Celebrating influential women across convenience
Natalie Lightfoot, store owner at Londis Solo Convenience Baillieston
What does it mean to you to be a woman in the convenience sector?
Empowering. I guess it could be seen as different as only a third of all convenience store retailers are women; but honestly to me I enjoy it for what the job entails.
The variety of work, the people and the challenges. To be honest I know nothing else as I have been doing this my entire career. It just so happens that I am female.
I feel empowered to be a working mum in charge of her own business and showing my daughters they can be their own boss and make a difference in their community and I can teach my son that equality matters.
Do you feel there is a positive culture being fostered in a space that has, traditionally, been dominated by men?
I feel that the industry is very aware now that the culture needs to change. Women across the industry, especially the last three to four years, are stepping forward and starting the conversation that women retailers are very much a part of this industry and have a lot to offer.
Suppliers and wholesalers alike are realising that by being more inclusive they are benefiting from listening to a variety of perspectives. After all our customer base is diverse; so is our industry.
There is still along way to go though, and some institutions are struggling with including a good retailer in the conversation as their gender is a barrier.
Tell us about your own success story, positive experiences, etc?
I have overcome some really knarly situations along the way; lots of things that are unspoken because it is seen as distasteful but I have moved past them and now recognise that I was never the only one.
These situations should never have taken place but they did. The success comes from the mere fact that, despite these situations, I am still here 18 years later and I will continue to want to advocate for others and cheer on fellow female retailers who are talented, successful, educated and who are developing great stores.
The success is in striving to empower others to the point when being a woman is no longer considered a disadvantage, but only a celebration.
What has your experience been like as a woman working in convenience?
Challenging. Sometimes it can be discussed more times than our opinion on any other aspect of retailing. Right now, I am ok with this as it needs to be discussed until the culture becomes more positive.
Over the last four years, however I have been able to surround myself with like minded retailers who are either women in retail or male allies who have daughters in the industry, wives and mothers and understand the challenges and support; they can also talk shop all day long because you are you, not because you are female.
What challenges have you overcome in the past in this regard?
It never gets old being asked if the boss is in; rather than being asked is it yourself that deals with ordering or decision making.
What do you believe is the next step in ensuring women are an integral part of the Scottish convenience sector?
Active change, not just a tick box exercise to seem more inclusive. Diversity and inclusion is always a hot topic but it should not have to be this way.
With second and third generation of retail coming through; the baton is being passed to daughters to run the business and I always say how would you feel your daughter being overlooked just because she is female. Her opportunities should be the same.
There are so many strong female retailers out there I hope they inspire others to see that this industry is amazing and exciting and as a female we can bring a lot to our stores. After all, shopworkers are predominantly female too so there is that commonality and advantage too.
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