Amanda Allan Email and Phone Number

Business Bank

Tactically focused on private label brands to increase profitability. Delivered growth on full price sales to improve margin rate by 2%. Enabled a training plan for Loading Bay staff which improved quality and pace of their work. Delivered consistent visual standards and commerciality in premium department store environment. Flexibly made cost savings required whilst streamlining ways of working especially in cash up and lock down process – saving 1 hour of energy and man hours per day. Gained buy in for a town planning application for store advertising which is now in progress. Initiated meetings with local council to improve landscaping and store projection. Built relationship with Solihull BID to support town and promote House of Fraser through social media. Improved communication with our concessions using monthly management meetings to drive performance and increase teamwork.

Drive sales and profit through operational excellence, visual presentation and engaging the team.

Top of the region on sales versus budget and last year and +10% on profit. Achieved sales and profit growth through strong P&L control, management engagement and good basic retail standards. Restructured store stock flow process to improve speed of new stock hitting the sales floor. Invested in stock room racking to improve linear conversion. Engaged management team with a set of basic expectations to improve presentation and customer service standards. Put the ‘wow’ back into visual presentation by strategically placing maximum impact internal visual hotspots. Improved the visibility of our range and promotions by reclassifying our shop window priorities. Refocused on staff launching a development programme for aspiring managers. Developed relationships with cosmetics teams to improve service, engagement and store investment.

Won Retail Week Skillsmart Rising Star Award for Store Manager Midlands category. Short listed and then selected for an internal development group for high performance, high potential store managers. Participated in Oxford Summer School. Continually improved Average Transaction Value (ATV) and Customer Service scores in a challenging local market. In my first six months, I pulled back the sales deficit from -5% on budget. The store achieve profit bonus for 2009/10. I was one of eight store managers selected to participate in a Debenhams training DVD sharing our own experiences about creating our own career development. Asked for and received regional responsibility for Order Service acting as Regional Champion. Improved regional result and region was top ranked for Order Service in 2010/11. I am known for my innovation: two of my ideas have been taken on by Debenhams as store trials. Saved 30% on energy in 2010/11 compared to LY. Improved margin rate on fashion and food through better control of ranging, stocks, and markdown.

Part of handpicked turnaround team for this then troubled storePrompted a change of mindset in the new management team whereby they take ownership for their own divisions at all levels. Successfully implemented Space Moves Project Manager with minimal disruption to store trading. Launched new company strategy to increase Average Transaction Value and Average Transaction Units. Average Transaction Value rose 26% vs LY and Average Transacion Units increase was 3rd in the company vs LY. Identified an opportunity and am growing and developing the existing Senior Sales Adviser population to underpin the store succession plan.June 2008- June 2009 Desire by Debenhams, Walton-on-Thames, SurreyStore Manager Designate. Saved 33% on payroll in store year 2 as team were more up skilled. Completed the eight day store manager 'Finishing School' that challenged me to flex and change my leadership style, to set a store vision and to manage and influence my peers and line manager. Shaped store's space plans to adjust departmental square footage in line with sales trends to increase profitability. Used Christmas to coach team about making the prime space work harder. Won runner up award for best sales percentage increase versus last year for Winter Sale. Developed other managers. Increased selling space and saved payroll by removing tills from first floor; based decision on till usage information.May 2007 - June 2008 Desire by Debenhams, Walton-on-Thames, SurreySales Manager Level 3, Nominated Deputy with responsibility for Women's Wear Casual, Cosmetics, Accessories, and Operations.Worked closely with Resourcing and Learning and Development, to plan and train team for a successful store opening. Store is achieved ranking in the top ten in the company for sales increase above budget, has been awarded the regional 'Centre of Excellence' award for retail standards, has had numerous positive visits and has kept a low labour turnover.

Walton-on-Thames, 2007-2008Worked closely with Resourcing and Learning and Development, to plan and train team for a successful store opening. Store achieved ranking in the top ten in the company for sales increase above budget, was been awarded the regional ‘Centre of Excellence’ award for retail standards.Brighton, 2006-2007 Played a more global role in store participating in ‘Duty Manager’ role. Project managed Mystery Shop taking store results from 78% to 88%, 90% and 93%. Created Performa for observing staff, which was so successful, it was distributed to the region and then the company. One of four 'expert' Home managers from the South Region invited to participate in Buying and Merchandise review.

Learned how to use daily/weekly figures to take advantage of and react to over or under performing departments. Planned staff to maximize their impact on the shop floor and to manage their development to add to their existing skills. Attended and actively participated in learning development days such as 'Impact and Influence,' 'Appraisal Skills,' 'Coaching,' 'Driving Selling for Sales Managers,' 'Drilling Down for Cash Profit,' and Sales Manager Conferences. Completed the one year programme in nine months.July 2005 - August 2005 Sussex Outdoor, Shoreham-by-Sea, West SussexContributed to launching this new store on the Shoreham high street. Bought in ranges to maximize sales and customer interest. Served customers, merchandised stock, cashed up, and locked down the store.

Won the sales associate of the month (for highest monthly sales) two months in a row. Assisted with visual displays, sales, cleaning, delivery, personal shopping and stock work.