Sarah Lewis
Head Of Merchandising at Gill Marine- Claim this Profile
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Bio
James Clark
Sarah was brought in by First Friday to assist in the training of the 100 or so Finance people in the new Oracle system. In order to do this she needed to understand our particular processes to enable clear presentation of the impacts of the changes we wanted to implement and what people had to do differently. Many consultants are personable and reliable and able to present competently, all of which Sarah was, but the thing that impressed me most about her was that, despite not having worked with us before, she managed to demonstrate a significant depth of knowledge of our current and future processes, answering technical systems, process and even accounting questions clearly and accurately.
Martin Beeko
Sarah is a highly technical & product focused Merchandise professional who I had the privilege of working with twice earlier in my career. At River Island she was highly respected, regarded, and trusted by all levels within the Business. She was certainly a very positive influence on my development and the skills she imparts to people are successful & not easily forgotten .
James Clark
Sarah was brought in by First Friday to assist in the training of the 100 or so Finance people in the new Oracle system. In order to do this she needed to understand our particular processes to enable clear presentation of the impacts of the changes we wanted to implement and what people had to do differently. Many consultants are personable and reliable and able to present competently, all of which Sarah was, but the thing that impressed me most about her was that, despite not having worked with us before, she managed to demonstrate a significant depth of knowledge of our current and future processes, answering technical systems, process and even accounting questions clearly and accurately.
Martin Beeko
Sarah is a highly technical & product focused Merchandise professional who I had the privilege of working with twice earlier in my career. At River Island she was highly respected, regarded, and trusted by all levels within the Business. She was certainly a very positive influence on my development and the skills she imparts to people are successful & not easily forgotten .
James Clark
Sarah was brought in by First Friday to assist in the training of the 100 or so Finance people in the new Oracle system. In order to do this she needed to understand our particular processes to enable clear presentation of the impacts of the changes we wanted to implement and what people had to do differently. Many consultants are personable and reliable and able to present competently, all of which Sarah was, but the thing that impressed me most about her was that, despite not having worked with us before, she managed to demonstrate a significant depth of knowledge of our current and future processes, answering technical systems, process and even accounting questions clearly and accurately.
Martin Beeko
Sarah is a highly technical & product focused Merchandise professional who I had the privilege of working with twice earlier in my career. At River Island she was highly respected, regarded, and trusted by all levels within the Business. She was certainly a very positive influence on my development and the skills she imparts to people are successful & not easily forgotten .
James Clark
Sarah was brought in by First Friday to assist in the training of the 100 or so Finance people in the new Oracle system. In order to do this she needed to understand our particular processes to enable clear presentation of the impacts of the changes we wanted to implement and what people had to do differently. Many consultants are personable and reliable and able to present competently, all of which Sarah was, but the thing that impressed me most about her was that, despite not having worked with us before, she managed to demonstrate a significant depth of knowledge of our current and future processes, answering technical systems, process and even accounting questions clearly and accurately.
Martin Beeko
Sarah is a highly technical & product focused Merchandise professional who I had the privilege of working with twice earlier in my career. At River Island she was highly respected, regarded, and trusted by all levels within the Business. She was certainly a very positive influence on my development and the skills she imparts to people are successful & not easily forgotten .
Experience
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Gill Marine
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United Kingdom
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Sporting Goods Manufacturing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Head Of Merchandising
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Apr 2019 - Present
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Sarah Lewis
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East Midlands
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Merchandising Subject Matter Expert (Contractor)
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Jan 2007 - Mar 2019
Independent retail contractor specialising in all aspects of buying and merchandising including; Interim Merchandise Management, Multi-Channel Merchandise Planning (Subject Matter Expert), Training Development and Delivery, Building Best Practice, Lecturing. Independent retail contractor specialising in all aspects of buying and merchandising including; Interim Merchandise Management, Multi-Channel Merchandise Planning (Subject Matter Expert), Training Development and Delivery, Building Best Practice, Lecturing.
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Blacks Outdoor Retail Limited
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United Kingdom
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Retail
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200 - 300 Employee
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Merchandise Manager
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Dec 2005 - Aug 2006
At BLG I was part of the senior leadership team charged with implementing best practice into the business. I left the company to pursue a portfolio contract career and study for my MBA. At BLG I was part of the senior leadership team charged with implementing best practice into the business. I left the company to pursue a portfolio contract career and study for my MBA.
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John Lewis & Partners
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United Kingdom
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Retail
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700 & Above Employee
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Head of Merchandising: Womenswear
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Jan 2005 - Dec 2005
Until early 2005 there was no merchandising function at JLP. I was brought in to lead the introduction of Merchandising into the Womenswear division which involved the: • strategic and operational management of all areas of womenswear, i.e. clothing, lingerie, accessories and footwear. • establishment of merchandising business processes • specification of new merchandising systems • ability to lead and influence a major change programme Key Achievements • Successful on-time introduction of merchandising into the womenswear division • Strong partnership with buying community during change programme to minimise resistance to change and avert potential conflict • Recognition of contribution made by my team in improving stock availability whilst reducing stock levels and markdown costs. Due to unforeseen personal reasons I left JLP in order to re-locate to the Midlands. Show less
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River Island
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United Kingdom
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Retail
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700 & Above Employee
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Merchandise Controller
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May 1996 - Dec 2004
Merchandise Controller Menswear Dec 2000 - Dec 2004 Senior Merchandiser Womenswear May 1996 - Dec 2000 Reporting directly to the Managing Director I was responsible for the merchandising function within the Menswear division of this family-run business. This involved the: • formulation of short and long-term business strategy to achieve profit maximisation • operational delivery of strategy through excellent range planning, product selection, stock management/distribution, sales forecasting and commercial trading • management of 40 staff (9 direct reports: Merchandisers & Branch Merchandisers) • additional responsibility given in 2001 for Branch Merchandising. This involved store sales/space/option planning followed up with regular analysis and store visits through the season to ensure that planned stock levels were achieved and individual store potential realised. • additional responsibility given in 2002 for management of international franchise operation Show less
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Freemans
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Retail
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1 - 100 Employee
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Senior Merchandising Executive
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Sep 1995 - May 1996
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Jaeger
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Retail
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100 - 200 Employee
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Merchandise Manager
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Sep 1992 - Aug 1995
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Hobbs London
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United Kingdom
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Retail
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300 - 400 Employee
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Merchandiser
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Aug 1990 - Aug 1992
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Merchandiser
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1989 - 1990
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Allocator and Assistant Merchandiser
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1986 - 1989
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Education
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2007 - 2009
Loughborough University
MBA, Business -
1982 - 1985
Coventry University
BA Hons, Economics
Community
