Sharon Stephens Email & Phone Number

Belfast, Gb

Providing marketing and business development support to organisations and businesses in the Fermanagh & Omagh District Council area. Let's have a chat to see if you can get my help for free!

Omagh, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

A specialist hands-on, results-based consultant that offers both strategic and practical help. Whether you are an established business looking for short-term marketing expertise or an SME that needs a marketing strategy and help to implement it, I'm here to fill the gaps, develop the plan and help your business be more productive, more profitable and more successful. Sector experience in retail, hospitality, visitor attractions, financial services, construction and education.Marketing support projects include:-• Marketing strategy and implementation for a third sector education project• Marketing plan, audience development plan, marketing implementation, staff training for a heritage visitor attraction• Marketing plan, category mix and implementation for an SME retail client• Marketing plans, market opportunity analysis, communications framework, implementation and staff training for multiple locations for an education client• Exhibition stand, communications and recruitment campaigning for an education clientHighlight interim assignments include:-Interim Marketing Director, CAU Restaurants (Gaucho Group), February – July 2018Halved double-digit decline in sales trend; created a new brand identity; channel development – web, social, PR, booking platforms, printed materials; CRM system; established commercial planning process and implementation improvements including agency performance and more efficient marketing spend.Head of Marketing Operations, Maplin Electronics, August 2016 – February 2018Improved execution of tactical retail campaigns; established commercial and marketing planning process and improved implementation with marketing budget savings of 20%; single customer view marketing strategy delivery; excellent retail operations engagement.

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Concept Building Solutions helps homeowners deal with stress of damage to their property by managing the repairs and dealing with insurers on behalf of the claimant. Financial Conduct Authority authorised to settle claims and handle client finances.

Seconded role heading up internal communications for Argos reaching over 28,000 colleagues across all the business functions. Reporting to the HR Director and worked closely with the Director of Corporate Affairs.* Created a new Internal Communications strategy at the start of Argos’ digital transformation* Devised and implemented the launch of Yammer, the social business network, with a strong adoption rate.* Planned and delivered engaging colleague events, company conferences and all communications channels and messages

Senior marketer leading a large team producing all key marketing communications for Argos including the catalogue and extensive promotional programme, plus brochures for Homebase. Five direct reports managing four teams covering publication design and production; scheduling workflow; and repro/print management.*Developing and managing a large programme of strategic operational efficiency workstreams across departments and business divisions including development and rollout and online publications artwork creation and approval system delivering £2.5m in annual production savings*Direct management publication budgets and strategic management of production agencies.*Leading, developing and managing a team of 55 marketing managers and executives with the successful integration of the Argos and Homebase brochure teams delivering operational efficiency benefits and 50% improvement in team engagement scores

Reporting to the Head of Product Marketing, this senior marketing role implemented the promotional calendar through developing a robust product plan for each promotional event; created of the supporting publications and POS; in-flight promotional management; and provided marketing support for the chain of 739 stores in the UK and Ireland. The role had three reporting teams, five direct reports and a further 24 indirect team members with direct impact on sales of c.£1.5bn representing c.35% company sales. This was a high-profile role with weekly engagement and representation with Directors.*Delivery and management of all promotional events and publications calendar for the chain, budgets and strategic agencies*Responsible for delivering improved operational delivery of promotional events, improved corporate governance and business-wide engagement.*Weekly analysis of in-flight sales recommended and implemented activity to improve event performance.

Leading a team of 17, this role planned and implemented the retail events, publication and online strategy for eight household-name home shopping brands with annual sales of c.£2bn representing 70% of the UK agency home shopping market. Produced four catalogues per year for each brand; eight websites; and a comprehensive online and offline brochure programme; this role reported to the Brand Director with frequent interaction at Board level.*Drove main and midseason book sales and profitability through defining the optimum product offer and analysis of sales results making profitable recommendations for improved activity.*Developed and managed of a seasonal events and publications calendar for the Group.*Developed customer understanding and applying this to improve online and offline communications.*Developed and managed a team of 17 marketing managers and executives with a budget of £12m for leaflets, brochures and mid–season cataloguesKey achievements:*Fully responsible for improved Christmas 2006 campaign delivering YOY growth of 30% against a background of overall declining traditional home shopping market.*Building a new team of talented marketing professionals when the Liverpool and Manchester offices combined.*Delivering newly re-branded publications across the LSDG Department Store portfolio.

This position was the architect for promotions from initiation, through planning, briefing, project management of implementation and full evaluation. The output was customer-facing marketing activity in-store through promotional publications, POS and display; publications distributed through national press and targeted door-drop; on-line marketing through argos.co.uk; advertising through national newspapers and TV. • Fully responsible for the ten-week Christmas promotions of 2003 and 2004 which delivered double digit promoted sales growth in both years and in the face of a declining retail market.• Identified opportunities for each time period and devised a layered promotional plan that maximised sales.• Achieved business buy-in and budget approval for the plan at Executive level. • Developed local marketing and anti-competitor plans for individual stores.

Advised the business on the most profitable locations and provide in-depth assessment of individual store location opportunities to develop a successful store opening programme. * Fully responsible for proposing a store location strategy for a vastly increased store network across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. This led to 18 more stores generating annual sales of c.£140m.* Recommendations for Great Britain led to a further 39 stores opening with annual sales of c£300m.The insight of store and market performance and customer behaviour was also extensively used to advise other areas of the Marketing department on customer profiling, competitor analysis, store performance benchmarking, local marketing and new catalogue distribution channels.

My specific role was in the publications section within the Marketing department and involved managing individual publications through briefing, production, print and distribution.

The Association of Train Operating Companies is the trade association of the passenger railway businesses with responsibility for ticket revenue settlement of c.£3bn, Railcard marketing, and representing the passenger rail industry to all interested audiences.• Developed and implemented a communications strategy that took into account the differing commercial and political sensitivities of members. Project management of national railway publications and quality corporate publications.• Organised rail conferences for government representatives, rail industry and press.• Handled enquiries from the media, general public, Government and MPs in an environment of intense public interest in rail privatisation.

With a worldwide customer base, Gatwick Express presents a global marketing challenge. This role developed a broad marketing strategy which built on Gatwick Express’ performance as the only British Rail company to operate at a profit and in support of a management buy-out proposition during privatisation.• Increased awareness of Gatwick Express in key target markets and arrested a decline in market share.• Represented Gatwick Express with BAA and airlines at travel trade seminars in the USA. Generated all the advertising activity, promotions and exhibitions. Briefed and co-ordinated pitches for advertising agencies and other creative work. Negotiated advertising media at London Gatwick Airport and across London.

A classic corporate communications role where my responsibilities included development of a new brand identity for a rail freight business and project management of the entire corporate identity from literature and newsletters to locomotive liveries. Development and implementation of internal and strategic communications plans.

This elected sabbatical position encompassed all the external and internal communications of this diverse organisation.• Established a new corporate identity when the institution became a university and drafted a new constitution.• Developed new publications and marketing methods that radically increased revenue from commercial ventures.

Mini Mba, Brand Management

Mini Mba, Marketing

Education record

Education record

Mini Mba Brand Marketing