Luke Robins - Fashion Manager, Mens Health
Born in St Asaph, Wales - graduated with 1st in Management from Manchester University in 2000 having done work placement in PR and Marketing at University.
I knew that the typical accountancy, management consultancy graduate career path was not for me - I wanted to have a job that I would look forward to everyday - that allowed me to be creative, use interpersonal skills and balance the art of persuasion with the science of growing business. I always wanted to make an impact in the media - and media sales was a great entry point to the industry.
My first job was on the graduate scheme at Haymarket Publishing, as a Sales Executive for Campaign Magazine. It was a steep learning curve that was tough at first- but taught me about the industry and the energy and passion needed to succeed. Having then spent some time at The Mirror in a creative role writing advertorials, I returned to the commercial side for men's magazines Maxim, Men's Fitness and Jack at Dennis Publishing responsible for the biggest media agencies and luxury / fashion clients in UK and worldwide.
I am now Fashion Manager for Men's Health UK which means I am responsible for the commercial and creative performance of the Magazine. This means as well as re-launching the editorial direction for style, fashion and watches, I am responsible for key fashion advertisers and Ad Agencies worldwide and a number of reps who develop countries' fashion share. I am the figurehead for the Magazine in the Industry - and have to attend a number of fashion shows, events and parties worldwide and appear on TV/Radio to promote the Magazine. I also have to organise and manage magazine events and market the magazine in a competitive industry.
A lot is said about Media being good as it is a glamorous industry and it is true that the parties, opportunity to entertain in fantastic places and travelling is great ! However I believe the constant buzz of change, being involved in constant innovation and working in a place that if you are good - you can only go up is the best aspect of media.
The environment is fast moving, fairly high pressured and is very results driven. Magazines need to sell as many copies as possible - and ad revenue needs to be maximised - and that's the truth of why we are here! The culture encourages creativity - is very young and harbours the best products in the UK. In general - media sales people in most good publishing houses get trained in the industry, negotiation, and then management and creative specialties as they progress.
The meritocratic nature of the job means that success is rewarded either by climbing the advertising management route (from sales to senior sales - rising to advertising manager and advertising director) or by the publishing route (to fashion manager , promotions director and then to Publisher).
All I can say is that I can't wait to come to work everyday. The beginnings of any career are tough but if you want to work in an industry that defines culture, rewards well and is young and creative then media is the one for you.
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