Andrew Hirst Email & Phone Number

Management, Ranging and buying of variety of products such as: Building materials, Landscaping Products, Contemporary homeware, gifts, cookware, office products, writing instruments, hygiene products , office machines, domestic furniture, office furniture, general office supplies, writing instruments, facilities management, own label products, promotional gifts, Sports, educational furniture, early years products and Display products.

Leicester, England, United Kingdom

Coventry, England, United Kingdom

• Responsible for over the counter products for Northern Ireland within the pharmaceutical sector. Working for the wholesale division suppling retail, surgeries and hospitals. • Management of sales, margin, promotions and inventory. • Key activity within role was to undertake a full range review to manage the transition through the NI protocol ensuring supply continuity, product conformity and supplier management.

Leicester, United Kingdom

ESPO are a public sector organisation with decades of experience working with, and buying on behalf of education providers . • Worked on producing the 2020 and 2021 catalogue and web content.• Created attributes and product information for all SKUs for web trading platform• Reviewed product and page performance and made recommendations for change.• Generate page revenue in line with expectations, Review product and page performance and make recommendations for change for… Show more ESPO are a public sector organisation with decades of experience working with, and buying on behalf of education providers . • Worked on producing the 2020 and 2021 catalogue and web content.• Created attributes and product information for all SKUs for web trading platform• Reviewed product and page performance and made recommendations for change.• Generate page revenue in line with expectations, Review product and page performance and make recommendations for change for stock and direct lines.• Review product related complaints and returns and act.• Manage stocked SKU list to agreed measurements.• Liaise with suppliers and mange additions and deletions and ongoing relationship during life of framework. • Prepare Spec for tender, ensure agreed tenders and frameworks are adhered too• Create attributes and product information for all SKUs for web trading platform• Create compelling customer focused promotional offers Show less

Coventry, United Kingdom

Building distribution in the UK operates from headquarters in Coventry and includes brands such as Jewson, Gibbs and Dandy, Minster and Grahams.• Managed landscaping across Jewson 600 branch network. A key category with some of company's top 10 suppliers within it.• Supplier commercial trading agreement ownership and accountability along with joint business plans for delivery and maximising rebate revenue.• Category Ownership of £140M sales out• Management of core and… Show more Building distribution in the UK operates from headquarters in Coventry and includes brands such as Jewson, Gibbs and Dandy, Minster and Grahams.• Managed landscaping across Jewson 600 branch network. A key category with some of company's top 10 suppliers within it.• Supplier commercial trading agreement ownership and accountability along with joint business plans for delivery and maximising rebate revenue.• Category Ownership of £140M sales out• Management of core and specialist ranges for all branches. Identifying known value items and market credible pricing. • Management of inventory provide solutions to reducing aged inventory through branches.• Provided season ready briefings for branches • Ran landscape roadshows across network to area directors, branch managers and yard operatives. Objective to engage get them on board and to align to objectives for them in landscaping in the coming season.• Created seasonal promotions and provided the POS• Product manage and create a yearly landscape catalogue• Managed merchandising display fund and plan across branch network. • Ownership of Landscape marketing plans.• Management of Indian sandstone import programme, audits, compliance, performance, tender and distribution. • Conducted formalised yearly tenders for key product lines• Key customer Visits and product specific range reviews Show less

Raunds, Northamptonshire

Exertis , one of the UK's largest software and hardware distributors offering products, logistics, creative services and more to business.. A subsidiary of DCC, a Eur 13 billion parent company, with supples group sales in excess of £500 million Responsible for helping create a presence for exertis in to the office products distribution sector. • Identified key brands and suppliers and set terms of trade for 55 suppliers; 6000 SKUs set up and put into stock. Analysed market… Show more Exertis , one of the UK's largest software and hardware distributors offering products, logistics, creative services and more to business.. A subsidiary of DCC, a Eur 13 billion parent company, with supples group sales in excess of £500 million Responsible for helping create a presence for exertis in to the office products distribution sector. • Identified key brands and suppliers and set terms of trade for 55 suppliers; 6000 SKUs set up and put into stock. Analysed market to create relevant range.• Developed and standardized promotional plan; produced product shots, sales hand outs and marketing collateral.• Trained sales team on key product attributes; attended sales meetings & gave product and range input.• Collected and maintained content and collateral for the product; populated the website with images and content.• Worked on change of name and site for category team and the stock move to new distribution site Show less

Retail and online contemporary gift, homeware and cookware business. Owned and managed by Andrew and Joanne Hirst. I planned, established, funded and stocked this new retail business in a difficult economic climate quickly, gaining many local customers and a rapidly grown online presence. I enjoyed sourcing unique products and suppliers and launching market firsts of certain products including Kidzpod Lunchboxes and handlebar Heroes and also worked with key suppliers to create additional… Show more Retail and online contemporary gift, homeware and cookware business. Owned and managed by Andrew and Joanne Hirst. I planned, established, funded and stocked this new retail business in a difficult economic climate quickly, gaining many local customers and a rapidly grown online presence. I enjoyed sourcing unique products and suppliers and launching market firsts of certain products including Kidzpod Lunchboxes and handlebar Heroes and also worked with key suppliers to create additional products and enhance existing lines. I planned and executed seasonal buying to maximise potential and created ranges that achieved key price points and fitted with a clear customer segmentation profile. I maintained a pro-active approach to PR and social media. Witnessing customer purchasing behaviour first-hand gave me a valuable understanding so I could plan product ranges accordingly.Results: Grew sales an average of 30% year-on-year with 33% in 2013. It made finalist of Independent retailer of the Year 2013. We achieved national press recognition, including from The Sunday Times, Living Etc, and Woman’s Own etc. I was asked to be Keynote Speaker at Spring Fair 2013 on the subject of setting up a business. Show less

Leicestershire

Business improvement and category management consultant and key account management.Self-employed contractor I consulted to CPD plc, Hull in 2009 and developed a go-to market strategy for a key product line. I reviewed slow moving lines, cleansed stock and reviewed supplier contracts.I consulted to Furniture Manufacturer’s Agency Ltd, Colchester in 2009. I provided category management for office and domestic furniture ranges to be introduced to key UK retailers such as Staples… Show more Business improvement and category management consultant and key account management.Self-employed contractor I consulted to CPD plc, Hull in 2009 and developed a go-to market strategy for a key product line. I reviewed slow moving lines, cleansed stock and reviewed supplier contracts.I consulted to Furniture Manufacturer’s Agency Ltd, Colchester in 2009. I provided category management for office and domestic furniture ranges to be introduced to key UK retailers such as Staples and Home Retail Group. I led trend direction on furniture for Kinfine USA, conducting factory tours in Asia and Italy and attending buyer range review meetings in China with buying offices from Costco, Walmart, Kingfisher and JC Penney. I adapted US products and created new UK product. I created a UK furniture market report and marketing collateral for a UK Product range launch. I also reworked all assembly instructions for customers using photographs for ease of use.Results: For CPD I generated £90k cash into the business. For Kinfine I generated sales with major retailers including Aldi, Staples, Argos, TK Maxx and Walmart. Show less

Adaro Furniture Ltd (previously DBE Furniture Products Ltd), Head of marketing, merchandising and buying, 2007 - 2009While working at this furniture import business I reduced costs and implemented value reengineering. I undertook Chinese factory range review meetings and audits. I set up a tendering and benchmarking process to counteract the effect of rising oil prices and subsequently higher freight costs. I exited unprofitable legacy categories and explored potential new ones, setting up… Show more Adaro Furniture Ltd (previously DBE Furniture Products Ltd), Head of marketing, merchandising and buying, 2007 - 2009While working at this furniture import business I reduced costs and implemented value reengineering. I undertook Chinese factory range review meetings and audits. I set up a tendering and benchmarking process to counteract the effect of rising oil prices and subsequently higher freight costs. I exited unprofitable legacy categories and explored potential new ones, setting up a profitability system that focused on effective lines. created a direct-to-customer, shop-in-shop programme for Woolworths and set up a direct-to-customer container programme. I also set up a furniture delivery and installation offering to increase sales potential.Results: I gained a repeat 9000 unit order with Aldi on a chair line. I removed £300k of inventory, freeing up cash in the business.Adaro Furniture ceased trading and the the business was purchased by Eliza Tilsey Show less

Leicester, United Kingdom

Office Depot International UK Ltd (Previously Viking Direct)Started with OD as order entry clerk , worked up through merchandising assistant, product manager and category manager roles. managed many different categories including general office, paper, filing, facilities and furniture to premiums and gifts with purchase. I routinely monitored category indices and KPIs and identified additional improvement opportunities by producing plans based on balanced scorecards for price management… Show more Office Depot International UK Ltd (Previously Viking Direct)Started with OD as order entry clerk , worked up through merchandising assistant, product manager and category manager roles. managed many different categories including general office, paper, filing, facilities and furniture to premiums and gifts with purchase. I routinely monitored category indices and KPIs and identified additional improvement opportunities by producing plans based on balanced scorecards for price management, spend, returns, savings, transactional volume market data and benchmarks. I managed a team of product managers and merchandising assistants and developed team-members’ careers through personal succession plans. I created compelling bundle deals and introduced a high-value gift incentive. I initiated and implemented Viking UK’s global direct imports purchasing programme.Results: I grew category sales from £200k in 1992 to £86.2 million in 2007 (£70.7m from mail order and £15.5m contract. I reduced category SKU count thereby increased net profit. Delivered consistent year-on-year sales and substantial increases in volume and market share as well as on-target customer satisfaction increases. I acted as project leader for pan European Viking Direct private label packaging rebrand. I created furniture positional brand strategy along with new print and innovative electronic catalogues. I consistently achieved an average 6% reduction in cost of goods in line with target expectations. I increased furniture AOV by 29%. Many of my team members moved on to become category managers. I was finalist for Young Professional of the Year for European Office Products International magazine in 2005 and in 2003 I was 3M Young Professional of the Year for the British Office and Stationery Federation. Show less

Leicester

Some sales account management then moving to buying office based role

Leicester, United Kingdom

Attract customers to sign up for a card 6 months prior to new store opening. Cold calling.

Leicester, United Kingdom

Sell and value houses

Leicester, United Kingdom

Worked in non food and food sections.

Education record

Btec Business Studies, Business Studies