Director - Retail Operations & Sales
The Hub Retail Gifts Trading LLC
Total years of experience :16 years, 4 Months
The Hub Retail Gifts Trading is a UAE based retail organisation with several locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and distribution agreements with Virgin Megastores, House of Fraser and Dubai Park & Resorts.
Key achievements & responsibilities:
• Strategic involvement, planning input and responsibility for all aspects of the business start-up
• Retail product and concept selection, launch and brand development
• Business development to secure premium retail locations for each brand as per target audience needs and budget
• Directs the retail & distribution operations based on profit and loss and return on investment
• Manages stock ordering, stock control and implementation of systems and processes to optimise business performance and limit loss
• Research and intelligence gathering to source high performance locations and distribution partners suitable for each brand
• Evaluation of retail locations based on footfall, demographic, locality and benchmark of other competitor’s present
• Networking and monitoring of the retail environment to identify new retail complexes and spaces that may present an opportunity for brand growth
• Retail lease & consignment contract negotiation in line with company policy and procedure
• Concept presentations to retail property management teams to secure offers of space within highly competitive premium retail locations
• Management responsibility for financial and compliance aspects of the retail operations
• Responsible for hiring and training of the sales and operations staff
• Creation of the operations manual for staff and back office employees to ensure effective working practices and compliance
• Driving sales & marketing through regular training updates, introduction of sales strategies, targets and incentives
• Responsible for accurate record keeping and creating management reports using the integrated POS and back office computer system
Majid Al Futtaim Properties is MENA’s leading diversified real estate and property services company with a regional portfolio of innovative, world-class shopping malls, hotels and mixed-use living communities. Since its first mall, City Centre Deira in Dubai, two decades ago, Majid Al Futtaim Properties remains dedicated to delivering quality destinations and compelling experiences that enrich people’s daily lives.
Key achievements & responsibilities:
• To promote, implement and monitor an ongoing revenue generation program across the MAF Shopping Malls Portfolio including Mall of the Emirates, Mirdif City Centre, Deira City Centre, Sharjah City Centre and Ajman City Centre
• Creation of a leasing sales strategy for new tenants in line with new tenant guidelines for each property
• New client identification, initial introduction, proposal creation and negotiation of rates to secure leasing contract sign off
• Monitoring and inspecting vacant units in coordination with the operations team to ensure ready for new tenants
• Account management and relationship development with existing clients to improve renewal booking rates and to include MAF as a part of their marketing strategy
• Preparation of sales presentations, rate card, license agreements, letters, proposals
• To liaise with the property management (engineers, operations, marketing and finance) on fit out of new stores for tenants
• Negotiation of rental rates for new and renewal contracts with new and existing tenants
• Calculation and analysis of overhead costs and analysis of depreciation and profit goals
• Reporting of individual weekly and monthly sales performance detailing revenue from all commercial clients and pipeline
• Submission of brand concepts to the approval committee
• Providing recommendations for new brands with high potential as a good fit for different properties
• Tenant management to ensure compliance with the mall operations manual and best practice procedures
• Business development activity to secure new brands for new malls and to ensure a good retail mix in MAF properties
Alshaya Retail covers a wide variety of sectors, including the latest and best recognized names in Fashion and Footwear, Food Service, Health & Beauty, Optics, Pharmacy, Office Supplies and Home Furnishings. By bringing top Retail concepts to local malls and high streets Alshaya ensure the delivery of franchise shopping concepts.
Main responsibilities:
• Co-ordination with other customer contact areas in the division to pay personal attention to customer grievances and feedback in order to initiate effective re-dress of complaints and suggestions
• To conduct and create training modules for Service Quality & Customer Care related programs
• Preparation of reports, presentations and business plans for brand; including the regional quarterly report for Starbucks, visit reports and action
• Recommendations for improvement of services to achieve customer satisfaction
• Evaluation of cost and quality of service by analysing the results of the mystery shopping program data
• Regular store visits and training sessions to improve standards, communicate the Be Alshaya values and to address problems and to improve Shoppie (mystery shopper program) results
• Identification of poorly performing stores and creation of improvement action plans with ‘clinic visits’
• Communication with regional store managers to educate and update on rewards and recognition schemes (e.g. Program for recognition of high performance stores and individuals)
• Training management and development within Oman, Qatar and Kuwait
Dubai Festival City is residential, commercial and retail destination. The Festival Centre Mall has 2.8 million sq ft of leasable space, with over 600 shops including 25 flagship stores, over 100 restaurants, cafes and bistros, a 12 screen Grand Cinemas complex, Bowling City and a vast entertainment centre and parking for 13, 000 cars.
Main Responsibilities:
• Key communication role between mall retailers and mall management, maintaining existing relationships, developing new client connections and delivering on partnership terms to achieve revenue targets and contribution to group KPI targets
• Advertising sales in line with Festival Centre rate card requirements and evaluation of performance
• Creating client media packages for store openings and a range of ambient media
• Providing updates on new ambient media opportunities, promotional activities and events available in the centre
• Evaluation and selection of concepts for short term leasing customised kiosks, RMU and promotional spaces
• Implementation, maintenance, production and set up/installation of banners, LED screens, 3D digital screens, light boxes, mupis and branding opportunities
• Organisation of small scale in mall events, including allocated space and supporting promotions (E.g. Emirates, Etisalat, BMW, Kia, LG, Nokia)
• Submission and review of annual budget, monthly revenue report, rate card and performance evaluation in line with mall policy and procedure
• Leasing contract negotiation, creation and payment in line with business objectives and guidelines. Revenue achieved ambient media 5 Million AED in 2008, 3.8 Million AED in 2009 and 4.2 Million AED in 2010, promotion event 9 Million AED in 2010
• Finalisation of digital media contract and planning for Installation of LED screens, project value 7 million AED over 5 years
• Specification, delivery and branding for marketing events (E.g. DSF, DSS, Ramadan, Dubai Pet Show, Festival of Literature, Gulf Bike Week, Dubai Dragon Boat) concerts (Eg. Celine Dion, Santana, Maroon 5, Paul Rodgers & Queen, Kylie, Scorpions, Deep Purple, Paul van Dyke, DJ Tiesto)
• Direction of mall employees and contractors from technical, maintenance and facilities management departments
This course was organised by the “Sogea” School of Business Management in collaboration with the Maritime Business Association of Genoa. The final part of the course was completed in Liverpool in conjunction with the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.
Diploma in Accounting, Commercial Surveying and Business Administration