Simon Allen Email & Phone Number

London, Gb

London, England, United Kingdom

My role at Embassy London is far reaching and although it had the title of Sales, Retail & Product Director my role encompasses the entire business, with responsibility for buying, merchandising, wholesale, distribution, finance, licensing, e-com, digital marketing, retail & product development.Design & development of footwear and accessory collections.Companywide setting & review financial targets.Identifying & negotiating new store locations & leases.Opened up… Show more My role at Embassy London is far reaching and although it had the title of Sales, Retail & Product Director my role encompasses the entire business, with responsibility for buying, merchandising, wholesale, distribution, finance, licensing, e-com, digital marketing, retail & product development.Design & development of footwear and accessory collections.Companywide setting & review financial targets.Identifying & negotiating new store locations & leases.Opened up distribution partnerships with USA & Scandinavia.Reviewing all legal contracts within the business; rental, distribution, agents, etc.Ensure OTB is complied and adhered to, with weekly reviews of stock holding and mark down actions.Producing seasonal range plan for each product category.Managing licensing partnerships.Managing wholesale & distribution sales channels.Managing relationships with suppliers and factories.Expansion of product categories to include, handbags, socks, swimwear, slippers, SLG, laces, gloves & belts.Ensuring storytelling & customer experience is at the heart of our retail footprint. Show less

London, United Kingdom

My role at Calceus rapidly increased during my time with the company; I extended the brand portfolio to include Steve Madden, Anne Klein & Kate Spade alongside the pre-existing Flossy business. I oversaw sales, marketing & product for all four brands.Devise and implemented commercial strategy for all brands.Lead the sales, marketing & design teams.Review and negotiated current distribution contracts.Built sales teams for each brand within the business, setting… Show more My role at Calceus rapidly increased during my time with the company; I extended the brand portfolio to include Steve Madden, Anne Klein & Kate Spade alongside the pre-existing Flossy business. I oversaw sales, marketing & product for all four brands.Devise and implemented commercial strategy for all brands.Lead the sales, marketing & design teams.Review and negotiated current distribution contracts.Built sales teams for each brand within the business, setting them all clearly defined goals and objectives.Oversaw design function and ensure critical path management.Devise and implement commercial strategy for current & future distribution / franchise partners.Review and renegotiated current distribution & franchise contracts.Set sales targets for individual regions/territories.Approve design and materials for franchisee store openings.Oversaw direct to retail USA business.Ensure sales forecasting and monitoring is accurate & constantly updated.Tasked with expanding the brand into new licensed product categories.Oversaw the addition of 6 new distribution partners, covering 10 new countries.Increased LFL SS sell-in by 43%.Liquidated 35,000 pairs of previous season stock, which was inherited when I started in the role.Oversaw and presented the season sales meetings.Ensured that the order entry process was quick and accurate.Overseeing the Airport retail expansion.Ensure margin integrity. Show less

London, United Kingdom

Headhunted within Pentland to fulfil the large opportunity in the Women’s business. Lacoste was running at an 82% Men’s contribution vs. 8% Women’s & Kids. (When I left, we stood at 26% Women’s and 11% Kids with a 2018 SBP target of 35% Women’s and 12% Kids)Building an aligned Lacoste Women’s Strategic Business Plan; setting the 2018 Women’s financial target and identifying the priority markets, retailer opportunities and product requirements to achieve the target.Setting the… Show more Headhunted within Pentland to fulfil the large opportunity in the Women’s business. Lacoste was running at an 82% Men’s contribution vs. 8% Women’s & Kids. (When I left, we stood at 26% Women’s and 11% Kids with a 2018 SBP target of 35% Women’s and 12% Kids)Building an aligned Lacoste Women’s Strategic Business Plan; setting the 2018 Women’s financial target and identifying the priority markets, retailer opportunities and product requirements to achieve the target.Setting the global pricing for all women’s and kids styles, ensuring that margin management is adhered to and identifying margin enhancement opportunities where possible. Utilise internal and external data to aid the range architecture with regards to size of line and pricing matrix whilst incorporating sell in and sell out data and understanding priority market needs.Lead the Women’s and Kids presentations at launch conferences and seasonal kick off meetings.Identify mid-season and immediate product range opportunities and manage projects ensure opportunities are maximised. Active involvement in new business recruitment to Pentland; including mentoring two department heads of the acquired Butterfly Twist brand. Show less

London, United Kingdom

Analysing global insights to identify new product opportunities in line with SBP.Ensuring that margin management is adhered.Utilise internal and external data to aid the range architecture with regards to size of line and pricing matrix whilst incorporating sell in and sell out data.Devise a global brand positioning matrix and set RRP’s for all international markets.Identify core fiscal models that maximise SKU efficiency and alleviate the need for… Show more Analysing global insights to identify new product opportunities in line with SBP.Ensuring that margin management is adhered.Utilise internal and external data to aid the range architecture with regards to size of line and pricing matrix whilst incorporating sell in and sell out data.Devise a global brand positioning matrix and set RRP’s for all international markets.Identify core fiscal models that maximise SKU efficiency and alleviate the need for SMU’s.Identify in-season and immediate product range opportunities and manage projects to agreed timescales to ensure opportunities are maximised. Work closely with distribution partners and subsidiaries to ensure product mix is correct for all markets. Contribute to the Ted Baker leadership team and drive advice on potential new international distribution partners. Show less

Slough, United Kingdom

Produce product ranges that contribute over US $28 million through 27 partners across five continents.Determine specific regional and market needs not covered by existing collections and work with BU’s to bring these to market either by elevating these to ‘in line’ status or through SMU.Analysing distributor brand reports, identifying categories and sub categories where there is opportunity to grow the business.Writing and presenting product plans.Working with… Show more Produce product ranges that contribute over US $28 million through 27 partners across five continents.Determine specific regional and market needs not covered by existing collections and work with BU’s to bring these to market either by elevating these to ‘in line’ status or through SMU.Analysing distributor brand reports, identifying categories and sub categories where there is opportunity to grow the business.Writing and presenting product plans.Working with the global marketing and VP teams to ensure in-store marketing propositions and visual presentation programs are in line with the distributor buying and stock phasing plans. Show less

London, United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

Saudi Arabia

Riyadh

Brand managing Aldo and Aldo Accessories in the Saudi Arabia, Jordon & Egypt.Buying and Merchandising men’s & ladies product for Aldo Footwear, Aldo Accessories and Spring banners in 70 franchise stores across the Middle East.USD $25 million turnover PA.Introducing a risk category buying system.Ensuring new store openings are delivered on time.Communicating with all regional and store managers, whilst constantly travelling to ensure store and product… Show more Brand managing Aldo and Aldo Accessories in the Saudi Arabia, Jordon & Egypt.Buying and Merchandising men’s & ladies product for Aldo Footwear, Aldo Accessories and Spring banners in 70 franchise stores across the Middle East.USD $25 million turnover PA.Introducing a risk category buying system.Ensuring new store openings are delivered on time.Communicating with all regional and store managers, whilst constantly travelling to ensure store and product performance.Delivering a footwear range that is specific to the Middle East market. Setting up an Arabic / English version of the Aldo web site.Working with an outside marketing company to ensure strategically positioned marketing and advertisement campaigns executed in market, whilst adhering to strict advertising laws. Show less

London, United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

Promoted from a graduate trainee to menswear & accessories buyer.Buyer of Men’s Accessories, Underwear, Swimwear & Sleepwear.Assistant Buyer Menswear, working with branded suppliers includingDiesel, Van Heusen, FCUK, Hugo Boss, CK & Dior. Total budget of 825k, with expected turnover of £3 million.Selection & buying of over 1,700 styles of merchandise.95% selection & 5% own label.Initiating the introduction of the Duchamp, Puma & DKNY brands… Show more Promoted from a graduate trainee to menswear & accessories buyer.Buyer of Men’s Accessories, Underwear, Swimwear & Sleepwear.Assistant Buyer Menswear, working with branded suppliers includingDiesel, Van Heusen, FCUK, Hugo Boss, CK & Dior. Total budget of 825k, with expected turnover of £3 million.Selection & buying of over 1,700 styles of merchandise.95% selection & 5% own label.Initiating the introduction of the Duchamp, Puma & DKNY brands into store.Product pricing & mark-down decisions. Show less