journey stories

I joined Freedom in 1993 as the Sales Manager for the Bankstown store. My goal was to be a Store Manager within eighteen months. It was three days prior to being with Freedom for eighteen months that I received a phone call with the news that Freedom would like me to manage the Miranda store. I was at the Miranda store for about ten months when I was offered the position of Store Manager at the Turramurra store. This is where my life changed. Not only was I about to manage a bigger store but I was about to meet my “Soul Mate”, another Freedom Store Manager, who is now my wife. I spent two years at the Turramurra store, which were the best 2 years of my working and personal life. In August 1997 my family and I moved to Western Australia where I took the reigns at the Cannington tore with my wife moving into the Osborne Park store. I remained at the helm of Cannington for three years until I was given the opportunity to open the Joondalup Store. I have been at the Joondalup store for almost three years now and I love it!

Working with professional and fun loving people that make my job easier.

Managing the Turramurra Store and opening the Joondalup Store.

I'm really passionate about winning. Not just for me but for my team. I am also passionate about upholding Freedom's image. Freedom is in a class of its own and I am happy to be a part of it.

Freedom is a forward thinking company. They care about their people. They are extremely professional with a personal touch. There are always opportunities to advance within the company. Oh and I like to go to the conferences!

I would like to remain in Store Management as I like to have contact with as many different people as possible. I would like to move to a higher volume store and eventually end up in Queensland.

My journey is special because of the opportunities that have come my way, my career has gone forward since day one and my personal life has been bliss, I think in part, due to my happiness in my job. Working for a company for ten years says a lot about that company and I expect that this will not change. I hope that my contribution to Freedom will be as helpful as Freedoms' has been to me.

I started working for Freedom in 1996 as a Salesperson. After four months I moved up to Furniture Sales Manager and after another four months to the Support Centre in Auckland to manage Special Projects, Communications and Marketing. In 1998 I was offered the position of Store Manager of the Wairau Park store. In 2002, I was promoted to Senior Store Manager for New Zealand. In addition to Wairau Park, in 2001 I also managed the Manakau store for six months and supported the new Store Manager of our Hamilton store. Having spent nearly eight and a half years in ‘storeland', in October 2003 I was promoted to Retail Operations Support Manager based at the Auckland Support Centre. In addition to this role, in May 2004 I was appointed the Retail Operations Manager for our recent acquisition - Freedom at Levenes.

The fantastic people that have made Freedom the best place on the planet to work.

My first conference! In 2000 Wairau Park won conference awards for ‘Most Improved Profit', ‘Best Presented Store' and I won a seat on the prestigious ‘Directors Club and again in 2001. In 2000 and 2002, the Wairau Park Store won Aucklands' retail ‘Top Shop' award (a New Zealand Retail Award).

People, our company values, success and making a difference.

Freedom is a company that offers great rewards and recognition for its people. As a company it works very hard not only to make profit but also cares a great deal about its people and their development. I have never worked in such a positive, supportive and progressive environment before and find it constantly inspirational. I love working with people and the team of people I work with, I am fortunate enough to know that they are also my friends.

I always had the goal to become a Retail Operations Manager. I know this business inside out and backwards and felt that I could make a difference and help Freedom continue the path from ‘Good to Great'.

I have been allowed the opportunity to be myself, demonstrate my skills and have been able to freely contribute to the business. I have been surrounded by wonderful people who have offered guidance, support and recognition that has inspired my confidence and helped me grow to realise my own potential. I hope that I can be an inspiration to others who wish to follow the same journey!