Hi, I'm Nicole and I work for Van Cleef & Arpels as a Boutique Manager in Singapore.
How it all began
I started my first job on the retail floor and since then I have been passionate about retail, our people, and our clients. These past 5 years with Van Cleef & Arpels, I have had the opportunity to explore a wide range of retail topics from operations to performance to store openings, visual merchandising and most recently CRM.
The discussion to switch to a boutique role at some point in my career has been an ongoing conversation with my manager, so it was not a decision that happened overnight. It seemed like a natural evolution to bring together all I’ve learnt and understand
first-hand how they impact our clients and teams.
Making it happen
It was refreshing to look at the boutique through different lenses and think about what I would do if I were managing the team and business.
I think I bring with me a familiarity of the team, a good understanding of the retail environment in Singapore, and the strategic ambition to create the client experience of tomorrow. I would also like to think that it is because I am not afraid to challenge the norm!
My journey with the Group
I joined the group November 2014 as Retail Executive for Van Cleef & Arpels, South East Asia. At that time, we had only a handful of boutiques in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and a very small office team! This meant I was able to be exposed to many different retail topics, including creating the CRM strategy for a Patrimonial Exhibition in Singapore in 2016.
As the team expanded, I chose to focus on developing my expertise in CRM, managing a portfolio consisting of four very different cultures and client profiles across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia. The pace and complexity of working with such diverse teams and the ambition to elevate CRM in the region meant I was learning something new all the time. My time in CRM was intense and demanding but extremely satisfying!
The chance of a lifetime
The Group offered me the awesome opportunity to do a “Live My Life” with our Northern & Southern Europe team as Retail Operations Manager. This has been a dream come true both personally and professionally. With this move, I have been able to develop a greater understanding of our business and challenges in a different market.
The Richemont Way
I have been most impressed by the care that I have experienced during my time here. I still remember being very surprised during my first months by how warmly I was welcomed by not only my team, but also our colleagues in Regional and HQ at every level. I have seen many times care being a guiding principle when making key decisions within the team.
What drives me forward
To me, success is when I am able to use my voice to speak for those who cannot, and to create a positive difference in someone’s life. I strive for humility and confidence in my everyday interactions with myself and others. Humility is the openness to embrace new ideas and thoughts, to be curious and to discover. It's a shared attitude at Richemont.
Words that guide me
"Kind heart, fierce mind, brave spirit." This is my favorite quote. It is a reminder to have the courage to speak the truth and to stand up for things you care about, the resilience when things get tough and to always be kind!