Maddy Arnold Entered the Business
Like many in the Arnold family before her, Maddy Arnold's connection to the business began in childhood. "When I was 10, Mum would bring me over after school for about an hour and a half until Dad took me home at 6pm," she recalled. These early experiences involved simple but important tasks - removing items from shelves and helping with tasks that required smaller hands - followed by office filing as she grew older.
By 2013, while completing her HSC, Maddy worked as a casual employee, balancing her time between Arnold's and Target in Albury, motivated by the goal of saving for a Schoolies holiday on the Gold Coast. Initially, her career aspirations lay elsewhere: "I really wanted to be a beautician." After completing a beauty course in early 2014, however, the limited opportunities in the Albury-Wodonga area led her to continue working at Arnold's.
A staff departure in May 2014 opened the door to full-time employment, beginning with three months in the shop where she gained experience in various roles - shelf stocking, packing online orders, and operating the check-out. For a brief period, she even worked under the supervision of her brother Ben, adding another chapter to the family's history of intergenerational cooperation.
Despite her youth, Maddy quickly proved her capabilities and was entrusted with increasing responsibility. At just 18, she moved into a supervisory role and then advanced to managing wholesale products on the floor. Her duties were diverse, from peeling carrots and onions to handling office duties, including answering phones and processing orders when other staff were on leave. "I was sort of thrown into the job. That's happened with all my jobs here," she reflected, demonstrating the hands-on learning approach that had characterized Arnold's training for generations.
Maddy's progression within the business exemplified the Arnold family's tradition of growing talent from within, combining practical experience with increasing responsibility. Her journey from after-school helper to manager reflected both the opportunities and expectations that came with being part of the fifth generation of this enduring family enterprise.