RISING STARS
W with a long history in retail specialising in chocolate , Haley Koo has worked hard to revolutionise the way Godiva operates within Australia . Formerly at Koko Black , she was instrumental in Godiva ’ s launch into the local market , and plays a key part in almost all aspects of the business – including new store openings , product development and packaging transformations .
Her expertise enables her to see the business holistically , rather than focusing just on sales performance and team management – while her ability to develop and motivate high-performing teams has translated to strong performance and customer service outcomes .
Haley ’ s background has informed the development of the brand ’ s retail sales and model strategy , with her skills and abilities helping to drive Godiva ’ s growth in Australia .
In particular , her influence has been keenly felt in the seasonal development of food and beverage ,
Haley Koo
National retail manager Godiva
along with the development of new store concept designs and new digital retail infrastructure . She has also been applauded for her willingness to take strategic risks that have benefited the organisation .
Moving forward , Koo plans to keep innovating , and bringing the luxurious nature of chocolate together with the rapidly growing experiential retail trend .
“ I hope to revolutionise the perception of the chocolate business from a traditional bricks-and-mortar one to experiential spaces , and to use the power of chocolate as a transformative element in people ’ s day-to-day lives ,” Haley explained .
Particularly proud moments over the past year was the launch of the brand ’ s Chocolate Pearls range , and its unique in-store offering of a giant chocolate dispenser : something in which she had a large hand . As a manager , she is always working to keep her team and Godiva ’ s customers front and centre in her decision making process .
“ I love the people-centric focus of working in retail ,” she said .
“ I [ also consider the ] customer [ in ] large-scale decisions like consumer packaging and engagement . In recent years , the availability and depth of access to data has helped me understand people more fully and drive those decisions in a meaningful way .”
Koo has worked tirelessly to transform Godiva ’ s food and beverage packaging to align modern customer values with the brand ’ s heritage and long-standing traditions .
Her leadership now extends into the business ’ local head office , where she has become involved in stakeholder management and communication with the business ’ head office in Japan – a market where Godiva excels .
“ I have been extremely lucky along the way to meet some amazing mentors to help mould and support me in becoming who I am today ,” she said .
“ There ’ s such an opportunity at Godiva to grow . Personally , I want to be largely known for my expertise in chocolate and delivering great experiences in retail .”
68 | www . insideretail . com . au May 2023