Creative Careers Week Q&A: Chris Hayes, Consultant

Tell us a bit about you.

I'm a creative business and marketing consultant with over 30 years industry experience. I've had a career path which started ‘on the shopfloor’ in retail management, gaining first hand exposure to the world of retail and why understanding the customer is key. This exposure provided a solid basis to move into product, marketing & brand development mostly within the highly creative greeting card and gift sectors. I worked with designers, suppliers & international manufacturers, to develop exciting product categories for many national and independent retailers. Over the past nine years working as a freelance creative and business development resource (under the ’IDo’ banner), I help clients and organisations improve products, services and operations. I am also involved within a local streetfood business BIGMELT which currently has me firmly embedded in the landscape of business challenges!

What made you want to do the job you currently do?

Having amazing exposure and opportunities within the corporate world for many years afforded me the knowledge, ability and contacts to make the transition to consulting. This in turn enabled a wider variety of projects, pursue new challenges, with a higher degree of personal autonomy.

How did you get started?

Initially on leaving school I secured an apprenticeship within a large multi-faceted retailer, who sponsored trainees to learn whilst they earn. This encouraged a blended experience of undertaking study from NVQ to degree level, alongside gaining practical work experience.

What did your early years in the role involve?

As a junior trainee the role was about exposure to many different areas of business with the largest and most diverse retailer in the area. Usually this involved 3-month internal working placements across a 24-month period. After this time, you were equipped for a junior management role. Never be afraid to take on different tasks & challenges as you never know what something will lead too or help you with at a later date!

What’s an average week look like for you now?

Very much a portfolio of careers. I have a group of long-term client and personal projects to keep the creative juices flowing, often in an advisory/steering creative capacity but sometimes involving direct support as a targeted resource. The street food business provides an opportunity to (normally) be out and about in the thick of a ‘real market’ where there is the chance to experience the direct correlation of skills and effort against success!

Tell us about the best thing that’s happened in your job.

There has been so many! Product wise, a memorable item was whilst working for BHS and chocolate body paint was first launched one Christmas. The press coverage and its novelty factor made it the most prolific must-have product anywhere that Christmas. It showed the importance of being first to market, being different and then maxing out that advantage with marketing and PR! Regarding people, it’s the energy, skill and passion that I have been fortunate to have been exposed to that has inspired most. This has been at many levels from senior management to colleagues and many others! Creativity often thrived when the culture of the organisation enabled its teams to ‘think and do’ what they think is best for the given situation. Fun also played a major part in the working day!

What’s the one thing you wish someone had told you as you embarked on your Creative Career?

Anyone can be creative; it often appears in many guises in many situations. The important thing is to ‘’just do it’’!

Connect with Chris Hayes on LinkedIn

www.bigmelt.co.uk