Darrell Thomas Email & Phone Number

Carlisle, United Kingdom

I run my own Marketing company working within the SME market helping them to get the most cost effective awareness for their business and products. I offer multiple platforms of marketing services including digital, radio, newspaper and social media, along with graphic design, print and websites. I work with the client at a rate and hours that suit the clients needs giving them time to run their business knowing that marketing is not going to take up their too much of their time and cash flow. I worked in Spain for 3 years with a sports equipment export and import company along with an independent media company, but have now returned to the UK and living back in Carlisle. Recently I have been helping a local semi professional football club and a couple of golf courses with their marketing and sponsorship requirements and I am enjoying what I am doing.

Cumbria, North East And South West Scotland

This role involves working with householders, using consultative and solution selling techniques face to face to offer a high end energy based product. I use my sound knowledge of the energy market to differentiate British Gas core values from those of the competition. Selling a range of products and heating systems, I have rapidly become a trusted adviser, developing my customers, fostering relationships, building both rapport and credibility to ensure that I have consistently met my monthly targets since April 2012. Whilst predominantly selling to centrally qualified leads, my reputation for honesty,integrity and high customer satisfaction has ensured repeat business and high conversion rates. My role has also involved being highly self motivated, managing the sales cycle and negotiation process, alongside management reporting and collation of sales figures.

Carlisle

This is my own company which I run in my spare time. I currently have a portfolio of eight clients who I work closely with on a consultation basis. I advise my clients on their own client and customer relationships, communication, business sustainability and problem resolution. I also advise on creating their own business leads, marketing and advertising and lead them in effective usage and how to up sell their products and services.

This was my own company which provided golf professionals the opportunity to sell an excellent hardware product, which also gave them a greater profit margin than other leading brands on the market. I was an agent for Orka Golf, the PGA Collection and Jaryl Golf. Unfortunately due to a downturn in the market, I took the decision to cease trading with this company. The position took me to the doorsteps of around 150 retailing golf professionals and gave me a great insight and understanding of their industry. From time to time I would meet a professional who also had general manager responsibilities and we would discuss the day to day problems that they faced and I would offer my solutions, based on what I had seen and experienced on my travels.

After being made redundant from my last position, I took the opportunity to work on a project I felt extremely passionate about in the Caribbean. I worked on a golf course project as a consultant to help local business owners and hoteliers resurrect a business which had been closed down due to poor management. I produced a business plan which would offer them sustainability and maximise their profitability. I created a marketing and advertising strategy which offered short and long term solutions. The golf course has now reopened and is flourishing under new ownership.

Reporting directly to the Advertising Director, I was responsible for a team of 18 sales people, managing the team, motivating, setting targets and monitoring their Key Performance Indicators (KPI's). I was also responsible for the recruitment and retention of staff, identifying training needs and delivering training to the team. I was also involved with HR issues, disciplinary procedures, sales reporting and collation of sales figures.My role also involved researching the readership profile, providing gap analysis from which niche magazines were created, which were used as inserts into the main publications. I produced the content and went on to market the magazines taking into consideration the requirements of the business. This was the most enjoyable part of my job, with marketing and creative strategies being my strongest attributes.Unfortunately due to the streamlining of the business, my role was made redundant.

My initial role within Cumbrian Newspapers involved introducing new lines of revenue growth across six newspaper titles, multiple magazine titles and independent radio stations for the CN Group. During my role as Business Development Manager, I implemented a new sales strategy which sat within the existing one. This strategy was responsible for generating £400k of new business.

Terminal 1 Nightclub, Carlisle

To maintain my relationships within the leisure industry, I worked as a freelance Marketing Consultant for a large nightclub in Carlisle. I developed an effective marketing strategy and worked closely with their marketing department and external networking to research their target market.

I was responsible for the entire running of this dual site venue in Carlisle. My main duties were managing all financial aspects of the business, monitoring profit and loss, staff management, recruitment, marketing and daily running of the venue. During my six month contract, the business was taken into profitability for the first time. I was also the licencee of the venue and with very little experience in the industry, I quickly turned the venue around to become Carlisle's go to socialising venue.

Hertfordshire

My main duties were to run the business on a day to day basis, supporting, guiding and training the sales team. When I first started this role, the station wasn't commercially focused, so I negotiated for the station to be carried on NTL ( the local cable provider with coverage all over Hertfordshire) and campaigned and was granted a power increase on the southern transmitter to increase the broadcast area. I also pushed for an extra transmitter to further increase the stations audience potential. The additional transmitter was awarded and increased the stations coverage area to include an additional two extra towns, Hitchin and Letchworth. This subsequently gave Hertbeat a further 60,000 listeners and an extremely lucrative business. The station was sold on at the end of 2005.

Due to my previous success in commercial radio, I was approached by QFM Paisley to take up a role as Commercial Manager. The station hadn't really promoted itself or increased local awareness and the main part of my role was to approach local businesses to advertise and use the station for commercial advertising. My greatest achievement at the station was recruiting Ayr Racecourse to our portfolio of advertisers who had previously not worked with local commercial radio.

Mood - Entertainment Venue (Restaurant And Nightclub), Carlisle

Through extended networking with local companies and a stringent business plan, I increased party bookings, turnover and profit margin. I also introduced an entrance fee to the venue which changed and increased the perception of the venue.

I started the year with zero database and no existing customers. Through hard work and a great team that stepped up to the plate the years sponsorship and promotions target was achieved within nine months. I introduced new initiatives which were implemented and applied within ScotFM, QFM 96.3 (Paisley) and The Wave 102 in Dundee, the stations that were in our group.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, I was responsible for the day to day running of the station, including management of accounts, sales, marketing and administration, press releases, staffing and communication. My position also included implementing new sales initiatives, company strategy and presenting sales opportunities to blue chip companies. I jointly launched the station in 1993 with John Myers and the station achieved a 50% weekly reach of all adults in its broadcasting area. CFM became the most successful single transmitter station in England and this was one of the most proudest achievements of my radio career.

Stoke On Trent, Staffordshire

My main responsibilities were to develop the business, selling airtime and associated packages to local businesses. I also assisted the sales team on individual prestige accounts. the station covered a geographical area from North Staffordshire to South Cheshire.

Stoke On Trent

I was responsible for selling capital equipment in the Staffordshire area. I was responsible for my own accounts management, lead development and direct canvassing of customers.

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