Fitter/ Alterations - Fashion Workroom (Sewing Machine experience required)

Job Introduction

Selfridges has always been much more than a shop. We’re a social space where everyone is welcome and feels a sense of belonging, a creative playground where culture and commerce collide, and an experimental hub where you can discover the most innovative and sustainable ideas in retail. We’re here to help make the world brighter. And you can be an important part of this. We’ll talk more about the role below, but before we get to that, let’s share with you the good stuff…  

Rewards and benefits 

Life at Selfridges is dynamic, exciting, and always evolving. As well as working with some of the most cutting-edge, iconic and boundary-pushing brands, designers and creatives, we also offer our team members opportunities to help make a positive difference through our network of communities, both within and outside Selfridges. Here are just a few of our rewards and benefits that help make our team experience that bit more extraordinary. 

• Flexible working options to benefit you, your family and your wellbeing that can include part-time, flexi-time, job sharing or hybrid working

• Generous annual leave that increases with length of service 

• Up to five paid volunteering days – from beach cleans to co-ordinating food and clothing donations 

• Family leave that suits your set up including Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Surrogacy and Shared Parental leave policies 

• Defined pension contribution scheme  

• Generous bonus and/or commission scheme  

• Enviable team member discount including sale previews and double discount days 

• Exclusive local discounts on a range of restaurants, bars, beauticians and entertainment 

• Subsidised gym memberships  

• Annual travel pass and cycle-to-work schemes  

• A sustainable car salary sacrifice scheme 

• Several internal communities to get involved in from our Diversity Board and Green Warriors who are leading the charge on D,E&I and sustainability, to the Wellbeings who are always thinking of new ways to champion healthy minds, bodies and routines for our team members 

• Workplace Options, our confidential team member assistance programme for when life gets tricky or you need a little guidance 

• Access to a wide range of training programmes to help your career development 

Read on to find out how you can play your part in Reinventing Retail… 

Role Responsibility

In this customer facing role, you will build great customer relationships by offering the best possible advice on the alterations of their chosen garment. Furthermore, as an expert in your field, you will use your expertise in garment construction and fabrics to naturally identify customers’ needs and alteration possibilities, further detailing cost and services available.

As a Fitter you will:

People

• Work as part of a team, focused on creating a memorable customer experience and ensuring that communication is open and clear
• Contribute to team targets and goals; attending all team briefings to understand the team’s goals, targets and promotions  
• Live by the Selfridges values

Product

• Use your natural curiosity to proactively develop excellent product knowledge
• Carry out accurate fittings, by taking note of garment construction and fabric type and being aware of any alteration limitations these may cause
• Clearly document alteration instructions, detailing the price of the alteration and the collection date
• Be inspired by the brands, and keep knowledge of services / prices etc up to date to ensure good customer service

Customer Service

• Deliver exceptional service to our customers by approaching, greeting and building a rapport
• Create express alterations to a high standard
• Direct customers and advise on other department services where appropriate
• Manage customer feedback, handle customer complaints effectively whilst knowing when to refer them to a manager if necessary

Environment

• Take pride in ensuring standards are adhered to everyday, keeping all workstations clean and tidy
• Work as part of a team to open and close the workroom correctly, ensuring machinery is maintained and stock areas are kept clean and tidy and highlighting when machinery maintenance is required
• Understand and follow health, safety and security procedures

Profit

• Work to deliver a good productivity rate which is in line with the rest of the team and within company expectations
• Assist in the development of the alteration service to ensure it is utilising leading-edge processes to maintain service levels and expectations of the brand 
• Communicate openly with customers throughout the fitting process; giving them a clear understanding of the work that will be undertaken, to avoid potential refunds

The Ideal Candidate

• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills, you will be able to positively engage with all types of customers (domestic and international) with varying needs and requirements
• Possess strong technical sewing skills
• Be team orientated
• Be resilient and adaptable, you will take your time to solve problems but also able to thrive at pace within a fast-paced environment, to a high standard

This guide represents a summary of the role, however all team members are expected to be flexible in the work they undertake, which may change from time to time, according to the needs of the business. This role works within a fully flexible rota including weekend working and occasional late nights, depending on the needs of the business.

About the Company

Everyone is welcome 

Selfridges is a place where we want everyone to feel a sense of belonging. We embrace every self and are committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive working culture. We are leading with purpose to not only increase the visibility and recognition of under-represented talent within our organisation, but the wider industry too. Here at Selfridges, everyone is welcome – irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age or disability, we stand by equal opportunities for all.   

Our awards cabinet  

We’re not ones to brag, but since you asked...Selfridges has won the award for The World’s Best Department Store an unprecedented four times at the IGDS awards, with an additional award for the Best Sustainability Campaign. We were also recognised as a ‘Best 25 Big Company to Work For 2020’ as awarded by The Sunday Times. 

Selfridges