Client Case Study
John Sands
The collaborative relationship that has formed between John Sands and LMA is built on one core foundation — Quality.
John Sands offers the very best product sourced from around the world and available nationally at leading retailers and newsagents across Australia and New Zealand. The company prides itself on offering innovative products designed to inspire, make you smile and help you better connect with the people that matter most. People are the most important part of their business and they aim to provide positive and memorable experiences for everyone now and into the future.
Charged with the responsibility of consistently delivering the John Sands promise is Jacky Letford, long-term Managing Director covering the Australian and New Zealand operations from Melbourne, Australia. But she quickly points out that she cannot and does not do it on her qown. Her team of around 500 merchandisers, field sales staff, support office staff and offshore personnel all work together to deliver on their mission to Create Happiness, Laughter and Love.
People development is one of Jacky’s pet passions, especially as she’s seen the massive benefits that come from investing in the right type of development experience for each team member. LMA has been right there as John Sands has taken its people on a development journey over the past eight years.
Jacky recalls “In deciding on the right LMA courses for our team, we wanted to clearly show that we understood their needs and learning styles and provide opportunities to develop skills and knowledge that would help them well beyond the end of the formal course. What we’ve found is that each team member takes on the learning in slightly different ways that suit their approach – and in doing so, they maximise the impact and benefits of the experience.”
“LMA took the time to understand our business, our needs and the best way to help us develop our people. LMA’s commitment to John Sands showed in every interaction, every workshop, every coaching conversation involving participants and manager/mentors – they really care about the individual as much as the overall impact for John Sands”
—Jacky Letford, Managing Director
The collaborative relationship that has formed between John Sands and LMA is built on one core foundation – Quality. And quality is evident to Jacky and the more than 40 participants in programs over recent years in all of the important areas of the learning experience.
As Jacky puts it “LMA is our first port of call when it comes to developing our people. I’d have absolutely no hesitation in continuing to engage LMA to help us build skills, hone our people in their various roles, enhance our leadership at all levels and equip us to handle the ever-changing environments we face as a business. In the fast-paced world we live in, it’s great to have the stability and wisdom of LMA to guide us when it comes to investing in our greatest asset – our people”.
At LMA, we’re looking forward to “many more happy returns” in working with John Sands in the years ahead.