Neil Isaacs

Head the Merchandise and Planning functions and am responsible for the Fashion brands Superdry, La Martina, Petit Bateau, adL and Mint Velvet.

Retail Planning: OTB & Seasonal forecasts, Annual Business Budgets
Product Management: Managing product life cycles, Allotments and Phasing
Pricing Strategy: Seasonal review and competitor analysis

Headed the business managing own Brands - Blueage, Rina and Zey, Franchise Brands - Alcott, Charanga and Balabala.

Responsibilities:
To deliver maximum sales potential within the brands responsible for, by ensuring that all stores are properly managed to achieve company and individual brand P&L targets. Directly responsible for brand & operations management, merchandising, visual management, logistics and warehousing.

Enhancing each brand’s product attraction by building and delivering detailed seasonal business plans to include Sell Through, pricing, margins etc; ensuring that products are the right price and volume for each brand’s category and style, based on competitor/market analysis; development of the most suitable marketing mix strategy for all Brands, planning appropriate and effective promotion calendars; directing Visual teams and ensuring complete control of all stock movements/transfers.

Operational:
 Lead the planning and delivery of new store openings
 Ensure the business is constantly up to date with accurate competitive intelligence relevant to product position, price and range
 Review and agree promotions activities and calendar with Brands

Financial:
 Approved OTB Seasonal budgets for the own brands FW17 in the short stay, improving processes, better analysis and transparency in the planning and forecasting
 Evaluated and understood exposure and potential risk for new International Brands, and report back to the Board of Directors

Merchandising:
 Regular reviews of Stock and Sales vs. plans and forecasts, identified areas significantly over and under achieving and initiated necessary actions.
 Managing the Planning and Merchandising functions to agree strategy for regular trade, promotions and markdown.
 Influenced the Pricing and monitor the strategy implemented in each Brand to stay ahead of the competition

Logistics & Warehousing:
 Direct warehousing and logistic operation planning and delivery
 Setup basic procedures in place to improve flow of stocks, both inbound and outbound
 Setup a system to track the job progress and employee productivity

Visual Merchandising:
 Manage VM Planning manager to ensure that store visuals are continually to the standards required
 Setup the structure and rota system to improve the frequency of visits to stores and ensure better standards

Relationships and influencing:
 Developed working relationship with International Partners, Buying and Sourcing teams of Own brands in Barcelona and Riyadh; conducted regular meetings and conference calls to discuss performance and review action plans.
 Able to adapt influencing styles to reflect market, culture and personality in order to achieve the desired results

As International Business Development Manager, I was the key liaison between the International markets and the business. Responsible for driving sales within the markets to achieve or exceed annual sales and profit targets. Ensure Business Plans were delivered and KPIs were met through use of high level coaching and influencing skills. Identify opportunities for sales growth through structured market visits, and share market knowledge with the rest of the business. Manage stock and buy budgets / seasonal plans in conjunction with Branch Merchandising.

Responsibilities:
 Operational:
 Market visits
o To identify Brand and Product development
o To ensure key areas were addressed (Plan-Do-Review) with action report and follow up with Partners to monitor results and improvements
o To manage Store development (includes New, Refit, Re-sites and Closures) within agreed timescales.
o Plans to ensure the most commercial layout was implemented, design was appropriate and customer friendly, linear drives sales density and execution was to Brand standard.
o Identify untapped and under potentialised opportunities, communicate to relevant Head office teams in order to drive sales and profit.

 Financial:
o Worked with Partners and Finance team setting Market Business Plans and re-forecast through the financial year.
o Approved OTB Seasonal budgets by market and store understanding the trends and performance which ensured delivery of sales and profit margins.
o Reviewed new store P&L’s to ensure the submissions were realistic and accurate, the stores were commercially viable; assessed impact of deflection within market
o Carried out regular review of new stores opened, challenged Partners on any inconsistent or unrealistic submissions.
o Understand debt exposure and potential risk for each market, and work with Finance to secure timely payments.

 Merchandising:
o Regular reviews of Stock and Sales vs. plans and forecasts, identified areas significantly over and under achieving and initiated necessary actions.
o Regular catch up with the Planning and Merchandising functions to provide guidance on Partner communication and agree strategy for regular trade, promotions and markdown.
o Influenced the Pricing and monitor the strategy implemented in each market and understand positioning vs. UK and local competition.

 Relationships and influencing:
o Developed and maintained strong working relationship with Partners, Brand and Visual Merchandising, Product teams; conducted regular meetings and conference calls to discuss regional performance and review action plans.
o Used the market visits to understand potential and untapped opportunities to drive sales and develop ranges with the support of the relevant departments.
o Able to adapt influencing styles to reflect market, culture and personality in order to achieve the desired results

 Customer focus:
o Drove a culture of excellent Customer service at all levels to both external and internal Customers.
o Agreed KPI’s with Partners to drive the ATV and UPT’s through delivery of excellent customer service.
o Ensured all markets had a tactical and strategic Seasonal Planner / Calendar that included Promotional and Marketing campaign.

Responsible for the Gulf states - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates and 50 plus stores in the portfolio.

Responsibilities:
 Revenue Generation:
o Achieve/ exceed personal and company sales goals and performance KPI’s through the implementation of revenue building strategies.
o Established the Stores Selling and Service Culture.
o Worked with the Seasonal forecasts by range and merchandise strategy for each store based on store size, location, target audience to deliver Sales targets

 Operational Excellence & Pricing:
o Brand building, business expansion and relationship management with Principals/ Partners.
o Prepared Seasonal OTB's and visited Principals on seasonal buying and strategy trips negotiating and selecting the optimal range for the Gulf region.
o Maintained good relations with the Principals, accountable for selecting a commercial range and managing the product life cycles.
o Price strategy - reviewed seasonally and ensured competitive pricing was maintained, margins were delivered in line with budgeted P&L deliverables.
o Shared ideas with Principals / Potential Partners and best practice regionally.
o Achieve/exceed all financial and operational objectives with regards to expense control, loss prevention, audits/checklists and weekly reports.
o Monitored and maintained compliance of all policies and procedures. Ensured the Annual Business Plan/ Seasonal forecasts were delivered.

 Product & Visual Merchandising:
o Executed & maintained visual merchandising standards consistent with company brand standards and directives.
o Analyzed market trends to ensure effective strategy exists that drove sales revenue opportunities.
o Worked on the Seasonal forecasts and merchandise strategy for each store based on store size, location and target audience to deliver best performance.
o Research the market for new and improvement of product opportunities; analyze customer behavior and future trends to incorporate in preparation of future seasonal planning.
o Strategized the events and promotional activities to ensure the performance of the brands were driven to achieving the plans.

 Sales & Inventory:
o Market the product to drive sales and advertise the brand in line with the host brand signature while maintaining the local market ethics.
o Monitored competitor activity, discussed with Brand / Merchandising team to take appropriate actions on pricing and promotional strategies.
o Produced Business trade review reports and submitted / discussed with General Manager and Head of Retail within agreed timescales.

 Team Management:
o Created & maintained positive employee relations through building, leading and developing quality head office and store teams. Ensured ongoing, specific and immediate coaching and feedback, and delivery of all performance documentation in a timely manner.
o Accountable for development of the Brand team comprising of Brand Manager, Area managers and Merchandisers.
o Drove the Brand team to meet and exceed agreed Business level KPI's.
o Accountable for recruitment and development of the Brand team to run the operations smoothly and in the most cost effective manner.
o Built effective relationships with contacts in Principal Brand headquarters, Mall managements and encouraged Area Managers to do the same.

 Other Responsibilities:
o Proactively networked and co-ordinated with organisations to maximize PR opportunities of the Brands.
o Ensured non stock orders were placed with Principals and that store profile and grading for all existing & new stores were set up in conjunction with the Senior Merchandiser/ Merchandiser.
o Approved and placed orders for new in-store equipment for enhancing sales / the overall look of the brand store and /or maximizing space utilization.

Responsible for Monsoon & Accessorize and also supervised other Brands such as Celio, Camaieu, Quiz, French Connection and Hobbs

 Product Management
o Managed product life cycles, Floor space management, Visual Merchandising etc.
o Selected products that satisfy the customer’s expectations in terms of design, price, margin and quality whilst achieving company targets for sales and profit.
o Reviewed seasonally and ensured competitive pricing was maintained and margins were delivered at the same time.
o Brand building, expansion and relationship management with Principles/ Partners
o Developed strategy for Product Ranges and was responsible for the delivery of high quality products ensuring costs are kept to a minimum and margins were met.

 Planning
o Understand and leverage inventory, review top level impact of category OTB’s on the total concept (sales, margin, and inventory).
o Managed business by building readily approved plans including sales, inventory, and margin.
o Prepared OTB's and visited Principals on buying trips.
o Reviewed the impact of category assortment plans on the total concept.
o Worked with the Seasonal forecasts by range and merchandise strategy for each store based on store size, location, target audience to deliver Sales targets
o Trained and provided guidance to team to develop multiple category/country assortment plans.
o Maintained proper inventory, ensured the allocation strategies support the overall sales and inventory plans for multiple categories.
o Worked with logistics function to ensure cost effective means of shipping and distribution of products to stores.

 Pricing Strategy
o Seasonally reviewed & ensured competitive pricing to stay ahead of competition.
o Formulated pricing policies by reviewing merchandising activities and managed pricing, mark-downs and stock control.
o Conducted pricing surveys and monitored pricing in the market and recommended actions.

Merchandiser/Inventory Controller (Apr 1999 - Apr 2005)