It’s the turn of Janet Monks, Director of Shoppertainment, to take us through a week her working life. To suggest another senior media or creative figure for A Week In My Life, please email david@prolificnorth.co.uk.
Monday 27th August:
First thought: Why didn’t the alarm go off? I’m late for work! (Then realise it’s a Bank Holiday)
I spend most the day getting ready for the week ahead, as it’s not going to be a typical week for myself and the Shoppertainment team!
Final thought (as I’m falling asleep): I need to find my waterproof trousers…
Tuesday 28th:
First thought: Green Tea and Biscuits
First day of the week following a Bank Holiday is always a busy one, to make sure I’m mentally prepared I get up at about 6am to make my way into the City Centre – grab a green tea (and a couple of biscuits), do my emails and have a quick walk around Manchester City Centre. Manchester Library and the Town Hall building are always so impressive at any time of the day, but it’s nice to take a walk around when it’s a little quieter and take it all in.
We begin the week with our usual sales meeting. Shoppertainment works in the commercial property industry managing commercialisation and marketing for landlords and asset managers. Our commercialisation team manage space at shopping centres and retail spaces throughout the country with a view to generating revenue for landlords and adding value to the asset in general. The team are on a roll this morning with some great ideas and they’re incentivised and ready to go!
I then have a catch up with the PR team, reviewing the developments we are working on – which includes a great new mixed-use resi led scheme in Trafford. The team are also working on a mixed-use retail led scheme in Southampton, where we’re organising some fantastic community focussed projects and a retail agents trip to the Southampton Boat Show. We also have some final things to tie up regarding a huge conference (Revo – the main industry body) we are exhibiting at in a few weeks in Manchester that we attend every year.
Myself and MD, Clare Andrew, then catch up and prep for the week ahead – over more tea and biscuits!
The team and I are going to be spending a lot of time together over the next few days, as we pack up our cars and head in the direction of Snowdonia National Park in Wales. We are about to take part in our annual charity trek to raise money for Parkinson’s UK and Hope House Children’s Charity. This is the third time we’ve organised a trek and have raised over £8000 for various charities.
Final thought: I need to give up biscuits…
Wednesday 29th:
Some of our clients join us on our trek each year and over breakfast we discuss the best route to the top of Cader Idris.
With a mix of landlords, managing agents and shopping centre managers – it really gives us a chance to catch up and see each other outside of the work environment and sometimes in the toughest situations. We reminisce about our Snowdon climb – when we couldn’t see a thing in front of us, got soaked, fell a few times – but still managed to have a lot of fun.
A trek like this is really a great opportunity for us to spend time together as a team with our clients.
As cliché as it sounds, the views on the walk up are breathtaking and we got talking to an 84 year old who does walks like this on a regular basis (if that isn’t motivation for us I don’t know what is!) We were also treated to a show from some RAF fighter jets that were flying through the valley. It was strange watching them from the same height that they were flying.
Cader Idris has a legend that anyone who sleeps on the mountains slopes will supposedly wake up either a madman or a poet, so we better hurry back down.
Last thought of the day: I definitely deserved that glass of wine.
Thursday 30th:
First thought: Oh god…everywhere is aching!
A conference call to the office takes place first thing in the morning, following breakfast with our clients. Some of the team are staying in Wales with the clients to do some white water rafting, but I’m heading back to Manchester.
When I’m back in the office I have a catch up with our in-house design team who are currently creating a new brand for a scheme in the South East. The team have come up with some clever ideas that all tie in nicely to the history of the area.
These meetings are one of the highlights of my week as I’ve worked with this team for many years and it’s just generally great fun to see how they all come up with their completely different ideas from the same brief.
Thursday ends with a catch up with the commercialisation team to see how they are all doing towards their weekly targets. We’re working with some new brands in the run up to Christmas including Nintendo.
I end the day with yoga – to stretch out those aching limbs.
Last thought: Sleep.
Friday 31st:
First thought: What day is it…?
Early start again, but this time for a trip to London to meet with some key clients with Katie our Associate Marketing Director. Our first meeting involves discussing our marketing and social media strategy for a centre in Slough.
I try and get to as many of these meetings as possible which can cover anything from events we have coming up to complete rebranding of centres or ideas for CSR campaigns.
I love London, it’s just got such a different vibe to up north but today we’re getting an early train back to Manchester and we catch up over a glass of well-deserved wine!
Last thought: I need to repack!
Saturday 1st September:
I’m heading to Dublin to see my family and friends for the weekend; it’s a quick flight away and will give me a chance to completely chill out before another crazy, busy, fun week at Shoppertainment.
