You may not know that Hobbs and Phase Eight form part of the same retail group – TFG London – and we’re fortunate to have both at Brewery Square, offering a stunning collection of clothing and accessories to suit different occasions.
Laura James, Style Advisor at Hobbs and Phase Eight chats to us as part of our monthly ‘Meet the Brewery Square businesses’ segment.
1) How long have you worked at the business?
“I joined Phase Eight and Hobbs at the end of August 2022. Both stores at Brewery Square are run by Michelle Cook, our Dual Site Manager, and she and I work between the two businesses.
“I’ve always been an advocate of Hobbs and shopped there regularly when I lived in London, building up my very own collection of office wear. I love how its pieces are timeless and great quality. I didn’t realise Hobbs and Phase Eight were part of the same family initially – being part of both makes my job even more interesting because there’s such a large variety of products.
“As a side fun fact, I’m also a children’s author! I’ve had several books published, all with quirky animal protagonists – the Adventures of Pug was my debut series.”
2) What does your role involve?
“To put it simply, I help customers find clothing and accessories which are just right for them. We help people find outfits for all sorts of occasions – weddings, funerals, job interviews, as well as day-to-day workwear.
“Working across both businesses means I can give people even more choice to create their perfect outfit. Very often, we’ll collect some pieces from the other shop to bring into one so they can try everything on together.
“It’s astonishing how many women believe something won’t suit them – it’s almost ingrained in their mind – but they look incredible, and it just takes them trying on something different to help them realise. It might sound obvious, but we always encourage people to try on clothes. Very often, they might not have considered something but end up surprising themselves!
“It’s important for us to make everyone feel special and comfortable in what they’re wearing, helping them discover new styles along the way.”
3) What’s your favourite part of your job?
“Knowing that I’ve made someone happy by finding the right outfit – it’s such an amazing feeling to play a part in boosting someone’s confidence.
“A couple of weeks ago, a lady came to us in need of an outfit for a big work conference and evening do. We had an incredible green, sparkly cocktail dress in Hobbs that immediately came to mind – it’s one of those pieces which we try and encourage lots of people to try on because it’s so striking. The lady fell in love with it instantly it. It was so uplifting to see her light up when she tried it on.
“I love spending time getting to know our customers and finding out their individual needs, likes and dislikes when it comes to clothing and accessories. Offering a bespoke service means we can do something a little different for everyone, and make sure they’re happy with their own unique choice.”
4) What do you enjoy most about being based at Brewery Square?
“There’s a lovely camaraderie among everyone who works at Brewery Square.
“People from the other businesses pop in to see us a lot and I often go and visit them for food and drink. A couple of favourites include Hub Box – their chips are amazing! – and Seventh Seal, whose hot chocolate is to die for!
“We’re so lucky to have such a great selection of businesses on our doorstep. Before I came to work here, it took me a while to realise how much was actually here – it’s a real gem in Dorchester that everyone should visit.”
