A Review of Your Job? Well, It Is Hotel Chocolat...

“How can you work in here all day?”, “Does temptation ever get the best of you?”, “Are you allowed to try every chocolate because you work here?”, “Is the hotel chocolat water…chocolate?” – these are just some of the questions I face daily when working as a sales assistant at my job, Hotel Chocolat.  Hotel Chocolat is a great company to work for, and a fantastic brand to represent. It’s been such a thrill to learn about the brands history, apply your knowledge to your service, and be taught an excellent level of customer service to apply to our customers, skills that will stick with me for life.

What does a day in the life of a sales assistant at Hotel Chocolat look like, you may ask? Well, weekdays would include a decrease in customers due to work and it being a Tuesday. Online click and collects can appear, as well as shuttle bus collections. Preparing gift bags for customers if specified, replenishing the stock and cupboards, even cleaning up the stock room so it’s ready for delivery.

A Saturday at Hotel Chocolat? Apply your bullet proof vest. I’m just kidding, but really – do consider taking caution when it comes to telling a hotel chocolat customer their favourite product is no longer in stock, the look they give you will allow you to experience a pain that mimics being shot. In the chest. Twice.

At first, the prestige brand was slightly intimidating to represent, as such high-quality products and powerful company status within its sector felt like a daunting aspect to take under my wing. However, with my enthusiastic passionate manager and colleagues who were always happy to answer my 50 questions an hour, I became confident quicker than I thought.

Being somebody who has desires of getting a career within the luxury sector, it’s also great to meet such diverse clientele that the brand cater too. Every day is different, and you never know who is going to pop into the store. You can always recognise the efforts from customers who may be in town who are familiar with the brand, coming in to especially visit us.

Working at Hotel Chocolat throughout the seasonal period of Christmas was especially heart-warming yet humorous – as this was my first retail experience I couldn’t help but pay attention to detail at the way flustered shoppers would take out their crumpled shopping lists from their bags. By shopping list, I mean specifically a Hotel Chocolat shopping list. Ticking and checking off each product their loved ones had asked for, it really made me appreciate and wonder how something as much as chocolate can bring people together.

My favourite day to work? Fridays. Friday afternoon, from around 4pm until close, we get the usual crowd of workers who will visit us, after a long hard week, ready to pick up their favourite treat and indulge throughout their evening. The sighs of relief we receive when customers get to the till, to which they can finally take in that it is Friday, and work is over until Monday (in most cases).

Better yet, we do sell Gin, Vodka, Red Wine, Champagne, and Prosecco – so we’ve already saved you a trip to the supermarket to pick up your weekly alcohol fix. You’re welcome!

So to answer your questions, Yes I can work in here all day – the chocolate here is all for you and out of my reach unless I open my purse. Secondly, Yes temptation can get the best of me and sometimes my breaks may include a purchase of my favourite selectors. Thirdly, If I wasn’t allowed to try the chocolate, how would I be giving you such phenomenal reviews on its taste, texture, consistency, and overall impression? And finally, no, the Hotel Chocolat water is not made of chocolate. However, Angus and the chocolatiers are a smart bunch, it will only be a matter of time before they come up with something.