Weldit is the UK's leading manufacturer of kickplates & pushplates, and supply these and other products such as signage into the door hardware industry via Architectural Ironmongers, wholesalers, online retailers, OEM door manufacturers, trade counters and more. It is my job to grow company sales across the UK and Ireland, which I have successfully done year on year. Having started in a field-based role, over the last few years I have relocated so I can work from the office and as such have been involved in everything from marketing (catalogues, flyers, social media content management), HR (hiring/firing), customer service / office management, procurement (dealing directly with Chinese suppliers) and accounts. I have successfully implemented sales strategies and made a foundational difference to the structure of the company's sales operation, delivering increased sales and margins in line with the company budgets.

Exidor is a British manufacturer of architectural ironmongery, and is the market leader of panic & emergency exit hardware. They sell through architectural ironmongers, door manufacturers, hardware wholesalers & distributors, locksmiths and one of our commodity products through electrical wholesalers & fire & security companies.I represented the company throughout the West Midlands, South Wales, the South West and M4 corridor.

Split Second Imports was the UK distributor for a range of extreme sports brands, mainly in the BMX industry, but also including that of stunt scooters, skateboards and protection. They owned/developed their own brands as well as being the exclusive UK distributors of brands from the UK, Australia and the US.My role was to grow and manage all aspects of sales through the company, via our network of UK dealers. These dealers were a mixture of IBDs, multiples and onliners, of which I personally visited and sat down with directors and key decison-makers from companies such as Chain Reaction Cycles, Evans Cycles, Wheelies Direct, Leisure Lakes and Custom Riders.As well as handling sales, my duties stretched to every aspect of business management, including but not limited to;Recruitment / interviewing / hiring - I worked closely with recruitment consultants to find new members of the sales team, vetted many CVs and interviewed potential candidates, often to 2nd interview stage and ultimately to making several offers of employment.Disciplinary / Firing - I chaired many disciplinary meetings, back-to-work interviews and dismissals, even escorting staff off the premises.Press / PR - Issued press releases to media outlets, starred in promotional product video reviews, arranged promotional events, worked closely with sponsored team ridersWarehouse logistics - prepared warehouse for multiple container deliveries, ensuring appropriate number of pallets for stock based on incoming invoices, forklift trained, arranging large shipments and collections with 3rd-party freight forwardersCredit control - handled account/credit applications and credit-scoring accounts, chased overdue invoices, perform all company end-of-day banking and card payment processingProduct design - provide input for product design, such as complete bike colour-schemes and model names, and BMX & scooter accessory design, including sprockets, grips and wheels

Whilst working as sales manager for Split Second Imports during the day, I played guitar in a Bristol-based band named Zero Pilot by night.

My first role with Icon was as a retail merchandiser, servicing the Tesco account on a fortnightly call schedule. The role required the restocking and merchandising of our displays of picture frames and prints in Tesco Extra stores. This required closely liasing with non-food trading managers to ensure staff could maintain the display in between my visits to an agreed plan/layout.After a year I was promoted to Senior Merchandiser which required me to report on the entire UK team of merchandisers on a daily basis, whilst maintaining my own area. I had to provide holiday, vacancy and sickness cover for every region on occasion, including Scotland and Northern Ireland and report to the sales manager regarding team performance.When Tesco downsized our in-store visibility, I changed role to that of area sales rep for the West Mids and South Wales, selling into independant stores with our large range of quality greetings cards. This was a mixture of new and existing business and required a street-by-street approach to prospecting every town and city for potential accounts, particularly with regard to matching the various product ranges with the right type of retailer. We supplied art galleries, garden centres, student unions, gift shops, zoo & wildlife parks and many traditional high-street card shops. Building excellent relationships was essential for repeat business. I also won a company sales challenge to sell the most FIFA World Cup 2006-inspired limited edition card ranges.