Mark Heaton Email & Phone Number

Appointed to launch a brand new sports performance retail brand, reporting to the Matalan boardDesigned and implemented the brand launch and retail growth strategy, driving an increase in like-for-like sales from 2014 to 2015Located, designed, and refitted 16 retail stores, managing competitive tendering for the shop fitting contract and guiding the merchandising strategy, both in-store and onlineBuilt, structured, and led a high performing retail team encompassing area… Show more Appointed to launch a brand new sports performance retail brand, reporting to the Matalan boardDesigned and implemented the brand launch and retail growth strategy, driving an increase in like-for-like sales from 2014 to 2015Located, designed, and refitted 16 retail stores, managing competitive tendering for the shop fitting contract and guiding the merchandising strategy, both in-store and onlineBuilt, structured, and led a high performing retail team encompassing area management, visual merchandising management, and 1500 store colleaguesDeveloped and rolled out the innovative ‘Goal’ team training programme Defined and communicated a customer service promise to match and exceed the current market offeringEngaged with group level stakeholders at parent company, Matalan, integrating the new organisation and influencing the stock packageCollaborated with major sporting brands to facilitate product supply and merchandising standards Show less

Designed and delivered a three-year strategic plan to drive revenue and profit growth for this leading charity retail organisation, securing the support of trustees and senior stakeholdersRestructured and led a large retail leadership team including three regional managers, a business development manager, 20 area managers, and the 20-strong stock collection teamGuided the efficient operation of 600 retail stores to achieve increased turnover and net profitOpened six new… Show more Designed and delivered a three-year strategic plan to drive revenue and profit growth for this leading charity retail organisation, securing the support of trustees and senior stakeholdersRestructured and led a large retail leadership team including three regional managers, a business development manager, 20 area managers, and the 20-strong stock collection teamGuided the efficient operation of 600 retail stores to achieve increased turnover and net profitOpened six new stores and oversaw 24 shop refits, selecting new locations and designing store layouts to maximise salesCommunicated and guided achievement of brand guidelines, engaging 5000 retail colleagues to attain and maintain best practice visual merchandising standards Show less

Led this 60-store retail operation, managing five area managers to increase revenue and profitabilityDesigned and implemented five new stores, adopting a brand new concept design, competitive merchandising, and graphics which were later rolled out across all storesAchieved significant operational cost savings by introducing lean principlesBuilt and maintained relationships with leading sports brands, enabling the introduction of new categories and brands which… Show more Led this 60-store retail operation, managing five area managers to increase revenue and profitabilityDesigned and implemented five new stores, adopting a brand new concept design, competitive merchandising, and graphics which were later rolled out across all storesAchieved significant operational cost savings by introducing lean principlesBuilt and maintained relationships with leading sports brands, enabling the introduction of new categories and brands which differentiated the product offering from that of competitorsImplemented successful seasonal promotions, breaking all previous pre-order records for the World Cup and achieving positive feedback from key brands Show less

Managed rapid and effective installation of branded retail areas across apparel, football, and footwear for both genders within Adidas’ largest global account, SportsDirect.comInstalled branded retail area prototypes within SportsDirect.com’s flagship Shirebrook superstore, achieving head office approval to roll out branded retail area chain-wide

Undertook progressive roles to become Retail Director in 1998, guiding strategic operation of 426 stores Led the six-strong regional management team, 40 area managers, a merchandising manager, two visual merchandisers, and a retail development managerIncreased sales from £89m to £934m by delivering a progressive concept to meet consumer needsProject managed the design, build, and installation of over 200 new stores from concept to completionOverseeing all aspects… Show more Undertook progressive roles to become Retail Director in 1998, guiding strategic operation of 426 stores Led the six-strong regional management team, 40 area managers, a merchandising manager, two visual merchandisers, and a retail development managerIncreased sales from £89m to £934m by delivering a progressive concept to meet consumer needsProject managed the design, build, and installation of over 200 new stores from concept to completionOverseeing all aspects of store planning, including site selection, recruitment of shop fitters, sourcing and design of furniture and store planning, with overall budgetary / P&L responsibilityIntroduced high value branded concession areas to store layoutsIntegrated Sports Division into JJB, refitting and rebranding 180 stores within 12 months on a tight budget Show less