Outcome: 50% sales increase year on year, with the budgeted closing stock target achieved.

Retail and Wholesale Stock & Sales Forecasting

Engaged by a multichannel toy business which was going through a high growth period in both retail and wholesale . The directors asked me to review existing reports and recommend improvements and then regularly advise their merchandiser on sales forecasting and stock cover for both retail and wholesale.

Process:

• Reviewed current processes and identified training and development needs.
• Trained the merchandiser in more accurate sales forecasting using spreadsheet line cards.
• Set up a suite of stock management spreadsheets which enabled the merchandiser to monitor sales and stock of all items weekly to ensure good stock cover.
• Provided support by performing weekly checks on the stock position and discussing actions with the merchandiser.

Outcome: a 200% increase in the turnover over 2 years.

Merchandising Reporting Suite

Engaged by a luxury Childrenswear multichannel business which had no weekly stock management reporting, and as a consequence had large overstocks at the end of each season. I specified and developed a suite of merchandising reports which gave the staff visibility of sales trends and cover allowing them to make better decisions.

Process:

• Held discovery meetings with the management and staff to identify the issues.
• Developed templates for a sales & stock cover reporting suite by channel.
• Provided specifications to the system developers and validated the resultant reports
• Conducted training sessions with the staff to explain best use of the new reporting.

Outcome: a better informed team who could make quicker trading decisions and had better information for planning future ranges.

Website Launch for New Fashion Business

Engaged by the founder of a new Fashion online retailer who needed support and advice on inventory and system setup, budgeting, and stock & sales reporting.

Process:

• Worked closely with the systems implementation team to understand system setup and to develop appropriate reporting.
• Validated the reports.
• Provided training to the staff on both system and warehouse procedures.
• Trained and developed a Merchandising Assistant.

Outcome: a smooth website launch with no system, stock or inventory issues.

International Product Launch

Engaged by a multichannel toy retailer to project manage the international launch of their wholesale business, to include product selection and pricing.

Process:

• Developed an international pricing model with agreed margins for the distribution chain.
• Identified those products in their current range where there was sufficient margin to sell internationally.
• Recommended pricing for future new products to ensure they can be part of international range.
• Trained staff in using the pricing model for future products.

Outcome: an exciting launch with better planned pricing for new product development.

Warehouse Stock Management Procedures

Engaged by a catalogue / web gift company who were struggling with supplier management and with managing their warehouse. The owner asked me for advice to improve the situation and reduce costs.

Process:

• Conducted discovery meetings to identify and document the issues.
• Developed and implemented supplier procedures to be issued to all suppliers regarding delivery standards.
• Developed and implemented warehouse procedures for the staff to ensure they all followed the same routines.
• Provided training for the staff to ensure understanding.

Outcome: happier, more productive staff who spent less time resolving supplier issues.