A mum of two has been appointed the manager of a flagship Boots store – a decade after she started as a Christmas temp.
Jo Stringfellow was thrilled to take over the reins at the company’s branch at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham and is looking forward to a busy trading period running up to Christmas.
Jo, from Broughton, in Flintshire, said: “I never would have believed I would end up managing a Boots store to be perfectly honest. I remember being just over-the-moon to get a Christmas job.
“However, I discovered how much I enjoyed the retail environment and Boots are such a fantastic company to work for that when I was given an opportunity to stay on after Christmas finished I jumped at the chance.
“I started out at our Broughton Park store and grabbed any chance I could to train in more areas from being a fragrance consultant to being pharmacy trained.
“I was promoted to team leader at Broughton Park before taking time off to have my two children. I then returned to work and eventually was made manager of our store at Plas Coch in Wrexham.
“And now I’ve taken over as manager of the Eagles Meadow store which I am really enjoying.”
Although her new role is a real challenge, Jo is really enjoying life in Eagles Meadow.
She said: “It’s really busy, particularly on the pharmacy side. We are able to give flu inoculations in store and since October we have administered more than 450 flu jabs, to both private and NHS patients.
“The pharmacy is itself a huge responsibility and I am privileged and delighted that Boots put the faith in me. I have a fantastic team and our customers are superb.
“It’s a lovely place to shop actually. The store is amazing and I’m going to be very happy here, hopefully for a long time to come.”
With up to 2,500 stores, Boots is the UK’s leading health and Beauty retailer.
As well as dispensing prescription drugs and other medications, it sells a host of health and beauty products, offers a photography service and even sells food.
Eagles Meadow manager Kevin Critchley has welcomed Jo’s appointment as store manager of the Boots outlet within the shopping centre.
He said: “Boots is a very popular stores and it always looks amazing. The staff are excellent and I am sure Jo will enjoy her time here as store manager.
“I have no doubt she will be successful and she couldn’t have started her new role at a better time as we expect this Christmas trading period to be busier than ever.”
