Partner

• Mar 2021 - Present

Chris has 20 years of blue-chip retail expertise as a senior manager with in-depth experience in all facets of retail operations, both domestic and cross-border. He held senior roles in store development, location and space planning, central planning and operations, as well as being a replenishment manager, merchandise planner for franchise operations and a foods department manager. He has wide ranging experience in various retail areas such as men and women’s apparel, footwear and accessories, homeware, food merchandising, and store operations. Chris’s expertise and skills include data analytics, retail strategy, store development, merchandise planning, inventory control and management, space planning, layout and implementation, as well as business process optimisation. He is a natural problem solver, with and eye for detail, who thrives on delivering pragmatic solutions and optimising operations and processes. Chris is comfortable wading through complex metrics and detail. He understands the challenges facing retail leaders in managing profitable and sustainable retail businesses. Show less

Group Head: Store Development & Space Planning

• Mar 2018 - Feb 2021

Management of Store Development and Space Planning for the Woolworths FBH (Fashion, Beauty, Homeware) unit across all trading formats and customer clusters across South African and sub-Saharan stores, partnering with Real Estate Development, Retail Operations, Architecture, Fashion and Foods business units and Supply ChainResponsible for the overall customer experience through store macro- layout, equipment and visual merchandising utilization for new stores, store modernization, store extensions and store reductionsEnsured proportionate layouts to optimize trading density of each store cluster and format through in-depth understanding of the customer profile and store architectureLed the FBH Format Strategy and dept. blueprint, space and equipment optimization to guide assortment building and profitable inventory management Show less

Group Head: Location & Space Planning

• Dec 2013 - Feb 2018

Managed Location Planning to deliver detailed financial store plans that supported unique customer clusters and store formats, with store financial plans providing the guardrails to micro-assortment planning and detailed proportionate space layout Led space apportionment and trading densities and reporting. Actively involved in Store Development with Real Estate Development, Retail Operations and ArchitectureLed a detailed critical path to store opening, including all PIR processes. Oversaw seasonal layout changes including Model stores. Developed the TBM Bronze equipment suite. Responsible for all channel formats (Fashion/ Beauty/Home, Merchandise Integration and David Jones Australia) Show less

Group Head: Central Planning & Operations

• Jan 2013 - Nov 2013

Led Central Planning, Operations and Stock processes, including Store Location Planning for South Africa and Africa Corporate operationsOversaw all financial planning, inventory management and conversions processes in successful buy-back of the Woolworths (Pty) Ltd Franchise Operations to Corporate across Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland and Ghana

Planning Manager: Central Planning & Operations

• Jun 2010 - Dec 2012

Provision of strategic input and key financial metrics for the FBH and Buying Group Leadership, including weekly financial reporting and monthly KPI reviews. Provided direction, input and guidance in financial forecasting, intake and inventory control, intake and sales margin deliverables Managed FBH Clearance and Promotional strategy, including all price management systemsDelivered audited data into the Retail Liaison Committee of retailers, enabling reporting of market share within the Apparel Industry in South Africa. Key stakeholder in the re-alignment of the macro-apparel categories to +- 300 micro-apparel categoriesManaged financial planning, reporting and stock management during the conversion of 55 Franchise stores to Corporate stores in South AfricaDeveloped Supply Chain operational reports for Africa exports and assisted in the transition from bulk CovPack to individual Distribution Unit operations. Developed an Export Volume Planning methodology to assist Supply Chain in export optimizationDeveloped reporting capabilities for central JDA allocations Show less

Planning Manager: Womens Fashion Apparel

• Dec 2006 - May 2010

Directed Women's Fashion Apparel strategy to Department levelOversaw detailed Merchandise plans, departmental strategy sign-off, planning parameters and range construction Managed a team of product and store planners across pre-season, in-season and post-season requirements Managed all aspects of store sizing analysis, allocations, replenishment and range building for all new and trading stores

Replenishment Planning Manager

• Apr 2004 - Nov 2006

Contributed to Buying Group Leadership and Product Strategy re: replenishment merchandise for Women's Apparel, Women's Footwear & Accessories and HomewareDelivered all pre-season, in-season and post-season activities relating to supplier and store operationsManaged a team of store planners to deliver overall availability of >90% by item while managing profitable inventory levelsManaged supplier relationships through seasonal production planning reviews and ad-hoc situations Show less

Merchandise Planner: Woolworths Franchise Operations

• Nov 2002 - Mar 2004

Provided advisory guidance to Franchisee partners re: financial sales, intake, markdown and inventory planning to maximize commercial key performance Indicators for storesUndertook quarterly Franchise Buying process by preparing seasonal strategies and planning informationReporting of on-time delivery of Franchise Purchase Orders to storesResponsible for the integration between Buying Groups and Franchise partners, managing day-to-day merchandise issuesTraining of replenishment merchandise sales principles and in-store management for Franchise partners Show less

Replenishment Planner: Mens Apparel

• Oct 2001 - Oct 2002

Responsible for planning Menswear replenishment merchandise to Corporate and Franchise stores to ensure required product availability and inventory targets were optimized

Sales Consultant

• Sep 2000 - Aug 2001

Responsible for sales of Oracle Database and Oracle Enterprise Application Suite 9i in the Western Cape. Responsible for sales of Oracle Database and Oracle Enterprise Application Suite 9i in the Western Cape.

Sales Consultant

• Oct 1999 - Aug 2000

Responsible for sales, installations and management of Fixed Line Cellular Communication to Corporate clients in the Western Cape. Responsible for sales, installations and management of Fixed Line Cellular Communication to Corporate clients in the Western Cape.

Sales Specialist

• Apr 1996 - Sep 1999

Responsible for calling on General Practitioners, Specialists and Pharmacists in promoting pharmaceutical medicines. Recognized as Rookie of the Year; Sales Representative of the Year and Over-Achiever. Responsible for calling on General Practitioners, Specialists and Pharmacists in promoting pharmaceutical medicines. Recognized as Rookie of the Year; Sales Representative of the Year and Over-Achiever.

Foods Department Manager

• Jan 1994 - May 1995

Responsible for merchandising and store operations of Protein and Long-life foods Responsible for merchandising and store operations of Protein and Long-life foods

Research And Teaching Assistant

• Jan 1990 - Dec 1992