Sam Muxworthy Email & Phone Number

Bristol, Gb

Evesham, Worcestershire

Cotswold, England, United Kingdom

• Set up an online children’s gift shop during COVID lockdown• Negotiated supplier credit terms using existing relationshipsKey Achievement:• Created a profitable business in 12 months during a pandemic

Michigan, United States

• Successfully ran an independent gift shop on a high footfall tourist island open from May-October each year (temporary contract)• Attended Atlanta Gift Market to source new suppliers• Placed regular reorders throughout the season to maximise sales opportunities while maintaining cash flow• Processed stock receiving and invoicing on EPOS system• Implemented new stock take system to improve speed while maintaining a high level of accuracyKey Achievements:• Created a hot map of the store to aid range planning decision making for the 2020 season• Mentored and trained the 2020 Retail Manager candidate to take over

Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

• Oversaw buying and merchandising team for 9 LEGO stores, 3 American Girl franchise stores and e-commerce channel operated by Majid Al Futtaim in UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain• Led a high performing and effective team of 3 Buyers and Assistants• Direct sourcing from 16 factories in China and Indonesia• Provided strategic direction to reach sales and profit contribution• Made decisions that required high cultural awareness and sensitivity to multi-nationalities• Used interpersonal skills to help mentor and coach the team as well as liaise with network across the business to help maximise opportunities• Regularly met with senior management of master brands (Mattel and LEGO) both domestically and overseas to negotiate better trading terms, exclusives and discuss new opportunitiesKey Achievements:• Planned and opened the roll out of the new American Girl franchise, opening 3 large footprint stores in 6 weeks in 2 countries. The first American Girl stores to open outside of North America• As a native English speaker, hosted the company’s Town Halls, presenting in front of 250 people including top management

London/Dubai

• Bought confectionery, baby and toddler toys, girls’ toys, arts and craft, stationery, apparel, nursery, books and cosmetics for 69 stores in UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and KSA• Following in depth analysis, cut down the option count by 60% to rationalise the stock holding• Negotiated consignment terms with several vendors to limit the risk and cost of buying stock• Researched the market both domestically and overseas, comparison shopping, investigating new licenses, looking for trends and seeking out new suppliers• Planned the layout of the new 2,500 square metre flagship store on Oxford Street, London• Designed practical fixture solutions with a £4 million shop fit budget• Put 6,000 option range and stock package together across all categories based on competitor analysis, market knowledge and cash flow constraints for the London store• Liaised with licensing companies including eOne, Warner Brothers, Disney, Universal and DreamWorks to create in store experiences and events including a WWE Superstar Wrestler visitKey Achievements:• The Toy Store won Best Toy Shop in Time Out Dubai Kids annual awards in 2016• Negotiated 90-day payment terms with 150 suppliers with no credit history using strong supplier relationships ready for the UK store launch

• Developed and implemented elevated commercial ranges in line with the financial objectives of the store• Weekly analysis of sales and margin performance to identify growth and poor performance• Improved stock turn through management of stock intake, aged stock and sales• Developed and maintained vendor relationships to maximise profitability and financial objectives• Analysed CRM data, customer survey results and sales to devise the new toys’ strategy and secured £600k CAPEX for a refit• Weekly meetings with the retail team to ensure strategy was translated on the shop floorKey Achievements:• Shortlisted as General Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year in Toy Industry Awards 2014• Highly commended in Buyers’ Power List 2015 for Best Department Store Buying Team

• Implemented the new strategy devised on the Harrods Buying Academy. Shifted from high margin, Far East sourced mass-produced decorations to an on-brand product offering• Secured the Senior Management team’s engagement to take the risk of moving away from a tried and tested but tired concept• Researched gaps in the market and made contact with 200 British, European and American artisans• Conducted detailed trend analysis to create 7 story concepts to build ranges around

• Bought for Entertaining at Home and part of Cookshop• Drove profit margin by 3 percentage points in 2012 by negotiating improved cost prices, funded promotions and devising commercial sale buys• Negotiated shop fit contribution and CAPEX, planned and successfully executed the commercial £1.3 million Entertaining at Home refit in 2012• Assisted the Christmas Buyer sourcing FOB own label products from the Far EastKey Achievements:• Department won best overall department in the store’s bi-annual good shop-keeping awards• Graduated with distinction (87%) from the Harrods Buying Academy• Awarded best shop floor/buying office working relationship in 2012 in the bi-annual sale awards

• Bought plush, dolls, arts and craft, dressing up and pre-school toys• Grew total sales by 23% and improved gross margin by 4 percentage points in first two years• Sourced unique concepts, exclusives and fresh ranges at trade shows in London, Paris, Nuremberg and New York to improve the offer and achieve competitor advantageKey Achievements:• Developed profitable own label ranges, sourced from the Far East. Won Heathrow’s Souvenir of the Year award (2007) for the Harrods Paddington Bear• Worked with Marketing to produce the annual toy Christmas catalogue including negotiating supplier contributions

Bsc (Hons), Food Marketing

School Of Analytics And Technology, Data And Analytics

Harrods Buying Academy, 87% (Distinction)

Education record