Showroom & Retail Operations Internship

The Showroom & Retail Operations Internship is designed to provide practical, hands-on experience of Arlettie London's core showroom operation.

The intern will gain an understanding of how a private sale is planned, prepared and delivered, from the initial set-up and stock preparation through to the live sale, customer experience and post-sale review.

Working alongside the Showroom Management and wider operational teams, the intern will develop an understanding of how commercial planning translates into the successful delivery of a fast-paced luxury retail event.

Key Areas of Exposure

Sale Preparation & Set-Up

The intern will support and learn about:

• Preparing the showroom ahead of each sale

• Sale set-up and breakdown

• Product placement and merchandising

• Preparing operational areas and equipment

• Understanding sale layouts and customer flow

• Supporting final checks before opening

• Understanding how different brand requirements influence the showroom set-up

Stock & Inventory Operations

The intern will gain exposure to:

• Stock delivery and intake processes

• Stock organisation and preparation

• Replenishment during live sales

• Maintaining accurate and organised stock areas

• Understanding stock movement throughout a sale

• Supporting end-of-sale stock processes

Customer & Member Experience

The intern will develop practical customer service experience through:

• Welcoming and assisting members

• Understanding Arlettie's customer service standards

• Supporting customers throughout their visit

• Maintaining presentation standards across the showroom

• Understanding how customer flow and queues are managed

• Learning how the team responds to customer queries and operational issues

Live Showroom Operations

During live sales, the intern will take a hands-on approach and support the showroom team with:

• Floor operations

• Maintaining showroom standards

• Replenishment and product organisation

• Fitting room operations

• Queue and customer flow management

• Supporting different operational areas as required

• Identifying and escalating operational issues to management

Tills & Transactions

The intern will gain an understanding of:

• The customer checkout journey

• Till and transaction processes

• Queue management

• The importance of accuracy when handling transactions

• Refund, return and payment procedures where appropriate

People & Workforce Planning

The intern will gain exposure to how staffing supports the delivery of each sale, including:

• Understanding staffing requirements for different sales

• How teams are allocated across showroom areas

• The importance of staff skills and cross-training

• Daily team briefings and allocation of responsibilities

• How managers respond to changing staffing requirements during a live sale

Health, Safety & Security

The intern will learn about:

• Showroom health and safety requirements

• Security procedures

• Customer and staff safety

• Emergency procedures

• Safe working practices during set-up, live sales and breakdown

• The importance of maintaining secure stock and operational areas

Operational Problem-Solving

The intern will observe and support the management team in responding to day-to-day operational challenges, including:

• Changes in customer volume

• Stock and replenishment requirements

• Staffing changes

• Customer service issues

• Maintaining standards during busy periods

• Prioritising tasks within a fast-paced environment

Post-Sale Review

Following sales, the intern will gain exposure to:

• Sale breakdown and close-down processes

• Reviewing operational performance

• Identifying what worked well and areas for improvement

• Understanding customer feedback

• Preparing the showroom for upcoming sales

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the internship, the intern should have developed an understanding of:

• The full operational lifecycle of a private luxury sale

• How a showroom is prepared and managed

• The relationship between stock, staffing and customer experience

• Luxury retail customer service standards

• How teams work together during high-volume retail events

• Basic inventory and transaction processes

• Health, safety and security requirements within a retail environment

• How operational problems are identified and resolved

• How post-sale reviews can be used to improve future performance

The intern will be expected to take a proactive and hands-on approach throughout the placement, supporting the team during both sale preparation and live sales while developing practical experience across the different areas of the showroom operation.