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Teresa Leung

ONE OF HONG Kong's best known retailers of cosmetics and skin-care products is getting ready to expand to capitalise on the revival of the economy and the uplift in consumer spending.

Sa Sa plans to open at least five new stores locally over the next 12 to 18 months and will also make its first foray into the mainland with the opening of an outlet in Shanghai this month.

The good news for those seeking job opportunities in the retail sector is that the company is now looking for talented staff to develop its businesses.

According to Carmen Wong, vice-president of the human resources department at Sa Sa International, the firm is in the process of recruiting 24 people to fill vacancies in areas which include product development, marketing, human resources, accounting, finance and merchandising.

In most cases, professional knowledge specific to the position applied for will be regarded as a basic requirement and relevant work experience will be crucial.

Besides gearing up for expansion, the company is making a significant investment in new information technology applications and software related to point-of-sales processes and business intelligence.

These moves will allow a more detailed analysis of the business and help to identify opportunities on a broader scale. Additional staff will be hired to work on this project.

'Expansion is not only about opening new shops but also about improvements and bringing in new products to meet our customers' needs,' Ms Wong said.

'Therefore we are looking especially for people who are knowledgeable in sourcing, merchandising and building new product lines.

'This is an important step for the company. We have already started to provide more than skin-care and cosmetics products by also offering other items such as hair care, and we plan to extend the range further.'

No matter what new recruits specialise in, they must demonstrate commitment, the ability to work well in a team and good communication skills.

In addition to the various back-office roles, Sa Sa also needs experienced salespeople.

Ms Wong said current forecasts suggested Sa Sa will have to hire more than 150 such staff in the coming year.

Candidates for frontline positions such as beauty consultant and shop supervisor must be outgoing, conscious of the importance of a good appearance, and willing to share their beauty insights with others.

They should also be able to get on well with colleagues and, preferably, have some retail experience and knowledge of cosmetics.

Shop supervisors will need management experience in retail and sales. They must be able to lead a team, take care of inventory and handle day-to-day store operations.

Ms Wong said retail experience gained outside skin care and cosmetics would also be considered.

Comprehensive training will be provided for all new recruits. For instance, before becoming beauty consultants, junior trainees receive 150 hours of instruction on products and customer service. They are eligible for promotion only after passing an examination.

Promotions to higher positions in the company such as senior beauty consultant and supervisor are based upon examination results and performance.

In addition, Sa Sa encourages employees to make the most of external training opportunities and  provides educational allowances for staff to pursue studies in areas including finance, tax law and marketing strategy.

The company has an 18-month programme designed to groom university graduates as future managers and to teach them the intricacies of a dynamic retail business.

Ms Wong said Sa Sa expected staff to work hard and to keep learning at the same time.

'One of the challenges for people in the industry is to keep abreast of the latest trends,' she said.

frontline facts

Frontline salespeople must be outgoing and willing to share beauty insights with others. They need extensive product knowledge and a good service attitude.

Store supervisors require management experience in retail sales. They must be able to lead a team and oversee day-to-day operations.

Both frontline and back-office recruits must be team players and possess strong communication skills.

As staff need to keep up with changes in the industry, continuous learning is important.



Big is beautiful  as Sa Sa recruits