Chris French-Drayton Email & Phone Number

Newbury, England, United Kingdom

Langley, Berkshire, United Kingdom

Vestel GroupComprised of 24 companies, the Vestel Group is a multi-industry manufacturer, which operates in electronics, household appliances, mobile technologies, LED lighting and defence. Testimony to the global importance of Zorlu Holding across multiple technology sectors, Vestel is not only thriving at home in Turkey with its 12 companies, but also through a further 14 businesses that have been set up in various other parts of the world.Originally founded in 1984, Vestel has grown from strength to strength, realizing its global potential after joining the Zorlu Group in 1994. Having rapidly accumulated market share, Vestel has attained global significance thanks to its flourishing export activity and enormous production capacity.In 2014 alone, Vestel received more than 66 of the most prestigious design awards.

Southampton, United Kingdom

Responsible for the management and sales development of Dimplex branded domestic heating, and air purification products in mixed channel national multiple retailers and wholesalers. My customers include; Homebase, John Lewis, Next, DSG, Shop Direct, Costco & The Co-operative Group.Having inherited a range of customers with flat sales growth; using improved promotional merchandising, consumer communication and widened product distribution, I increased my portfolio’s annual revenue by over £2m (60%) in the warmest, wettest winter on record.Developed and sold an all store off-shelf merchandising solution for portable heating in Homebase delivering an incremental sales increase of 10% (value) Increased product ranges in the Co-op resulting in a 50% improvement in sales revenue.Listed six new skus with DSG in their seasonal heating and de-humidification category with a tenfold increase in sales value.Negotiated improved product presentation and space on Shop Direct’s printed and electronic catalogues virtually doubling sales revenues.Implemented promotional activity to stimulate demand and widen product distribution within my wholesale channel.Created in house sales training for my wholesale customers sales teams to improve product distribution in independent department stores. This created an immediate uplift in sales of £50K.

United Kingdom

Balterio Laminate Flooring Business Development Manager Jun 2012- Nov 2012Vodafone UK Enterprise Transitions Co-ordinator Apr 2012 - Jun 2012CPL Distribution National Account Manager Nov 10 - Dec 2011Alkor- Venilia National Account Manager Sep 10 - Nov 10

Leeds, United Kingdom

Designed and developed a new consumer cleaning machine rental programme targeted to supply national DIY retailers. I constructed a centrally managed store servicing process designed to reduce cost and outperform incumbent competitor’s merchandising and after-sales standards. This resulted in a successful trading pilot with Homebase.Trained and managed a field sales force & customer service/telesales team. This resulted in improved sales to call ratios by 20%Researched alternative trading systems to improve in-store display utilising less retail selling space to enhance cash-flow and deliver an improved consumer experience. I led the development of a self-service electronic payment and customer communication platform. Managed the sales development of Kaivac washroom cleaning equipment. Created a video based targeted email prospecting campaign to raise awareness of in public washroom service gaps with facilities managers. This activity secured new listings with national facilities management companies such as Sodexo, Vita Lend Lease and Balfour Beatty. I negotiated new contracts with the Metropolitan Police, several universities, shopping malls and local government.Secured a new national listing of household cleaning machines in Brandon tool hire.Introduced and piloted an extended trial in Homebase of an improved rental based cleaning machine programme.Collaborated with Timpsons to introduce self hire carpet cleaning in large format Sainsburys stores.Doubled the sales of Kaivac cleaning machines worth over £250K annually.

Worthing, West Sussex

Responsible for the sales and marketing development Rug Doctor rental products in UK and European national multiple grocery and DIY retailers.Tasked with improving productivity and exceeding global corporate standards in merchandising and rental machine presentation.To improve the company’s commercial argument and widen its targeted grocery channel penetration, I completed a detailed survey of industry/retailer specific, sales density performance to create a comparative business case presentation to assist in winning new customers.Pioneered and managed a successful pilot in B&Q which ultimately a secured full store roll out and 36 month sole supply contract. By liaising with internal and external stakeholders I managed the Rug Doctor/B&Q 330 store implementation on-time and within budget. To improve in-store availability I lead a cross functional management team to deliver a transition from local van sales to central warehouse supply resulting in an 11% improvement in revenue through improved availability in Homebase and Morrisons.Initiated a time and motion study on in-store service procedures. Based on these findings I designed customer, staff and engineer service manuals in published and intranet form. This reduced consumer claims, asset theft and improved retail staff understanding and customer buy-in of the offer.Between 2001 - 2007 I increased national multiple rental channel revenues by 420%.Improved annual profitability from a (£500K) to over £2,000KGrew UK Rug Doctor store rental locations from 450 to 1,500 Successfully secured new distribution in Tesco, Somerfield and the Co-op delivering incremental annual sales worth over £1.5m.Rescued Safeway’s (post Morrisons acquisition) listings by through the development of a stand sited rolling loop DVD presentation.Secured nationwide 600 store rollout into Johnsons Cleaners.Introduced the Rug Doctor rental service into all B&Q stores.

Isle Of Wight

Responsible for sourcing private label housewares, gift and domestic lighting products from China & Taiwanese manufacturers. Collaborative own label range development with ASDA’s non-food housewares buying and product development teams. Ensured all LC’s were raised on time and in line with overseas factory payment schedules. Developed and introduced ASDA/Wal-Mart’s own brand domestic lighting range through the creation of a detailed comparative market study illustrating to ASDA how lighting would positively impact ASDA’s consumer durable revenues. Produced annual incremental retail sales of over £40m from 100 linear metres of line control space in ASDA Supercentres.Managed all aspects of the sourcing, shipping and timely delivery of ASDA’s (largest ever), 500 sku Christmas 2000 gift and tableware ranges.

Brentwood, Essex

Responsible for the management and development of leading multiple grocery, variety and department store retailers in the UK and Eire.By presenting supplier rationalisation arguments I successfully negotiated the delisting of three key competitors and secured sole supplier status of Thermos vacuumware in Boots.Retained the (“at risk” through poor availability) Argos account by facilitating and managing ongoing cross departmental collaboration between Thermos UK manufacturing and Argos supply chain teams. The improved understanding and communication between forecasting and production functions delivered improved availability from 74% to 97% within three months.I developed and introduced the first leisure and camping vacuumware product offer for Halfords in 1998.I introduced ongoing major customer facing field accompaniments with internal departments. This improved efficiencies through better internal understanding of the client organisation and it’s processes. The enhanced (two way whole process understanding) forged stronger supplier/client relationships through collaborative joint business planning.Through the development of added value promotional mechanics I maintained distribution, improved peak consumer demand and brand awareness without eroding of established KVI (known value item) price points.By introducing bespoke promotional activity at key seasonal times, I defended listings against directly sourced Far Eastern imports.Delivered annual incremental sales of £500K in BootsGrew annual sales by over £400K in Argos.Implemented Thermos’ first steel vacuumware added value promotions in Argos. Introduced Halfords’ first camping and leisure products worth £100k in its first trading year.Produced record sales volumes on Disney character lunch boxes in Woolworths through added value promotional activity.Maintained steel vacuumware listings in Asda, Woolworths and Argos versus fierce competition from direct far east imports.

Gatwick/Hungerford

Cannock/Haslingden

Bachelor, Cim Professional Diploma In Marketing

Studied a professional diploma in marketing

Gce, English, Maths, Physics, Engineering Drawing