From Selling Style to Selling Time: Augustine's Move into Cruise Retail

From premium menswear and footwear in Kenya to the world of watches onboard a cruise ship, Augustine is putting years of sales experience to work in a new setting.

There's a rather impressive Bulova display behind Augustine in his latest photograph.

Beautiful watches, a striking blue screen and Augustine standing proudly behind the counter in his new uniform.

For somebody who has spent years working in premium fashion, footwear and customer service, it's a fitting place to find him.

Although, admittedly, selling watches onboard a cruise ship is quite a change from helping customers choose their next pair of shoes in Kenya!

The products have changed. The people haven't.

Augustine's career has taken him through several areas of retail and hospitality.

In Kenya, he developed his expertise in footwear, helping customers understand everything from leather quality and comfort to finding the right style.

Before that, he worked in premium menswear, building relationships with customers who valued advice, personal attention and a good understanding of the products they were buying.

His experience also includes sales and marketing, corporate client relationships and luxury hospitality at various hotels.

Different businesses. Different products. But one thing runs through his career: understanding customers.

And that brings us back to the photograph.

A watch is more than something that tells the time

Selling a luxury or premium watch involves a different kind of conversation from selling footwear or clothing.

There are collections to understand, product features to explain and stories behind the brands.

Some guests will know exactly what they're looking for. Others may simply be curious.

For Augustine, who already has experience in consultative selling and building customer relationships, it's an opportunity to apply familiar skills to a different product category.

He'll also be learning about life onboard, working with an international team and meeting guests from around the world.

It's a significant professional change, but one that builds on the career he's already established.

And that's what I particularly like about his story.

He's not arriving without experience. He's bringing years of it with him.

Augustine, looking the part!

At Cruise Retail Academy, Adrian and I meet candidates with all sorts of professional backgrounds.

One of the most enjoyable parts of recruitment is seeing where those careers can lead.

In Augustine's case, that means moving from retail and hospitality in Kenya into a cruise ship retail environment.

And judging by this photograph, he's certainly looking the part!

Augustine, congratulations on joining your ship.

We hope you enjoy learning about the watch collections, meeting your new colleagues and discovering everything that working at sea has to offer.

Keep working hard, keep learning and enjoy the experience.

And perhaps send us a few photographs from outside the shop too!

Congratulations from Adrian and me. 🎓🚢❤️

Could your retail experience lead to a career at sea?

You don't necessarily need previous cruise ship experience to explore opportunities in cruise retail.

Experience in fashion, footwear, jewellery, watches, hospitality and customer service can provide useful skills for onboard retail roles.

At Cruise Retail Academy, we help candidates understand the industry, prepare for recruitment and explore opportunities with our cruise retail partners.

Discover more at academy-onboard.com.