We at ABFRL present stories excerpted from our internal newsletter ‘In Touch’, where we celebrate our people and their contributions.
Inspired by his father, Wilson Dass’s believes that only unstinted passion for the job enables success. It is no surprise that the star store manager of The Collective Denims has continued to receive accolades from his peers and to grow within ABFRL.
Can you describe your journey in ABFRL?
My journey in the organisation has been great so far because I have been getting the opportunity to learn and grow. I joined as an ‘Associate’ in 2014, After eight months of delivering consistent performances, I was promoted to the position of an ‘Advisor’. A year later, I became a PRM (Premium Relation Manager), where I started developing personal customers within a set region and kept them connected to the brand. In 2017, I cracked an internal job posting and became part of a Management Trainee Programme – Quest 4. After this I was posted at The Collective – Delhi, Vasant Kunj Store as a Team Manager and Coach. I also worked as an Assistant Store Manager at the same store for a brief period, until I was given the opportunity to head The Collective Denims, Chanakyapuri as a Store Manager. This is where I am currently working.
You have been a consistent high-performer. What is your recipe for success?
- Love your job. Only if you love your job can you perform it passionately.
- Take ownership for what you do.
- When you are stuck, try something different but never stop.
- Set goals and roll out action plans to achieve it.
- Take feedback positively, it helps you to improve.
- Never stop learning and developing
oneself.
Who is your role model and why?
My father, Eden Anthony Dass, has been my role model. He too has worked in the retail sector as a Production Manager in the Made-To-Measure business (formal wear). I grew up seeing his passion and dedication towards his job. Inspired by him, I wanted to uphold the same values at my work place. I believe my passion has enabled me to succeed.
What is the one thing that you love most about your job?
As a Store Manager, I love training and developing people from my team. I believe knowledge is power. Sharing knowledge with others is good as it can foster vision in others and strengthen professional ties.
I am also certified as a The Collective Experience Trainer. This position gives me the opportunity to train people on how to deliver best experiences to our customers. I really enjoy this ability to train colleagues who are new in the system.
According to you, how is ABFRL different from its peers?
ABFRL creates an employee-centric environment. They place sheer belief in their employees. True talent within this organization is recognized and employees are given an equal opportunity display their leadership skills
How do you strike a work-life balance?
The two things which help me strike a work-life balance are –
- Prioritization: Family time and work time — I try not to mix them.
- Time Management: Finishing tasks within a stipulated time helps me to avoid work backlogs.
BOX 1 – Get to know Wilson Better
Wilson Dass
Designation: Store Manager – The Collective Denims and a certified The Collective Experience Trainer
Joined on: 4 August, 2014
Birthday: February 23
Hometown: Kolkata
Alma Mater: St Xavier’s College, Kolkata
Favorite movie: Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar
Dream holiday destination: Goa
BOX 2 – My Three Greatest Achievements
- Highest contributor in terms of sales at the The Collective Kolkata Store FY14 and FY15
- Winner of The Greatest Game Ever Played 2 and 3 (a competition which takes place among The Collective Stores) in FY14 and FY15
- The Collective Denims registered an 78% growth in FY20
Quote from Regional Manager: Ajit Singh Bisht, Regional Manager – (North & East)
When I first met Wilson he was a fresher but his hunger for learning and excellence was quite evident even then. In the last five years he has grown to be a Store Manager after successful stints in different stores. He created one of the best turn-around stories in The Collective Denim store where the business grew threefold under his leadership. His focus on skill development and customer excellence are his biggest strengths which have helped in delivering such a performance.
