About Me
A premium brand ambassador with over 20 years of field sales experience representing quality brands such as Leica Camera Ltd. for photo and optical equipment, Loewe UK for tv and audio products as a KAM into John Lewis, Apple as a JLP partner sales trainer for Gekko field marketing agency. More recent activity includes representing a country sports wholesaler, learning about outdoor clothing and footwear in particular; brands include Swedteam, Sportchief, Rocky, Crispi and Grubs.
Experience of negotiating with customers up to buyer/owner level as a Key Account and Area Manager, for independents as well as key multiples, retail management experience, as well as driving sales, creating sales performance leagues, meeting monthly and annual targets and being organised with journey plans, some of the companies I have represented also have specific contractual merchandising obligations by way of annual agreements – important regarding my knowledge dealing with stock availability, VM/POS maintenance and product presentation on a day-to-day basis. A regular organiser of in-store promotional activity and a team-player with exhibitor experience at the NEC, ExCel, and Photokina in Cologne also demonstrates consumer face-to-face exposure. Furthermore, office management experience in 2010 and self-employed sales agent experience demonstrates I am a well-rounded individual with lots of strings to my bow.
I can work flexible hours (no dependents, professional partner), I live close to the A30 in north Cornwall…an hour from Exeter, 2.5 hours from Bristol, PLUS family whom I visit monthly in Gloucestershire. I can stay away as the job requires. I hold a clean driving license and can offer immediate availability due to redundancy.
Education
University of Portsmouth 1992
Geography BA Hons
Key modules included Statistics, Oceanography, Marine Resources, Fluvial Processes., Geomorphology.
Bishops Cleeve Comprehensive School 1980-88
A levels
Chemistry (B), Geography (B)
Bishops Cleeve Comprehensive School 1980-88
O levels
9 O levels passed, incl English Language, Maths, Chemistry, Biology, Physics; City & Guilds 923 Photography
Work & Experience
Micropix Ltd
Sales & Marketing Executive
For 2 1/2 years I was the new business hunter for Micropix Ltd digital cameras and microscope supplier, primarily to NHS pathology departments UK-wide but also to higher education establishments and veterinarians, updating the existing database of contacts and then more than doubling it with key, go-to, decision makers, lab managers and consultants. I created a marketing calendar from scratch, sent out regular e-shots through the CRM platform (HubSpot), chased any interest to conclusion. Micropix also sell bespoke image capture software modules; I was also required to offer support and remote training to consultants and lab personnel for this.
Danfast plumbing & electrical wholesaler Ltd
Area Manager
Delivered year-on-year territory growth for Danfast Ltd (wholesale plumbing & electrical supplier 2016- 19) via stock audits/replenishment to consignment customers, regularly selling-in additional products. Adding new customers to the region through best-price negotiations, trade research, fresh approaches and WoM. Area turnover ~£2.7M.
Garlands country sports wholesale Ltd
Area Manager
I delivered improved account management via regular in- person appointments, re-established dormant accounts & continued to grow the territory with new accounts in hunting, fishing & country clothing on the high street as well as for the on-line sector. Handled +350 accounts across ~30 counties. Area turnover ~£750k.
Loewe tv & audio
Area / Key Account Manager
I was the John Lewis Partnership key go-between for JBP implementation & sales throughput, POS installation & maintenance, partner training, negotiation of sell-through of discontinued lines. I was also the point of contact for technical queries out of hours/when the brand champions or demonstrators were unavailable.
Self-employed
Photographic Sales Agent
Area / Key Account Manager
Leica Camera (UK) Ltd
Area / Key Account Manager
I grew the UK’s (then) second largest photographic retailer into a key account, increasing their buying by 65%. Also had territory responsibilities to open new accounts, maintain and nurture independent retailers selling photographic, ‘sports’ (observation) optics and projection equipment across the south of England and S. Wales. Area turnover ~£1.8M.