Far Horizons

Q: Describe the career paths available for employees looking to work internationally within your group.

We reward our employees by expanding their job scope, knowledge and by offering them steady promotions as well as we provide exceptional talent with unconventional career advancements.

Q: What are the main benefits to employees who work internationally within your group?

We provide our international staff with competitive salaries and benefits from accommodation, international training and travel. Apart from financial benefits we provide exposure to a constantly changing Sri Lankan retail market and expansion to local and overseas markets.

Q: Please describe a specific example of a colleague who has progressed their career internationally within your group.

At present Odel has yet to open branches internationally, but we have provided many of our international staff with the opportunity to climb the career ladder. For example one of our international staff members joined us from the UK as a buyer and progressed to senior buyer and now works as a divisional merchandise manager who handles our ladieswear and women's accessory ranges.

Q: Please describe the ways in which your business helps its employees acclimatise to the new working/living culture and settle in to a new way of retailing.

We truly believe in making sure our international staff is comfortable in their new working environment. We start this process by providing very comfortable accommodation and travel facilities as soon as they arrive in Colombo. Once staff start work, we provide them with a comprehensive orientation program that ensures that they are aware of Sri Lanka's as well as the organization's culture. Apart from this our CEO and founder Ms Otara Gunewardene will provide one on one mentoring to all our international staff.

Q: What qualities do you most look for in potential employees to work abroad?

We look for staff who are able to work with a diverse team of individuals and staff that exhibit a work style that is assertive and initiative driven, with the self-confidence and ability to represent Odel in a professional manner.

Q: How would you characterise the working culture at your business?

Odel believes in an open work environment, in which employee are free to discuss their concerns with the management, which in turn we believe promotes loyalty, trust and assists in progressive change.

Q: What do you think qualifies your business as an employer of choice?

We are the only retail department store in Sri Lanka that provides our international staff with retail exposure that is a mixture of Sri Lankan as well as international. This is mainly due to the fact that our range of products caters for both the local as well as international markets.

Q: If you had to characterise your company’s plans for 2012 in a single word, what would it be?

"Inspire".

Q: What’s the most exciting initiative currently taking place / set to be launched within your business?

There are several exciting initiatives from new products, to new store concepts, to in-store customer experience activities that are currently in work-in -progress.

Q: Describe the career paths available for employees looking to work internationally within your group.

Magnolia is a forward-thinking and thriving international business with locations around the world. Each country works as one united group forming strong working relationships between their leaders.

We welcome any recommendations that they may present for employees that wish to develop their career within the company in another country.

Q: What are the main benefits to employees who work internationally within your group?

Having the opportunity to continue to develop themselves in a happy and rewarding environment that shares the same vision and has the same values.

Q: Please describe a specific example of a colleague who has progressed their career internationally within your group.

We have many examples! A sales assistant that worked in the UK and then relocated to work in Portugal and then Israel; kiosk and area managers who have moved between countries and sales trainers who get the opportunity to travel and train teams in every country.

Q: Please describe the ways in which your business helps its employees acclimatise to the new working/living culture and settle in to a new way of retailing.

We fully support our employees each step of the way.

We assist our employees with their relocation and acclimatisation in their new role and environment and provide them with support to ensure that they feel at home by making them feel part of the team from day one. We provide them with assistance when organising their living and travel arrangements to ensure a smooth transition into the country and to their new role.

Q: What qualities do you most look for in potential employees to work abroad?

A strong work ethic, a high achiever, committed, loyal, strong sales skills, a flexible and can-do attitude.

Q: How would you characterise the working culture at your business?

The working culture at Magnolia is almost family-like, staff genuinely help and support each other, which is something we strive to promote. We are currently in 28 shopping centres up and down the country so it is difficult at times for staff to build relationships outside of their own kiosks.

However, as a result of our staff seminars where supervisors and kiosk managers from each of our kiosks up and down the country get to attend, has helped create an internal network for our teams to share and communicate ideas and experiences.

Q: What do you think qualifies your business as an employer of choice?

We pride ourselves on our diverse workforce, we offer our employees training throughout their careers, we believe in promoting from within and have had an excellent success rate with our internal staff promotions.

Staff are valued, rewarded and given excellent opportunities to progress within our organisation.

We offer a number of staff benefits such as staff discounts, discounted private healthcare, annual salary increases, competitive performance-related bonus schemes, childcare voucher schemes, competitions and incentives just to name a few!

Q: If you had to characterise your company’s plans for 2012 in a single word, what would it be?

To thrive.

Q: What’s the most exciting initiative currently taking place/set to be launched within your business?

Following a successful revamp as well as a new sales strategy and staff training last year for the UK, Magnolia Group has taken a decision to roll this out worldwide.

Sharing our process with our oversees partners will mean that our staff across the globe will be trained in line with the one strategy and our processes worldwide will be streamlined and consistent.

Plans are already underway. Heads of each country came together at a recent seminar and were introduced to the strategy, shared ideas and started to map out its implementation for Magnolia Canada, Australia, Portugal and Israel...Very exciting times ahead, watch this space!

Q: Describe the career paths available for employees looking to work internationally within your group.

L'Occitane offers many opportunities for international career development, giving associates the option to either progress in their particular area of specialism or to continue their personal development by transferring their skills into other disciplines. Opportunities exist across all business areas including retail, marketing & PR, HR, finance & stock.

Our current marketing director is a case in point: not only has she worked in Paris, New York and London she has also risen quickly through the ranks - reaching the position of director in just four quick years!

Q: What are the main benefits to employees who work internationally within your group?

Associates working internationally not only gain experience through exposure to new cultures and ways of working but also benefit from an extended network of business contacts, the confidence that comes from having 'relocated' somewhere new whilst having the reassurance that comes from knowing that whilst their surroundings may be new, they remain safely within the L'Occitane family!

Q: What qualities do you most look for in potential employees to work abroad?

We look for passionate, hardworking and talented associates who are able to adapt to different environments. The ability to speak another language also helps but isn't the main criteria.

Q: How would you characterise the working culture at your business?

L'Occitane is a company of two parts: It has the warmth, friendliness and support that comes from belonging to a 'family' as well as the excitement and buzz that comes from being part of a dynamic, developing and growing success story.

Our people love and are proud of L'Occitane and our premium fragrances, skin and bodycare products. It's the emotional attachment to our brand and its values of Respect, Authenticity, Sensoriality and Continuous Improvement that really makes all the difference.

Q: What do you think qualifies your business as an employer of choice?

Our people are super important to us and at the heart of everything we do. Only last year we were recognised as a first class company to work for by Best Companies - an accreditation which acknowledges excellence in the workplace.

We have a great rewards package, but as importantly focus on recognition with a generous bonus scheme, twice yearly achievement awards, and even the opportunity to win week long trips to Provence!

Q: If you had to characterise your company’s plans for 2012 in a single word, what would it be?

Continued growth! L'Occitane is a particularly exciting company to work for: we have doubled our business in the last three years and are consistently exceeding our ambitious growth plans.

Q: What’s the most exciting initiative currently taking place/set to be launched within your business?

We are currently planning large format flagships which will enable us to really showcase our great products and wonderful L'Occitane customer services.