I have worked in Merchandising since 1993, progressing from Allocator to Merchandising Director.
I love the Retail Industry and the challenges the changing retail landscape has thrown up over the last 3 decades.
My experience stretches from joining start ups and building the business from scratch, to working inside billion dollar international corporations, both in bricks and mortar and on line retailing.
My experience includes; overseeing the sourcing and implementation of Merchandising planning systems, building brand new teams and processes, and pitching business plans to the banking and private equity world
Key achievements at Office;
Establishing the Merchandising function from scratch and recruiting an entire team
Being part of a small management team, taking the business from turnover of £25m to £300m, ebitda of £1m to £40m, and store growth from 25 to 160, and establishing Office as the number one UK Ladies High Street Mto & branded footwear specialist.
Successfully preparing and completing the sale of the business twice to both PE and trade
Office Autobiography;
1.Creation of Merchandising team & function
2.Store & on line expansion
3.Sale and due diligence preparation and process to PE
4.Systems selection and implementation
5.Continued growth and emergence of Branded business
6.Re finance process and presentation
7.Sale to trade player, business plan forecasts
8.Integration within new ownership, adoption of new systems and processes
Figleaves.com, Merchandising Manager, 3 years
Liz Claiborne, Head of Merchandising for Europe, 2 years
Office Shoes, Merchandising Director, 17 years
Retail Industry Technology Insights
Industry Markets for Tech Providers
Create Tech Solutions for the Retail Industry
BA Politics & Government 2:1
London Guildhall University
New Systems implementation
Merchandise Planning and Trading
Terminal stock management
Pricing & Promotions
Product Hierarchy