Meet Nora
"In my role as a buyer, I can make a difference in all stores across Europe."
Nora Oumoulid, Multimedia BuyerAbout Nora
At the age of 21, Nora Oumoulid was looking for a fun part-time job in retail to fill her gap year. She chose Action, where she quickly went from assistant store manager to store manager. But she didn't stop there. Now, more than 11 years later, she works as a buyer at Action's headquarters.
That sounds like a familiar story...
"Ha ha, our CEO is certainly someone I look up to! She started out as a store employee and is now the 'big boss'. Action is a company that's constantly growing, but at the same time invests in its employees so that they can grow and have opportunities to develop on a professional level. We have lots of good examples of that. What's quite common at Action is that everyone addresses each other informally and helps each other, no matter your role."
How did you become a Buyer?
"Working on the shop floor was extremely dynamic. There was always something going on, and through teamwork and discipline we got the best out of the store every day. It was great how we interacted – and interact – with each other, and the culture at headquarters is no different. We're always there for each other if things aren't going well or if someone needs help, and we certainly celebrate our successes. After six-and-a-half years in the store, I became a regional manager, but then I came across the Buying Traineeship at Action. I found that particularly interesting, because in my role as a buyer I can make a difference in all stores across Europe.
During the traineeship, I learned everything about buying in one-and-a-half years. The length of the traineeship is different for everyone. At Action, people are the starting point. What do you need, how's your development going and what do you feel comfortable with? After the traineeship, I started out as a Junior Buyer, and I got a promotion a few months ago."
"We're always there for each other and certainly celebrate our successes."
How does the work of a Junior Buyer differ from that of a Buyer?
"In my new role, I make more independent buying decisions, for higher amounts. But being independent doesn't mean I'm working alone. We do a lot as a team. Together we buy millions of products, and if I have doubts about something, I circulate a product around the buying department. We also sit around and try all our Easter eggs before deciding what to buy."
Are your working days still as dynamic as when you worked in the store?
"Fortunately, you can expect dynamism in almost every role at Action. As a buyer, I'm responsible for the multimedia products: a product group that's highly sensitive to trends where developments happen at high speed. As an example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, headphones and other home-working products flew off the shelves, but now it's the gaming products that are selling well. In a nutshell, as a buyer at Action, you look at trends in the market, people's needs, what your competitors are doing, and you then translate all that into a range that's attractive and affordable for everyone. And that's really fun."
What does your future at Action look like? And what advice would you give to someone who also wants to climb the career ladder?
"It's important for me now to be the best version of myself in my new position. Once I've achieved that, I'll think about the next step. Whether that's a Buying Manager or Head of Buying, who knows where the future will take me? I think it helps to be yourself in this process and stay true to your own standards and values. And your mindset is important, too; don't let yourself be guided by the thought that you can't do something. And if it doesn't work out, so what? After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained!"