Experience

Sarah Morris Associates

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Founder, Retail Consultant, and Board Advisor

  • Apr 2018 - Present

  https://sarahmorrisassoc.com/ Founded in 2018 to utilise my broad corporate experience in Retail and Buying and Merchandising expertise gained in senior commercial roles at Marks & Spencer, Tesco, John Lewis. and Signet. Advising consumer businesses of all types and sizes internationally on commercial strategy, customer proposition, operating model, people and culture to deliver growth and transformational change. Assignments include: El Corte Ingles, Spain Europe's no 1 department store group Since 2019 advisor to the CMO and Merchandising Director on a transformation programme to deliver improved commercial performance and stock management, through developing Merchandise Planning skills and creating consistent processes underpinned by reliable data and tools. Advised on benefits case, organisational structure, roles and RACI. Seraphine: digitally led maternity specialist Reviewed planning and trading capability for the CEO and made recommendations to support growth Fenwick, the UK's leading private department store group From 2018 to 2020, advisor to the CEO and Buying Directors on centralising and developing the commercial teams and establishing an effective Merchandise Planning function. Made recommendations on organisational structure; supported recruitment of the team; advised on reporting, tools and product hierarchy. In 2020/21acted as B+M expert business partner for systems implementation. In 2022/23 led a digital product profitability review highlighting opportunities for profitable growth. Indigo Books, Canada: review of planning and trading for the CEO resulting in recommendations and a project to apply best practice in General Merchandise including range principles and pricing, org structure and operating model Ted Baker, international fashion brand Advised on performance reporting for the CEO to improve Trading discussions and decisions Show less



Compton Verney

• United Kingdom
• Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Non Executive Director

  • Jan 2023 - Present

  Non executive Director on the Trading Board of Compton Verney advising on a strategy for Retail, Events, Catering and Private Hire to increase contribution to Compton Verney Non executive Director on the Trading Board of Compton Verney advising on a strategy for Retail, Events, Catering and Private Hire to increase contribution to Compton Verney



First Friday

• Switzerland
• Entertainment

• Consultant

  • May 2021 - Present

  First Friday is a consulting, change management and training business with its roots in retail. It has a large client base of retailers and other customer facing businesses in the UK, Europe, North America, South Africa and Australia. Everyone in the First Friday team has a retail background and have become expert consultants, trainers and change managers as a result of their own experiences and by supporting world class businesses. Advisor on a Transformation project with a luxury Mexican department store: developed recommendations for a new Commercial Organisational Structure, roles and responsibilities and a change plan to implement a pilot. Also coached the Directors and Buying Directors to create the Company Strategy on a page to align divisional initiatives to deliver the corporate aims. Senior advisor in a project team for the CEO and CFO of a luxury Mexican department store: mentored directors to align their divisional plans to the business strategy; advised on new commercial organisational structure, roles & RACIs, assessment and talent management Facilitated a strategy offsite for the senior managers of an Opticians, resulting in actionable initiatives Show less



The Retail Practice

• United Kingdom
• Advertising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Associate

  • Feb 2020 - Present

  Senior commercial advisor to this creative marketing and communications business with diverse retail and consumer clients in the UK and Europe. Senior commercial advisor to this creative marketing and communications business with diverse retail and consumer clients in the UK and Europe.



Signet

• Blockchain Services

• Commercial Director

  • Feb 2017 - Apr 2018

  The UKs leading jewellery multiple trading as H Samuel, Ernest Jones and Leslie Davies with 500+ stores. UK division of world's largest retailer of diamond jewellery and largest speciality jewellery retailer in US..Promoted to Commercial Director adding Marketing to Ecommerce, Buying, Merchandising, Quality and Responsible Sourcing responsibilities. UK Board, capex, risk and remuneration committees.- Achieved digital growth ahead of the market - Re-positioned the H Samuel brand with more emotive execution, lifting on line conversion- Moved Marketing spend to increase digital reach; first ever social campaigns; improved ROI and strong consumer recognition with H Samuel penguin ad- Oversaw re-accreditation fo Responsible Jewellery CouncilKey Activities: P&L, commercial and trading leadership; Marketing budget & execution; Brand development and execution; on line performance; Omni-channel programme sponsor; Executive participation and strategy development; customer proposition development; capex sign off and store portfolio development; team and talent development; responsible sourcing initiatives; Brand, supplier and third-party relationship management Show less

• Buying and Merchandising Director

  • Jul 2015 - Feb 2017

  Led a team of 150 across Buying, Merchandising , ecommerce and QA- Development of diamond ranges to continue category leadership, including exclusive brands Vera Wang and Emmy London- Market leading performance in under £500 watch market and luxury brand openings in Ernest Jones- Led multi-channel change programme improving customer proposition and performance



Jacques Vert Group

• United Kingdom
• Retail

• Group Trading Director

  • Oct 2012 - Apr 2015

  Private Equity backed £200m Women's branded fashion retailer formed from the merger of Jacques Vert plc and Irisa group trading 10 brands,primarily in 1500+ concessions in UK and Canada. Now trading as Style Group Brands Joined a year after the acquisititon. Full trading responsibility and a team of 140 across Buying, Merchandising, Design, Sourcing and planning. -Integrtaed Buying, Mercahndising and Design functions achieving £1m cost savings as part of turnaround plan -Rationalised the brand portfolio to 5 and focussed development on Jacques Vert. Achieved LFL growth, new openings in UK, Canada and ME. Short-listed for Drapers Fashion brand of the year 2014 - Developed Outlet channel to be a net contributor by increasing bought in sales mix to 50% Key Activities: Business strategy; Trading performance; merging Commercial functions; Brand strategy; supplier consolidation; concession relationships; Show less



John Lewis Partnership

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Merchandising Operations Director

  • Dec 2008 - Jun 2012

  The UK's leading department store with market leading digital execution and strength in Home & Lifestyle, Fashion & Beauty; Electrical and Technology categories. Joined during the financial crisis in 2008 and as On-line was transforming the business and growing rapidly. Appointed to take the Merchandising function to the next level to improve the division's commercial performance. Led a team of 180 with 10 direct reports across 50+ buying offices and central planning. - Instilled a trading culture through target setting; best pactice and monthly reviews that delivered sales and margin growth and improved stock turn and reduced terminal stock. - Integrated the commercial functioms of JL.com into Buying and Merchandising to support growth -Restructured the Merchandising function to achieve parity with Buying and improved partner advocacy from 67% to 87% Key Activities: Business planning and budgetting; Customer proposition development with Buying Directors; Omni-channel programme; Supply chain transformation and process improvement; business change; commercial review; capex committee; team and talent develop Show less



Tesco

• Jordan
• Business Supplies & Equipment
• 700 & Above Employee

• Category Director Toys, Stationery, Cards, Books, News & Mags.

  • Sep 2007 - Nov 2008

  Recruited to the Hardlines division to bring expertise in general merchandise at a time of major focus on general merchandise growth with low internal expertise and processes taken from the Food operating model. Headed up a team of Buyers. Merchandisers, Supply Chain and Technologists to deliver trading targets for this £700m category- Led the seasonal trade and promotional plan including Back to School and Christmas- Developed the on line proposition for Tesco Direct achieving growth targets. Key Activities: Category strategy; Trading performance; Sourcing and supplier negotiations; Joint buying with Central Europe; Range strategies; Trade and promotion plan; team development and coaching; Hardlines leadership team and cross business Category Director group Show less

• Category Director Home

  • Oct 2005 - Sep 2007

  Promoted to lead this newly formed £350m category bringing together Cook & Dine, Home accessories, Bedding and Bathroom for the first time.- Set strategy to achieve consistent range structure, pricing and product hand-writing - Achieved growth in excess of 20% and moved from no 5 to no 4 in UK Home market.- Extended range for Tesco Direct and developed joint sourced ranges with Central Europe. - Built team capability and recruited externally for key skills gaps.Key Activities: Category strategy plan; Trading performance; Own brand and brand development; Sourcing plan; Consolidated buying and sourcing for Central Europe; Category Trade plan & promotions; supplier and brand negotiation and management; recruitment & development of team Show less

• Head of Merchandise Planning Hardlines

  • Mar 2004 - Oct 2005

  Asked to take up this new role leading cross category team of 50 across Hardlines categories to put in consistent process and controls for this £3billion division.- Instigated business planning process with monthly WSSI reviews- Led total relay of all Hardlines space across 1500+ stores to maximise return off spaces. Devised new space rules for ongoing effective distribution of space. Delivered LFL sales and margin growth- Developed a a store specific markdown system with IT to optimise clearance of stock.- Centralised Buying Admin to support operational efficiemcy increasing launch availabilityKey Activities: Budgetting and business review; WSSI management; IT and process development; Best practice; RACI & role profiles, objectives development; Hardlines representative on cross commercial initiatives; Project leadership; recruitment and leadership of Merchandising team Show less

• Category Manager Toys, Sports and Seasonal

  • Feb 2002 - Mar 2004

  Recruited to bring in expertise on general categories, particularly the management of Seasonal.Led a team of 30 buyers, merchandisers and technical for this £200m category



Marks and Spencer

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Category Manager

  • May 2000 - Feb 2002

  Appointed Category Manager for Womens footwear and bags as part of major change programme to embed category management. Led a team of 20 buyers, merchandisers and technologistsKey Activities: Category plan and trading targets; planning and forecasting; product development; sourcing and supplier management; range and pricing plan; promotional planning; team leadership and coaching; business change; member of Womenswear leadership team.

• Merchandise Manager

  • Sep 1986 - May 2000

  Joined on head office graduate training programmeHeld Merchandising roles in Menswear, Womenswear, Accessories & Footwear, Gifts & Stationery and Home.European development role 1989-1991 based in Paris. Learnt French and developed business in Footwear, Gifts and Home for stores in France, Belguim, Spain and the Netherlands.Key Activities: Sales, Stock and margin management; price and promotion planning; product strategy and range development; supplier strategy and price negotiation, store cataloguing and alloocation; people development Show less