Chris D.

Skills

As part of my legal career I am an effective communicator and this revolves around customer service and customer interaction. This also translates to my retail skills. I have a completely up to date knowledge of the fishing and fishing products scene
I already work as a member of a close knit team and we all work well together. I have excellent verbal, listening and written communication skills as I put these to use every day in court and on the phone with various parties.
Deadlines and prioritisation are an absolute must in my career and my team and I have previously won awards for this, demonstrating excellence in my field and in the service I provide to my clients.
I have a very keen interest in the fishing community and industry and am always up to date on the latest kit, methods and tactics.
I believe that I will be an asset to any fishing related retailer also having had experience in the trade and at team level.

About

Although I am a qualified practising solicitor, I have also a 21 year career in retail running alongside this. I started as a teenager in my local tackle shop, employed to deal with shelf filling, tidying the shop, serving customers, bait preparation including cleaning and bagging of casters and preparation of maggots, pinkies and squatts for sale in various colours, and dealing with bloodworm packs for weekend matches. Also assisted in moving deliveries, measuring crumb groundbait and hempseed into pre-prepared bags, as well as being involved in the sale of higher value items such as rods and reels. Also involved in preparation of “star guest areas” for such visiting celebrities as Kevin and Benny Ashurst, Tommy Pickering, Denis White etc. Later asked to join the shop match squad. This employment continued until dissolution and liquidation of the business following the owners’ divorces.
I then joined a large PLC as a General Assistant in store, over the years working in every department and almost every position except full time management. Duties included answering phones, working stock from warehouse, interaction with, and serving customers, mixing paint, moving pallets and stocking shelves, security issues and monitoring, cutting carpets etc. I eventually left due to my missing out on my children’s juvenile sporting careers and achievements.
In my social life I am an accomplished match angler having competed up to and including national level. I have fished in all five divisions of National competitions. I was the youngest captain of a winning team in RBL North West Angling Championships (aged 21)
I am a Team member/Founder member of a Loch Style Fly Fishing Team (High Peak Drifters) competing at National Competition level. I am an accomplished fly tyer with the Fly Dressers Guild, the ex Chairman and Secretary of two angling clubs and also Chairman and demonstrator of the Leeds branch of Fly Dressers Guild.
I also have an empathy for clients, I am very approachable and a team player.