AMANDA Dammers was at university when she realised that she got a buzz from retailing.
Shopping engaged her attention and interest.
Nearly 20 years on, having begun her career on the shopfloor selling women's accessories, Mrs Dammers is the new managing director of John Lewis in Nottingham.
It is a far cry from the spires of Oxford where, as a theology student, she was taught by the future Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
"He was my tutor, hugely impressive," she said.
Another was Tom Wright, the future Bishop of Durham.
But none of these inspiring teachers guided her towards the church.
"An arts degree trains you in a certain way of thought. I read something I enjoyed and it combined English and history."
Today, Mrs Dammers, 39, is getting to grips with Nottingham, both the Victoria Centre store and the city as a whole.
She moves from John Lewis in Leicester where she was MD.
It is promotion.
Mrs Dammers said: "I come from Liverpool and have been working in Leicester and I think Nottingham is a fantastic city.
"As someone new to Nottingham, I really recognise the vibrancy of the city.
"Sometimes when you live in a city, work in a city or have been affiliated to a city, you miss its strengths.
"In the region, Nottingham is the premier shopping centre and it should be one of the top places to come shopping.
"As a city, we have an awful lot to offer. We have possibly allowed others to shout about what they have more than we have."
Mrs Dammers readily confesses that she hasn't been in Nottingham long enough to understand the dynamics of the city.
She continued: "What has really struck me is the emotional connection between the shop and our customers.
"We are not just a shop that trades in the city, we are a shop that is part of the city and that is really important."
John Lewis Nottingham moved to the Victoria Centre 40 years ago.
"Customers ask me if I am the new head of branch and you don't always get that in a store. There is a real desire to be part of the store. You feel there is a real relationship there."
The Nottingham store can trace its roots back to 1804, becoming Jessops.
Today, the 150,000 sq ft store employs 700 staff and celebrates 40 years in the Victoria Centre next month.
It is a heritage built on trust, value and great service, added Mrs Dammers.
She joined John Lewis in Peterborough on the retailer's graduate trainee course and so can work a till.
"I liked the vibrancy and energy of retail," she said.
With two young children – she is married to a schoolmaster at a public school who teaches Greek and Latin – shopping is more of an effort.
"I like shopping without two young children. On my own, I really enjoy it.
"Shops are fantastic. You can go into a shop, be inspired and lose yourself ."
Over the next few months, it is likely that Mrs Dammers will get involved in shaping the way Nottingham promotes itself, either through the Retail BID (Business Improvement District) or championing a cause.
"We are a store that is always very much part of the city and part of the community, " said Mrs Dammers. "I love that."
