Meet Shirley Hynes
As the manager of our Pavilion Shop, Shirley Hynes loves meeting customers from all over the world and hearing what brought them to Glamis Castle.
“Visitors want to be wowed and we work hard to make sure they get that kind of experience.”
Shirley Hynes, Pavilion Shop Manager at Glamis Castle
What do you do in your job on a day-to-day basis?
“I greet customers as they come in and ensure we give them a nice experience in our shop. I help them with whatever they need and try and encourage them to spend a bit of money as well! When I’m not with customers I fill up the shop with stock and work on the displays.”
What’s it like for you working somewhere like Glamis?
“It’s lovely. Every day you come through the gates and the drive towards the castle is spectacular. When tourists arrive, it’s great. I love the buzz of it all. You meet such a range of people who are here to enjoy themselves. I’ve worked in retail all my life and it’s totally different here from anywhere I’ve worked before. Glamis is my favourite – I do love it here. No day is the same.”
What can visitors expect when they visit Glamis?
“Coming to Glamis, it’s like a mini holiday and visitors want a lovely, memorable day out. Visitors want to be wowed and we work hard to make sure they get that kind of experience.”
What is your favourite part of your job?
“I feel in my comfort zone working in the shop. I like when people come in when I’ve been buying stock and are excited by what they find and buy it.”
Do you have any funny stories or memorable experiences with customers?
“We often meet people who say they’re related to the Strathmore family. In particular, American visitors often talk about how they could be related to people here as they have Scottish relatives.”
Where’s your favourite spot in the grounds?
“My favourite spot is The Italian Gardens and sometimes when it’s my lunch break, I’ll escape there for a walk to take it all in. I also love the avenue and view of the castle when driving down!
How do you want visitors to feel after a visit to Glamis?
“I want them to say “wow, that was amazing” and feel like they’ve had a great day. So many visitors come into the shop and say what a wonderful day they’ve had and that they’ve spent longer here than they expected. It’s really special when they come in to the shop as their last stop during their and they share how much they’ve loved their visit.”
What do you think makes Glamis so special?
“All of the staff are like a family and I think that passes over to the visitors as well.” Find out more about our Pavilion Shop here.
