGA was always something I wanted to do so you can imagine – I was so pleased when I was offered the opportunity to work here.
How does working at AGA differ from other roles that you have had?
I think, personally, I find working in AGA is a relaxed atmosphere. It can be chaotic at times, especially during busy periods but again, that’s a bonus, we like to be busy. Everyone who works for the company is friendly. There are always people available to help out if needed. It is more of a family sort of set up than a workplace which creates a pleasant environment to work in.
What’s the best thing about working for AGA?
For me, I enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, it’s not like coming to work… it’s like a hobby you get to do. The biggest joy for me is seeing a happy customer. Especially people who have never owned an AGA and are unfamiliar with AGAs. To nurture potential customers through the beginning process through to the sale, the delivery and aftercare service it very rewarding. That’s probably my favourite part of my job.
What was onboarding like?
On the first day it was a very relaxed atmosphere. We had coffee, tea, biscuits, got a tour of the factory. Met some of the production team as well as the people in the Cookshop department so that we can familiarise ourselves with the people we would be dealing with on a daily basis. We were shown all of the systems that we use such as excel, word and horizon – which is our ordering system. We were then shown how to operate the till and then were introduced slowly to the training modules that we would be doing over the next three months as a new starter. I found it a very comfortable experience.
Right from the start, everyone was very friendly, and the support continues to be absolutely phenomenal from the colleagues, team leaders, management even to director level. There is always someone available to ask for advice if you are stuck.
There is a lot to learn about the different products available but it is a comfortable environment to learn and the training is done in certain ways so that it is easy to absorb the information. You get hands-on experience with how to cook using the AGA cookers so that you can direct your customers on the ins and outs of how an AGA works.
The most interesting thing I have cooked on an AGA is a beef stroganoff – it turned out delicious!
What is it like working in AGA retail? Do you feel pressure to hit targets?
At AGA we are more customer orientated. Its not a hard sell. I don’t feel any pressure to hit targets. The customer experience is what is important, that naturally results in sales.
