Managing Director
Retail Right
Total years of experience :23 years, 4 Months
RetailRight.Me is a subsidiary business to BlackInk.Me a branding boutique agency in Beirut. RetailRight.Me mission started as a training and consulting business for retailers around the Middle East but we’ve shifted to more online work to cope with how the internet has changed the game for businesses.
Today we help retailers increase traffic, footfall and sales through online marketing, e-commerce optimization, omni channel integration and much more.
Please visit www.retailright.me for more info.
Hamleys is an international leader in the Toys, Children Wear & Accessories Retailing Business with over 60 stores worldwide. I was head-hunted for the job from Qatar and was responsible for the buying operation of 9 stores across the Middle East holding an average of 35, 000 SKUs per store (50, 000 in Dubai Mall Location) and a total turnover of 200 Million Dirhams per year at a gross margin of 55%.
Achievements:
• Responsible of managing the opening of four stores in Turkey, KSA & Abu Dhabi.
• Reducing the aging stocks of 4 Million US Dollars in value a profit margin of 50%.
• Set up operation standards for the buying team (8 junior level management staff members) to prevent future bad buys and eliminate the risk of aging stocks in the future.
• Re-negotiating all supplier contracts in Turkey and increased margins from an average of 37% up to 45%
Hired in Jan. 2011 by Abu Issa Holding as a consultant to come up with a full concept for a Toy Retail Chain in Qatar. With only the location available (1, 000 m2 flagship store in Villaggio Mall), I worked closely with the interior designing firm (Zebra UAE) and worked out the store’s outfit details down to the shape and the size of the shelves. After the store successfully opened in April 2011 I was hired to manage and run the business which immediately grabbed a 12% market share.
Achievements:
• Achieved a steady 20% revenue increase during the 3 years under my management.
• Contracted over 30 suppliers and processed orders worth 8 Million QR per year.
• Streamlined and managed supply chain operations.
• Hired and personally trained the sales and store supervisors team (24 people)
• Wrote and applied store policy and procedures.
• Acted as consultant for the wholesale division of Abbu Issa Holding and throughout the years helped them contract brands like MGA, Zapf, & Spin Master (and many more) for exclusive distribution in Qatar.
Today, Toy 4 Me is considered one of the best destinations for Toys and Children Accessories and Gadgets in Qatar. The flagship store closed around 20 Million QR in T/O in 2014 at a 47% gross margin. The company has already booked two more big stores scheduled to open in 2015 and 2016.
Setup and managed the retail operation for the very first JouéClub in Lebanon, a retail department store that sells Kids Apparels & Furniture, Sports and Outdoor Equipment, Toys & Gadgets.
Achievements:
• Handled the project of setting up the flagship store (1200 m2 retail outlet) from scratch.
• Negotiated contracts and supervised contractors’ work.
• Hired and trained the whole work force of more than forty people including junior managers.
• Streamlined supply chain operations.
I ran the project for two years until the mother company signed a consultancy contract with Abu Issa Holding in Qatar and I was selected to prepare and supervise their new business venture. Today, JouéClub has 7 stores across Lebanon and is considered the leader in Toys Retail with a yearly T/O of 12 Million USD.
ADMIC is the mother company handling BHV, Monoprix and Geant (Department Stores, Hypermarkets and Supermarkets) in Lebanon. A business of over 100 Million USD per year across 12 locations.
• Handled the brand management of the following categories: Fashion, Sports Equipment and Toys.
• Responsible of preparing the yearly Buying Budgets & Turnover Monthly Objectives.
• Identifying products for the store and preparing purchase schedules and negotiating deals with suppliers.
Handled purchase premiums for international brands such as: McDonalds, Pepsi Cola International, Procter & Gamble, Nestle and others.
• Develop and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, and procedures.
• Locate manufacturers and traders of premiums, gifts and toys, and interview them in order to determine production capacity and terms of sales.
• Analyze delivery systems in order to confirm compliance to client’s requisites.
• Visit International Fairs, most importantly the Chinese Canton Fairs to meet new and old suppliers and discuss business opportunities.