Experience

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  XIX Vodka

  • United Kingdom

  • Senior National Account Manager

    • Dec 2022 - Dec 2023
    • United Kingdom

    Overall Achievements:• Gross Sales Value increased by +299% in 1 year.• Listings gained in Tesco, Booker, One Stop, Morrisons, and J D Wetherspoons.• Established and grown the influencer start-up XIX Vodka brand within UK Retail, Convenience, Wholesale and On-trade channels. • Successful launches of 3 new products.Responsibilities and Skills:• Sales Operations and Sales Management enhancing turnover and increased market share for XIX Vodka through reasoned forecasting, driving brand distribution, availability, visibility, and display execution by using sales and negotiation skills.• Achieving and delivering against stretching sales targets and taking pride in the acceleration of the company’s performance.• Selling in NPD, (new lines), promotions and gain incremental selling space within retailer outlets,• Optimise launch conditions for new products and visit stores and depots on an ongoing basis to maintain momentum and ensure compliance.• Business-to-Business (B2B) Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and building a strong rapport with Trading Controllers, Buyers, and Decision Makers to ensure repetition and/or improvement of sales in the future.• Delivering a passion for XIX Vodka brands and championing their products.• Demonstrating best practice by sharing and presenting category data insights, brand information to Trading Controllers, Buyers, Decision Makers, and colleagues.

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  Thatchers Cider Company Ltd

  • United Kingdom
  • Food and Beverage Services
  • 100 - 200 Employee

  • Senior National Account Manager

    • Jul 2021 - Nov 2022

    Overall Achievements: • Looked after the 2nd largest customer group for Thatchers Cider. • Promoted 4 times since joining Thatchers Cider in July 2015. • Established and grown the Thatchers Cider brand within Convenience, Wholesale and Forecourt Retail channels. • Contributed to transform Thatchers Cider from a regional to a national brand and the fastest growing Cider brand in the UK.• Nominated for Supplier of the Year at the Co-op Pioneer Awards - 2021Key Account Management within portfolio of:• Convenience/Supermarket/Forecourt Retailer: Co-op.• Convenience Retail and Delivered Wholesalers: Nisa Retail Limited and Costcutter.• Forecourt Retailers: BP and Shell Retail UK.Responsibilities and Skills:• Sales Operations and Sales Management enhancing turnover and increased market share for Thatchers Cider through reasoned forecasting, driving brand distribution, availability, visibility, and display execution by using sales and negotiation skills.• Achieving and delivering against stretching sales targets and taking pride in the acceleration of the company’s performance.• Selling in NPD, (new lines), promotions and gain incremental selling space within retailer outlets – 4 successful launches of market-leading products.• Optimise launch conditions for new products and visit stores and depots on an ongoing basis to maintain momentum and ensure compliance.• Business-to-Business (B2B) Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and building a strong rapport with Trading Controllers, Buyers, and Decision Makers to ensure repetition and/or improvement of sales in the future.• Delivering a passion for Thatchers Cider brands and championing their products.• Demonstrating best practice by sharing and presenting category data insights, brand information to Trading Controllers, Buyers, Decision Makers, and colleagues.

  • National Account Manager

    • Sep 2020 - Jul 2021

    Achievements: Promoted to Senior National Account Manager - July 2021Key Account Management within portfolio of:• Convenience/Supermarket/Forecourt Retailer; Co-op.• Multiple Retailer; Waitrose & Partners.• Convenience Retail and Delivered Wholesalers; Nisa Retail Limited and Costcutter.• Forecourt Retailers; BP and Shell Retail UK.

  • National Account Executive

    • Jan 2019 - Sep 2020

    Achievements: Promoted to National Account Manager - September 2020Combined sales growth of +216% and volume growth of +198% during this period within account portfolio of:• Multiple Retailer; Waitrose & Partners.• Convenience Retail and Delivered Wholesalers; Nisa Retail Limited, SPAR Blakemore Retail, SPAR Appleby Westward Group plc, Costcutter and McColl’s Retail Group.• Independent Wholesaler Members within the Unitas and Sugro Groups.• Forecourt Retailers; BP, Shell Retail UK and Rontec.

  • Business Development Manager

    • Jan 2017 - Jan 2019

    Achievements: Promoted to National Account Executive - January 2019Combined sales growth of +53% and volume growth of +46% during this period within account portfolio:• Convenience Retail and Delivered Wholesalers: Nisa Retail Limited and McColl’s Retail Group.• Independent Wholesaler Members within the Today’s, Landmark and Sugro Groups• Forecourt Retailers; BP, Shell Retail UK and Rontec.

  • Territory Sales Manager

    • Jul 2015 - Jan 2017

    Achievements: Promoted to Business Development Manager - January 2017Responsibilities:• Maximising sales of Thatchers Cider within the Top Four Grocers; Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco, by driving brand availability, distribution, visibility and display execution by using sales and negotiation skills. Thus, enhancing turnover and increase market share for our Thatchers Cider.• Achieving and delivering against stretching sales targets and taking pride in the acceleration of the company’s performance.• Retailer champion for Morrisons; providing feedback with what is happening at store level which can be brought to the attention of Thatchers Cider. Sharing relevant intelligence gathered with fellow TSMs to assist in driving the account forward, along with collating any feedback from other TSMs.• Execute promotions on time and to high standards by using innovative displays and create maximum in-store visibility and supporting our clients' businesses.• Selling in and implementing new lines, promotions and gain incremental space with display units.• Ordering stock to deliver increased sales and greater availability.• Optimise launch conditions for new products and revisit stores on an ongoing basis to maintain momentum.• CRM and building a strong rapport with Key Store Personnel and Decision Makers to ensure repetition and/or improvement of sales in the future.• Delivering a passion for Thatchers Cider brands and champion their products.• Demonstrating best practice by sharing useful information, such as hints/tips and issues, to colleagues, clients and National Account Managers.

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  Flare/Birds Eye Foods

  • North Birmingham, Staffordshire, and Shropshire

  • Business Development Executive

    • Jan 2014 - Jul 2015
    • North Birmingham, Staffordshire, and Shropshire

    Achievements: Newcomer Of The Year - February 2015Responsibilities:• Maximising sales of Birds Eye Foods within the Top Four Grocers; Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco, by driving brand availability, distribution, visibility and display execution by using sales and negotiation skills. Thus, enhancing turnover and increase market share for our Birds Eye Foods.• Achieving and delivering against stretching sales targets and taking pride in the acceleration of the company’s performance.• Retailer champion for Morrisons; providing feedback with what is happening at store level which can be brought to the attention of Birds Eye. Sharing relevant intelligence gathered with fellow BDEs to assist in driving the account forward, along with collating any feedback from other BDEs.• Execute promotions on time and to high standards by using innovative displays and create maximum in-store visibility and supporting our clients' businesses.• Selling in and implementing new lines, promotions and gain incremental space with display units.• Ordering stock to deliver increased sales and greater availability.• Optimise launch conditions for new products and revisit stores on an ongoing basis to maintain momentum.• CRM and building a strong rapport with Key Store Personnel and Decision Makers to ensure repetition and/or improvement of sales in the future.• Delivering a passion for client’s brands and champion their products.• Demonstrating best practice by sharing useful information, such as hints/tips and issues, to colleagues and Client Managers. • Collation of results from the national and regional team and reporting these to the line manager and/or the whole channel.

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  Tactical Solutions

  • Midlands Area

  • Business Development Executive

    • May 2011 - Jul 2015
    • Midlands Area

    Responsibilities:• Maximising sales of FMCG within the Top Four Grocers; Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco, by driving brand availability, distribution, visibility and display execution by using sales and negotiation skills. Thus, enhancing turnover and increase market share for our clients and their brands.• Achieving and delivering against stretching sales targets and taking pride in the acceleration of the company’s performance.• Execute promotions on time and to high standards by using innovative displays and create maximum in-store visibility and supporting our clients businesses.• Selling in and implementing new lines, promotions and gain incremental space with display units.• Ordering stock where available to deliver increased sales and greater availability.• Optimise launch conditions for new products and revisit stores on an ongoing basis to maintain momentum.• Building a strong rapport with Key Store Personnel and Decision Makers to ensure a repetition and/or improvement of sales in the future.• Delivering a passion for client’s brands and champion their products.• Demonstrating best practice by sharing useful information, such as hints/tips and issues, to colleagues and Client Managers. • Collation of results from regional team and reporting these to the line manager.

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  DWP

  • Birmingham, England, United Kingdom

  • Personal Employment Advisor/Executive Officer

    • Jul 2009 - Feb 2011
    • Birmingham, England, United Kingdom

    Achievements:• Enabled unemployed clients to move closer to the labour market or return to work;• Helped clients understand the nature of Jobseekers Allowance and the conditions of entitlement.• Worked with clients to explore options for work-focused activity, including selling the benefits of work and helping them decide and clarify job goals. • Interviewed clients and identifying their needs, providing information, advice and guidance about re-employment along with a range of issues, such as education and training, housing, money, health, drugs and alcohol abuse; either directly or in partnership with specialist agencies;• Assisted clients to draw up action plans for employment, education and training and supporting them to achieve these goals;• Researched careers, options and support organisations to meet client’s needs;• Explained the range of financial support available to help people move back to work, including the Return to Work Credit and Adviser Discretion Fund. • Carried out better off in work calculations. • Submitted/referred clients to job vacancies, employment training opportunities, and other specialist help. • Ran small group sessions or larger presentations on all aspects of careers work and topics related to personal development;• Identified and initiate any Decision Making and Appeals (DMA) action and referrals to fraud and take appropriate action. • Handled compliments and complaints, ensuring that compliments are communicated and complaints forwarded elsewhere have been answered. • Contributed towards any Jobcentre Plus performance targets, Values and customer service standards/Charters put in place for the entire Jobcentre Plus process.• Kept up to date with labour market information, legislation, and professional and academic developments by visiting employers, training providers and training events run by educational and professional bodies;• Managed a caseload of clients.

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  Superdrug

  • Birmingham, England, United Kingdom

  • Assistant Manager

    • Jan 2008 - Oct 2008
    • Birmingham, England, United Kingdom

    Achievements:• Liaised with and deputised the manager in the efficient operation of a £5 million turnover flagship store as well as being personally accountable for the profitability of the branch to achieve all of the KPI targets set.• Imparted product knowledge and company ethos to all members of staff (identifying department strengths, weaknesses, and act upon opportunities to increase sales).• Achieved and exceeded a +2% increase in like for like sales compared to previous year’s revenue.• Increased the unit sales and consistently front ranked all other stores in the company in selling the Products of the Month and E-top ups, through personally devised and driven “Sell it in 60 seconds” training programme.• Increased average customer basket-size by +£65% from £5.14 to £8.56 by using my own initiative, being commercial, and seizing “add-on” sales opportunities through merchandising of linked products in the correct areas. This empowered me to be creative and show flair in my merchandising.• Led a team of 30-40 staff, (dependant on the time of year) and kept well within the required wage budget through rota implementation and administration.• Conserved and kept below a quarterly shrinkage loss of 1.5% of achieved sales for each quarter. (Company allows 2%) • Achieved a performance-related pay increase of +2.5% of annual salary.

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  JD Sports Fashion plc

  • Birmingham, United Kingdom

  • Assistant Manager

    • Nov 2004 - Jan 2008
    • Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Achievements:• Liaised with and deputised the manager in the efficient operation of a £6 million turnover megastore as well as being personally accountable for the profitability of the branch in order to achieve all of the KPI targets set.• Imparted product knowledge and company ethos to all members of staff (identifying department strengths, weaknesses, and act upon opportunities to increase sales).• Achieved and exceeded a +3% increase in like for like sales compared to previous year’s revenue.• Increased the unit sales and consistently front ranked all other stores in the company in selling J.D. Exclusive products, through personally devised and driven “Sell it in 60 seconds” training programme.• New training techniques were implemented resulting in high level of customer service and staff motivation levels, which led to an increase sales of footwear +11% on previous year’s revenue.• Led a team of 30-60 staff, (dependant on time of year) and kept well within the required wage budget through rota implementation and administration. Typical 7% of a week’s sales target.• Conserved and kept below a quarterly shrinkage loss of 0.1% of achieved sales for each quarter. (Company allows 0.2%)