Interning at Primark

GIRLSWEAR BUYING INTERN

The following Monday after finishing my two week internship at Tomorrow, I started working at Primark as a Buying intern. I was working with a group of 15 girls within the Girlswear team at the Head office in Reading. Compared to my daily prolonged travel back and forth London, the 30 minute train to Reading felt like a blessing from god.

My everyday tasks ranged from doing comparative shops to assisting trainee buyer with sample amendments and movement with the suppliers. Every monday I'd sit with the buyer and analyse the weekly line print for new reaction and highlight the his and lows of the week for the trade meeting. My favourite task was merchandising and photographing the A/W15 table tops, leisure joggers and Christmas jumpers for final range presentation. And when i was told it was going to be sent out to all the stores though shop pack folders, i was excited to say the least.

I met the friendliest and the most genuine bunch of people whilst interning at Primark. I was able to learn so much about different roles within the company but more importantly everyone gave me so much guidance, advice and complimented me on the work i was doing. It was just such an amazing experience which i could've never ever learnt throughout my time in university. Primark also offer year long placements and my buyer was really keen on having me as her trainee so she kept asking when I was starting my placement year. I mean just to be even offered something like that, i was over the moon!

At the end of my two weeks, the team bought me flowers and card, i was speechless, can't believe they did all that for me, after just two weeks!

WOMENSWEAR DENIM INTERN

I got in touch with the HR whilst working at girlswear and managed to bag myself another week in womenswear. The denim department within womenswear was gigantic, I was working with the new SS15 denim range including jeans, shorts, denim dresses, a-line skirts, shirts, denim jackets, dungarees and so on. I helped the buyers towards the final denim range presentation and sign off. I was also getting involved and taking notes during fit sessions and supplier meetings. It was a worthwhile experience even just sitting and listening in as I was able to gain so much knowledge about how the retail industry works, especially one as big and fast paced as Primark!

One of the perks of working at Primark was their charity bin! Picture sample sale but without the pricetag! All the production samples would go into this massive room where everyone was allowed to take stuff from, and although the internship was unpaid i definitely got my times worth! From shoes to bags and lingerie to jeans and blouses, I bagged up so much decent stuff!

Interning at Primark, I have learned so much, about fashion and about myself, about the roles I would like to go into, and the ones that didn't tickle my pickle! This time next year I will be starting my placement year and I cannot wait to get in and on it.

I definitely recommend anyone interested in the field of fashion to gain hands-on experience, not only does it look good on your CV, but it helps you build network within fashion and most importantly helps you decide what role are and aren't right for you.

xo