Esther Vernon - Buyers Assistant

"The things I really enjoy about being a Buyer Assistant are:

Selecting garments for advertising, drawing up a layout and then seeing the finished product that you helped create!

Helping the Buyer decide what style, colour and print to use for a garment and then seeing it in store.

Seeing new fashion trends and products 6 months before they hit the stores.

The variety, no two days are the same!"

Rodney Thorne - Distribution Center Manager

"I enjoy working for Farmers. I find them an exciting company. I find them extremely innovative. In the five years I’ve been here it’s changed, changed hugely."

Vera Tukuleva - Quality Assurance Designer

"As a Designer, l consult with buyers about design features of garments such as styling and accessories. I also ensure garments are constructed to suit their fabrics and meet Farmers fit requirements. I’ll then brief the supplier on these changes so they can go into production".

Jane Mendez - Planner

"Planners and Buyers come together with very different, but complimentary skills. While a Buyer chooses products based on industry trends and customer preferences, planners help them achieve financial targets. Together we work as a team to meet customer and company expectations."

Johnathon O'Brien - Planner

"My role involves planning sales, gross margin and turnover goals by managing inventory and merchandise flow within strategic guidelines. I enjoy working with like minded and driven individuals that have a common goal of achieving at both a personal and professional level."

Karina Burgos - Buyers Assistant

"I’m constantly learning – the trends change from season to season, so I’m always challenged. What drives me is seeing the results of the products we select and when our customers love them."

Rob Taurima - Buyer - Toys

"My job as a buyer involves selecting desirable toy products that children and their parents want to buy from Farmers. I work within a buying team that also includes 2 merchandise planners and a buyer's assistant - together we source product, both locally and overseas which we believe will appeal to our toy-buying customers. We plan stock and promotions throughout the year to ensure that these customers are always presented with a competitive and compelling offer whenever they enter our stores. We also work to ensure that our stores are well presented and equipped to provide a fantastic toy...

Anita Walsh - Buyers Assistant

"A Buyers Assistant role involves a lot of checking - making sure everything's perfect for the buyer. We check off colours, prints and fabrics. We send products to the laboratory and check garment fits with quality assurance. We pull together the advertising and make sure everything's absolutely perfect there."

Michelle Reynolds - Buyer - Health and Beauty

"When I graduated from university I really wanted something that I could use my skills from university. Also, I always had a passion for cosmetics, so when a Buyers Assistant role came up in Health and Beauty I just jumped at the opportunity. From there I went onto a Trainee Planner role, and then a Planner role and now I'm a Buyer."

Michelle Janke - Buyer - Fashion

"Being a Buyer means finding the right products for Farmers. For me it's exceptionally exciting because I just love colour, I love styling. We get to travel the world selecting samples from unbelievable stores, world class stores, and bring them back to New Zealand. The challenge then is to interpret them for your market, ensuring we trend right and that we've got unbelievable silhouettes, colours and prints that will excite the customer."

Gillian Petzer - Visual Merchandising Manager

"Visual Merchandising essentially ensures that store presentations are outstanding and to international standards. Our job is to ensure that when customers walk into the store they immediately identify with the things that they've seen in their brochure and on TV, so they can shop easily. I’d say the most amazing thing is to see people's reactions and to actually be excited about the merchandise and to grab it off the rails, take it to the fitting room and ultimately purchase it. We have a lot of fun! There are many different aspects to the job - we're busy all the time, we get to work with...

Doug Rawson - Loss Prevention Manager

"I got into Loss Prevention by working on the stores cameras. I found I was quite good at reading body language, so I was catching quite a few people stealing. I found I enjoyed the role, so I stayed on and never looked back. You cannot put a description on a shoplifter; it could be someone as young as 9 years old, right through to 83 years old. You do get excited when you catch someone stealing, but you have to remain cool and calm at all times and be professional when you're dealing with these situations. You must protect yourself, the people around you and also the people that are shopli...

Bonnie Parker - Trainee Department Manager

"When I needed a new career challenge, I decided to look at all the aspects of my job as a beauty therapist that I love – customer service, product presentation and an exciting team environment. I wanted a new challenge, and working at Farmers has given me this, and challenges me every day and has from day one. Now I am training to be a manager and have been constantly surprised at the amount of support and education I am receiving from the team at Farmers. Best of all I get to combine all the things I love with the constant enjoyment of being challenged every day."

Tracy Gibb - Cosmetic Sales Manager

"I get great satisfaction seeing new people starting in the beauty industry. I have been in the beauty industry for 30 years, and love helping people with my experience and knowledge. Farmers is like a second family, and I look forward to coming to work every day. Every day's different. You never know what's going to happen, but all of it’s fun."

Andrew Hipkiss - Trainee Department Manager

"As a Trainee Manager you're given lots of support and mentoring from your Store Manager to start with, but that flows down to support from various subject matter experts. So, a Loss Prevention Manager will help you learn Loss Prevention, Store Receivers will help you learn all the dock area, and our sales people will give you lots of help learning about sales techniques. It really is a fantastic programme. You're taught everything you could possibly need to know to be a Store Manager or Department Manager."

Vanessa McBean - Retail Manager

"I enjoy a job that is very varied, and this is a very varied role. Not only do I spend time on the sales floor, I get involved with sales and marketing, financial analysis and Human Resources. So it’s that challenge of the variety that enjoy in Retail at Farmers."

Giorgia Abbatangelo - Retail Manager

"A Retail Manager takes care of a large part of the store. It is a very complex role and everyday is different but you come in, have fun with your people and go home satisfied with what you've done."

Brent Richards - Store Manager

"As a Farmers Store Manager I am responsible for delivering a world class shopping experience for our customers. I am charged with delivering sales and profit growth in my business unit that will contribute to the overall success of Farmers. I am driven to present an inspirational and world class retail store".

Claire Humphreys - Store Receiver

"A good Store Receiver should have excellent communication, computer and teamwork skills. I enjoy the challenges that vary from day to day which includes problem solving and investigative duties."

Stacey Millar - Support Services Person

"My role as a Support Services Person includes providing assistance to both staff and customers by phone, email and in person. I see to the daily paperwork from previous days that are essential for auditing and record maintenance purposes, as well as cash handling and banking. There are also lots of unique tasks and requests from management, team members and customers that challenge me on a regular basis."

Kerryn Steel - Regional Loss Manager

"I started with the company 10 years ago and I started off as a Loss Prevention Associate. It was something I was really good at and eventually I worked my way up to a Loss Prevention Manager and from there I slotted into the Regional Loss Prevention Manager role. It's a great company to work for because you can progress in the career that you want. There are a variety of careers at Farmers and you certainly can find which one you're best at and move forward."

Phillip Morley - National Loss Prevention Manager

"Loss Prevention is not only about minimising the company's exposure to loss of profits and damage to property. It's about creating a culture and environment in which all wastage is not tolerated."

Gillian Petzer - Visual Merchandising Manager

"Visual Merchandising essentially ensures that store presentations are outstanding and to international standards. Our job is to ensure that when customers walk into the store they immediately identify with the things that they've seen in their brochure and on TV, so they can shop easily. I'd say the most amazing thing is to see people's reactions and to actually be excited about the merchandise and to grab it off the rails, take it to the fitting room and ultimately purchase it. We have a lot of fun! There are many different aspects to the job - we're busy all the time, we get to work with...

Julie Shelly - Nursery Sales Consultant

"I enjoy my job. The best thing about it is when customers come back and show you their baby. They have a lot of respect for you because you've helped them through that first part of their parenting. They have a lot of confidence in us too, as they expect us to keep up with trends and safety aspects for the well being of their child."

Lucy Hoglund - Nursery Sales Consultant

"As a Nursery Consultant my favourite thing has always been seeing pregnant mums and helping them through their decisions - helping them pick exactly what they want, and then seeing them come back with their new baby"

Pat Siakimotu - Sales Consultant - manchester

"When customers go home with big smiles on their face and they know they got what they came for - that is the most enjoyable thing for me."

Ajit Grover - One-on-one Sales Person

"As a One-on-one Sales Person, I sell expensive products such as electronics, whiteware, beds and furniture. I help my customers make the right choice, giving them as much information and support as possible while they select the products they are interested in. I enjoy working for Farmers for many reasons, but I especially like the opportunity to interact with people coming from different parts of the world. Getting to know people from different cultures while working is pretty exciting."

Jill Hemer - One-on-one Sales Person

"We spend more time with the customer than we would in a normal sales role. It's important to find out exactly what they're wanting so we can recommend the product perfect for them, and so they leave feeling good about their choice."

Andrew Yates - Fashion Sales Consultant

"My favourite part is having repeat customers. Customers come back for my advice as they know they can trust me to give them honest feedback so they look great."

Phillipa Scarlett - Fashion Sales Consultant

"Being a Fashion Consultant is about getting to know people – their tastes and preferences, sharing ideas, and then seeing them walk out in an outfit they feel really good about."

Tracey Gibb - Cosmetic Sales Manager

"I get great satisfaction seeing new people startling in the beauty industry, I have been in the beauty industry for 30 years, and love helping people with my experience and knowledge. Farmers is like a second family, and I look forward to coming to work every day. Every day's different. You never know what's going to happen, but all of it's fun."

Kelly Moore - Counter Sales Manager

"I like that I'm able to be creative and help others feel confident with their makeup skills. It shows they trust me when they come back time and time again."

Robyn Wilson - Counter Sales Manager

"I've always had a passion for cosmetics, skin care and makeup, but what I love most about my role is helping women feel good about themselves, teaching them good skin care routines, and also teaching them makeup techniques they can take home with them."