Simon Dando Email & Phone Number

Southampton, England, United Kingdom

With an emphasis on Building and Joinery, I am delighted to work with associates across all businesses affiliated with Kingfisher plc. Together, we will identify best practices and country-specific successes to reduce the stock budget, increase availability and increase profitability. Il existe une multitude de possibilités pour le futur! Je suis heureux d'être ici!

Southampton, England, United Kingdom

I own the process to maximise sales and reduce the stock budget. We are encouraged to be agile, entrepreneurial, and build successful relationships across all levels of the business. Ultimately, we are responsible for forecasting, defining and submitting the POs, and flow planning to achieve financial targets.Won the role at B&Q in September 2020 during lockdown and successfully adapted to new ways of working, new systems, new products and new KPIs.Broadened my experience by moving to a new category in December 2021 and on-boarded a new distribution centre.Successfully achieved availability targets - with plans in place to address stock health and balance to budget.

I proposed solutions to reduce costs, reduce excess inventory, and maintain margin contribution. I defined the total seasonal buy for all channels and departments, and built range plans that met or exceeded financial objectives. I introduced a forecasting process with direct impact on cost efficiencies, supplier relationships, production and logistics. Ad hoc reports and detailed analysis facilitated a reduction in excess inventory, and SKU optimization.Reduced costs with greater forecast accuracy and a focus on achieving forecast variances +/-10% of actuals.Reduced excess inventory -35% at buy and consecutively achieved targets defined by Finance.Reduced the drop rate from 17% or greater 3 years ago to 7% or less consecutively, and increased SKU efficiency.

I planned GAP Kids & Baby seasonal assortments for global franchise partners, and partnered with Sales & Account Management to define assortments and pricing architecture. I reported weekly sales to senior management in London, New York and San Francisco based on partner submissions via Excel validated with automatic system transmissions. I managed the trade for Banana Republic Menswear, forecasted the season and prepared investment reviews.Exceed Award September 2012.“Round of Applause” award March 2013.

London, United Kingdom

Used TweetDeck to generate revenue - converting tweets into subscriptions and participation in podcasts

I applied experience with merchandising, planning, sales and finance to manage 2011 sales objectives in excess of $60 million in Europe and the Middle East. I created assortment planning reports to detail historical performance, and define budget, style and SKU count by delivery for business partners and primary accounts. I updated and maintained the Forecast By Account to track partners’ financial commitments. I supervised a Retail Planner and facilitated a more structured, proactive approach.Managed sales objectives in excess of 60 million dollars.Established successful relationships with wholesale business partners.Exceeded financial commitments representing +6% comparable growth 2011 vs. 2010.

Senior Product Line Manager - GlobalI created accessory product lines with global distribution. I planned and launched PUMA Sailing Accessories, and created exclusive product lines for PUMA China. I defined marketing channels, created line architectures, forecasted sell-in, briefed design, negotiated FOBs with suppliers, and presented the assortments at international sales meetings.Achieved growth year-on-year for the PUMA accessories wholesale business.Increased net sales thru supplier negotiations and a more compelling offer.Selected to partner with Global Vertical Retail to bring trend-relevant product to market and create desirability.Buying and Merchandising Manager – Footwear Western EuropeAs the first Buying and Merchandising Manager for PUMA Retail Western Europe, I assisted in launching the Retail business in Western Europe. With a team of 3 direct reports, I bought and traded all footwear in Retail doors. I presented reports to influence the strategic direction of existing and new lines. I partnered with International Visual Merchandising to adjust store zoning, fixture planning and SKU count based on country/region preferences, seasonal assortments and brand initiatives.Generated 57 to 60% of PUMA Retail’s sales revenue for Western Europe.Managed a buy budget in excess of 70 million Euro annually.Managed growth from 3 to 33+ Concept Doors in Western Europe.Member of the International Product Team.Used PUMA Retail Concept Doors as a platform to establish Black Label footwear and elevate brand perception.

Managed the trade and reporting for full price and outlet doors Partnered with the UK director and store management to select a commercially relevant assortment for UK Retail doorsApplied a greater understanding of apparel design, materials, construction and perceived value to plan and select the assortment for a more premium consumerCreated weekly reports to review margin, inventory (WSSI), and sales performance to increase full price sales, define mark-downs, plan seasonal deliveries and organize shipments to outletsPlanned and participated in bi-annual stock takes with management and external auditorsSupervised distribution from warehouses in the UK and Holland

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. - Pottery Barn RetailHard & Soft Lines Feb 2000 – May 2001Merchandising Planner (US)The Clorox Sales Company (US)FMCG 1998 - 2000 Inventory Planning SpecialistNestlé USA, Inc – Beverage Division (US)FMCG 1992 - 1998Product Supply Analyst Senior Forecast AnalystElectronic Data Interchange (EDI) Coordinator – ITYoung & Rubicam, San FranciscoAdvertising 1990 - 1992Client Services – Clorox, ConAgra, US Postal Service