Christopher Blackburn Email & Phone Number

London Area, United Kingdom

London Area, United Kingdom

London, England, United Kingdom

Responsible for the day to day running of a 180 sq ft store with accountability for:• Facility management• Stock Movement & Logistics• Store Stocktake and monitoring stock integrity• Cleaning• Health & Safety - maintaining the delivery of the “Working safely during COVID-19 in shops” Government policy• Loss Prevention

London, United Kingdom

● Leading a sales team of 60 and responsible for annual revenue of £12m, whilst: Focusing on colleague engagement and communication to empower my team to contribute to overall business success.  Driving performance by reshaping the sales culture of the business towards a customer-centric, omni-channel proposition.  Ensuring Visual Merchandising standards are exceptional, conducting regular floor walks to ensure Sales Managers are achieving a consistently high standard of… Show more ● Leading a sales team of 60 and responsible for annual revenue of £12m, whilst: Focusing on colleague engagement and communication to empower my team to contribute to overall business success.  Driving performance by reshaping the sales culture of the business towards a customer-centric, omni-channel proposition.  Ensuring Visual Merchandising standards are exceptional, conducting regular floor walks to ensure Sales Managers are achieving a consistently high standard of presentation. Setting targets for KPIs (Sales, NPS, Marketing database) and supporting Sales Managers and their teams to achieve them, celebrating successes and putting performance management plans in place to ensure consistent achievement.  Project managing the implementation of new stock control and HR processes. Developing a business training strategy to identify key areas of development needs.  Delivering training to all retail teams on key competencies: customer service, performance management, coaching and communication. Show less

Kingston And Bracknell

● Business partnering with Retail directors providing management account information and critical challenge. Supported a newly opened Bracknell store- benchmarking performance in the store against rest of the group.● Achieved third day Management Account reporting, leading the Finance function to this monthly position from existing quarterly reporting practise.● Successfully managed year end external audit with a PWC audit team.● Key focus on elevating the team within the Finance… Show more ● Business partnering with Retail directors providing management account information and critical challenge. Supported a newly opened Bracknell store- benchmarking performance in the store against rest of the group.● Achieved third day Management Account reporting, leading the Finance function to this monthly position from existing quarterly reporting practise.● Successfully managed year end external audit with a PWC audit team.● Key focus on elevating the team within the Finance department providing them with a vision for our overall strategy and increased accountability within their own roles. Show less

Brent Cross

● Maintained the Profit and Loss of two London stores and prepared quarterly Board level papers including trading results, CAPEX reports and forecasts of sales and profit.● Responsible for the successful management of season end stocktake and reconciliation of Gross Profit for both stores. ● Managed eight direct reports across five functions: Financial Accounts, Supplier Accounts, Merchandising, Banking and Customer Service, driving continuous improvement and guiding their individual… Show more ● Maintained the Profit and Loss of two London stores and prepared quarterly Board level papers including trading results, CAPEX reports and forecasts of sales and profit.● Responsible for the successful management of season end stocktake and reconciliation of Gross Profit for both stores. ● Managed eight direct reports across five functions: Financial Accounts, Supplier Accounts, Merchandising, Banking and Customer Service, driving continuous improvement and guiding their individual personal development through coaching.● Influenced all levels of store management to manage profit per £ spent. Business partnering with store management team to control expenditure and highlight business opportunities. Show less

Developed strong supplier relationships allowing me to secure optimal pricing. Led the Gift department to LFL profit growth in a challenging Home market.

Grew department profit per square foot by +18% as a result of close management of all KPIs.Developed Negotiation skills securing key promotional offers supporting growth in retail sales and profit margins. Increased branded product awareness working with all brands on their presence in store and driving supplier supported marketing activity.

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Modern Foreign Languages And Cultures, 2:1

Activities and Societies: President of the Italian Society

Certificate In Business Accounting

French, German And History, 3 A'S

Pgde, Education