GDM Retail Project Manager, Jessica Bamford Short has been recognised for her contribution to the New Zealand retail design and interiors industry, receiving a RED Star Merit Award at the 2022 RED (Retail Excellence Design) Awards, held in Auckland.
The RED Awards, run annually by the Retail Interiors Association, exist to promote excellence in retail design and to recognise the contribution of designers, shopfitters and suppliers to the retail industry. under the age of 30 years.
Sandra Eden of GDM was not surprised that Jessica was successful in receiving an award.
“Jessica works in a high-pressure environment where things change all the time,” says Sandra.
“She is really organised, unflappable and essentially just gets on with the job.”
“We didn’t hesitate to put Jessica forward for this award, she is completely deserving, an absolute delight to have in the office, and thoroughly dependable and practical.”
Jessica, who is only 21, was not long out of school when she joined GDM in 2020 as a Logistics Coordinator, looking for new experiences and employment opportunities. Over a short period of time, she has successfully moved up the ranks, recently taking on the role of Project Manager and looking after projects for some of GDM’s largest clients.
Jessica’s role involves her dealing with clients daily, keeping them updated on projects in relation to projected timelines, working with production and reporting back to sales and accounts managers.
“Working with my customers would have to be the highlight of my job,” says Jessica.
“We have some really cool customers who are genuinely easy to get along with and build a rapport with.”
Some of those relationship building skills can be credited to Jessica as well. She has a relaxed, friendly demeanour, instantly putting any customer at ease. Plus, Jessica has fantastic product knowledge thanks to spending her early days at GDM working in the logistics team – something her customers are hugely respectful of.
Jessica’s relaxed friendly style not only aids in building relationships with her customers, but also her colleagues as they are willing to help her out on a regular basis. She has an uncanny knack of getting people onside whenever required!
Jessica also enjoys seeing completed projects come to fruition, and she has certainly worked on some good ones.
The standout so far for Jessica has been Torpedo7’s Petone store.
“It was a whole new store, and the project went really well,” says Jessica
“Production was smooth, delivery was on time and of course the store looks fantastic.”
Jessica has also project managed all The Warehouse stores development through the Covid challenges over the course of this year, from concept to installation, along with Honda Outdoors’ new concept store based in Whanganui
“The Honda Outdoors store is pretty exciting as it’s a store-in-store experience with some really innovative elements.”
With the support of GDM, Jessica is also studying for a Business degree in Accounting and Finance at Massey University and recently achieved her Certificate in Lean Manufacturing.
In the short term, she is aiming to expand her knowledge and experiences at GDM.