January 2012

Goodbye, Stephen Mead, Shop Manager

Sorry to see you go...but not for long

Southdowns’ retail manager Stephen Mead is a familiar face for customers calling in at our Motorhome Centre in Portsmouth. Many of you will have spoken to Stephen on the phone or received emails from him as you try to track down that elusive spare part or new accessory for your motorhome.

Sadly for us, after five years at Southdowns, Stephen has taken the decision to retire from his full-time position with us. He left in January for a two-month holiday in Australia where he will be visiting family and old friends.  Stephen  and his wife Sheila  - who has worked alongside Stephen for the last five years helping run the shop on weekends  - will be sadly missed by customers and staff alike. 

The good news is that after a well-earned break, they will be back in the shop on a part-time basis, working on weekends from April onwards.  “ I think it’s time for Sheila and I to have more time for ourselves and to do something other than work,” Stephen told us as he stepped down from his full-time role. “I feel like a sportsman who wants to go out at the top of his game – and there are other things I want to do; more swimming, some voluntary work, less commuting and less pressure”.

With a strong background in retail and years of experience in the leisure market, Stephen was responsible for setting up our retail operation when we moved to our current premises in 2007. “During that time the business has changed enormously,” says Stephen. “The volume of sales going through our tills has increased by around 400%, mainly as a result of customers coming to us via our website,” he explains. “Web traffic is massive and increases all the time – it also means we get enquiries not only from the UK but from customers right across Europe,” he adds.

Not only has Stephen taken the shop from strength to strength but he has also been pivotal in building Southdowns’ reputation for sourcing and delivering everything from bike racks to spare screws quickly and efficiently. No job has ever been too small or too difficult for Stephen who firmly believes that the customer is king and should be treated accordingly.  

Sheila has also played a vital role. Not only has she always given a friendly and professional service in the shop but she has also been  Southdowns chief ‘window dresser’,  ensuring our motorhomes are shown off to best advantage by adding all those little finishing touches that our customers like to see.

Our new retail manager Mark Derbyshire joined us in December and is looking forward to getting to know our customers and building on Stephen’s success. Hailing from South Africa, Mark has lived and worked in the UK for ten years and has extensive sales experience. His future plans include streamlining sales and stock management by introducing barcodes for all our products which will make the Southdowns retail experience quicker, easier and more efficient.