Did you know we have five stores up and down the country? Today we visited our Outdoor and Country team in Trentham Shopping Village so you can get to know them a little better…
Outdoor and Country Trentham
So firstly, introduce yourself…
Hi! I’m Kate, and I’m the Store Manager of Outdoor and Country here in the gorgeous Trentham Shopping Village. I was born in Australia but have lived in the UK for most of my life. Most of the time you’ll find me in the Outdoor and Country store having a chat to our customers or getting ready for a delivery with our store Supervisor, Tom.
How long have you been working for Outdoor and Country?
I’ve actually been working for Outdoor and Country for four years, starting as a part-time sales advisor in 2012, I was then promoted to Assistant Manager of our Blackbrook Barbour Partner Store before we opened our store here in the beautiful Trentham Gardens where I became the Manager in 2014. Since we opened here, our store has made countless friends with not only the surrounding shops, but the many regular visitors!
Who else might we find in your store?
Tom and I are really lucky that we have a great team behind us in the form of keen guitarist Liam, Amy- who is a student alongside her work in our store, and dog lover Lauren. My team are also extremely important to me, and our relationship as a group is strong not only inside but also outside of work.
What’s your favourite thing about working in our Trentham Store?
It’s a little bit like saying good morning to the milk man around here. Most of the stores in the Trentham Shopping Village are aware of who works where and so the atmosphere is extremely friendly and sociable; it’s so great to be able to work amongst such pleasant people. Myself and the team strive to create a relaxed and amicable atmosphere in store by simply being true to who we are, and so this is why we believe we are respected by our customers. And, let’s face it…not many people can say they work in a log cabin!
Where can we find your store?
Our store is located on the Trentham Estate within the shopping village. If you are facing away from the garden centre, then Outdoor and Country is the 5th cabin down on the right hand side. We have a large grey sign and our window always looks beautiful- so you won’t miss us!
What’s your best seller in the store?
Definitely the Joules Wensley scarf! Joules have got it spot on with plenty of variations to choose from, and it’s purse friendly too. The bright colours and bold patterns are able to brighten up any wardrobe and are often brought to give as the perfect gift for someone special.
Do you have a favourite item in store?
Wellingtons are worn all year round no matter the weather. Our Aigle Parcours 2 Iso is a unisex wellington that is constructed like a walking boot. They are fantastic for everyday use because of their sturdy sole and cosy neoprene lining. It’s simply stylish yet practical, we love it!
Do you have any answers to frequently asked questions?
“Can we order items into store?” – Absolutely! Any item that is available online can be ordered into store within a short space of time.
“Can I leave my items here while I look around Trentham Gardens?” – We know there’s more to the gorgeous Trentham Estate than just shopping, so whether our customers are heading into the Italian Gardens, walking around the Lake, taking on Ariel Extreme or visiting the Monkey Forest- we will happily hold onto their goods until they have explored everywhere! All we ask is that they hold onto their receipt to show a member of our team when they pop back.
“Can you go wrong with re-waxing a jacket yourself?” – No, not really. The wax is transparent, so you don’t have to worry about colour coverage, and all you need to do is work the wax in using circular motions and it will spread with you, remembering the warmer it is, the easier it is to manoeuvre. We’re always stocked up on tins of wax if you want to give it a go!
Who makes the best tea in the store?
Lauren seems to be our tea lady here…and we have over 1,000 bags for here to get through, so she better start brewing up now! But in the morning, Tom is the master of coffee- with a little coffee creamer if we’re treating ourselves (which is most days…shhh!)