As we celebrate this milestone, we invite you to join us in reminiscing with our Otter teams as they share their cherished memories, reflections, and emotions from their time at Otter Garden Centres.
I started originally in 1997, left for a while then came back in November 1999, going from part-time to full-time.
I did a variety of jobs, mainly on the tills, but I also went to clothing, bulbs, bedding and furniture. The branch was quite small then, so I moved around as needed.
I was asked if I would go to Wincanton – at the time it wasn’t common knowledge that Otter was setting up there, so my first question was ‘What’s in Wincanton?’ I went to help set the branch up, as I had so much experience in different departments – and I’m a qualified forklift driver!
I was only meant to be there for a while, but I stayed for some time. At first I drove daily, it’s a 208 mile round trip, then I started staying nearby, at the racecourse. For a while I stayed in the annex of the big house on site. I helped to get everything ready for opening in 2010, getting all the staff and the premises ready.
Back then, when the races were on, Otter would take some of the shop stock, plants and sundries, to the racecourse, which held an indoor market for local traders to sell their wares.
After Wincanton I returned to Plymouth as front end supervisor, which I’ve done since. The role is varied, it includes all aspects of the tills including cashing up, ensuring wellbeing of staff, sorting out any problems as they happen.
My colleague Debbie and I were asked if we’d like to learn fork lifting, to take pallets off the lorries.
So we did the training prior to 2008. I still have my full fork lift licence. When I was at Wincanton, I was the only forklift driver for a while.
The lorries were only allowed to leave during certain periods of the day, so I knew when I was needed. I keep my steel toe capped boots in the car just in case they need me to hop on a fork lift.
It’s a really good business to work for. It’s family owned and it really does feel like a family environment every day.
When I needed to visit my family in Scotland due to ill health, work was really flexible in giving me time off. The attitude was that I should take the time I needed, without worrying about my job.
I’ve always felt well-treated. In fact, I said I’d retire at 50 but I just can’t seem to leave!
When I started in Plymouth it was always so cold! The front of the building had doors that were open to the elements. Sometimes we had to have a canopy over the tills. And when there was a storm with hard rain, the glass would pop out of its frame.
At Christmas everyone would have to wear Christmas dresses, I remember wearing a red dress, and another time, a harlequin dress.
All of the areas have grown. The coffee shop in particular has expanded, I remember the first time turnover topped £1K, it was amazing! There have been so many changes, there used to be a garage where the stores are now. Every inch of the site is used now, and departments are still expanding.
Back to the fork lift driving – at Wincanton some of the ground was a bit of a quagmire, and I managed to get the fork lift stuck.
Chris the lorry driver had to pull it out, with me still in it. I always told the other forklift drivers not to go to there, but they always did, and they always ended up getting stuck!
A huge thank you goes out to Karen for sharing her memories with us!
Her stories truly bring the spirit of Otter Garden Centres to life!
Keep an eye out for more heartwarming tales from our amazing team as we continue our 60th Anniversary celebrations!
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