Early Business Career
After walking away from Birmingham University where he was studying to become a dentist in the early 60's, Davies returned to Liverpool and applied to work for the retailers Littlewoods whose head office was based in the city. He also applied to work for Pilkington, the glass manufacturer, but Littlewoods responded first. He started off as a graduate trainee before ending up in stock control and then as a buyer (ankle socks). Davies cites His experience at Littlewoods as being the cornerstone of one of his fundamental beliefs of successful retailing - the importance of effective stock control and the need for understanding local buying patterns - commonly known in retail as Trading. He also credits Littlewoods as offering him "the most fantastic training" environment which was to strongly contribute to his successes in the future.
In 2007, he told The Times "During the Whitsun holidays in Manchester, children dressed up in white and took part in the Whit Walks. Sales of white ankle socks went up by 200 dozen in the area and I had only sent 10. The manager of the store was soon on the phone shouting about what some stupid person had done. I had to drive to the supplier in Leicestershire and deliver the socks myself. It saved my job. Without that I don’t think I would be here now. It taught me that in retailing every store is different.”
Read more about this topic: George Davies (retailer)
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