Curriculum Vitae

Profile

I am a Non-Executive Director/Consultant working in the Fashion and Clothing industry, devising solutions for the many challenges companies face. I specialise in advising organisations how to cut costs and create efficiencies within their businesses leading to increased profitability. My client base is diverse, varying from start-ups to SME’s, usually requiring guidance with issues such as manufacturing, sourcing, supplier relations, costing, production, supply chain and more general problems. Having been involved in the clothing industry for the past 40+ years in roles such as MD for Puffa Ltd (the iconic outerwear brand), Group Production Director for Tricoville PLC, and managing my own London based CMT factory, I am confident that I can add value to any business.

Key Achievements

Non-Executive Director for Iron Ocean Ltd. – developing high tech performance textiles and clothing for personal protection in extreme environments

Operations Director for Muubaa Ltd. – improving product quality and delivery times

MD for Puffa Ltd. – Iconic outdoor clothing company

Turned company from loss to profit by:

  • Increasing profitability by improvement to gross margin by 25% through reducing expenses and implementing supply chain efficiencies
  • Reducing garment costs by working closely with factories at the initial development stage, and then prior to bulk production
  • Improvements to product quality reduced returns rate from 5% to less than 1%
  • Developing new sourcing solutions firstly Cut Make Trim in Hungary then Fully
  • Factored in China, resulting in improvements to delivery times from only 55% on time to 95%
  • Personal interaction with fabric suppliers leading to improved credit terms e.g.
  • 120 days credit from an Italian Mill. This improved company cash flow
  • By creating new products and sales channels adding accessories and summer clothing
  • Taking personal responsibility for management and development for sales team of

10 agents UK + 6 International agents or distributors (Europe and USA)

Group Production Director for Tricoville Group PLC.

  • Cut product costs by 20% through fabric savings and costing improvements
  • Advanced delivery times to 95% on time from previously 61% by improved financial management and earlier order placement
  • Improved order fill rates from 79% to 98% by more efficient sales order analysis and better cooperation with factories

MD for Brondino Ltd. – London based clothing factory

Career Summary

Consultancy Oct 2014 – Present Working with multiple clients (small manufacturing units, clothing manufacturers and start-ups) who demand confidentiality. Guiding start-up founders through the complete product cycle, from initial concept through to delivery of finished goods and subsequent brand launch. Advising and training with regards to product development, costing, manufacturing, factory audits, supply chain, sourcing, importation and systems. Part time roles offering training and development to their employees for Field Grey Ltd – Feb 2015 – Aug 2015 and then Fashioniser Ltd – Oct 2015-Aug 2016. This included trips to Bulgaria and Portugal for factory audits and inspection.

Iron Ocean Ltd – Advanced technical performance clothing and textiles
Consultant/Non-Executive Director Dec 2017 – Sept 2019 – Supporting the founder in the development of engineered thermo chemical textiles and clothing for use by the military, emergency services and leisure sports, for protection in extreme environments.

Sinstar Clothing Ltd – Leisure brand
Operations/Production Manager June 2014 – Sept 2014 – Assisted the founders manufacturing jersey clothing using different printing processes i.e. digital, sublimation and screen printing using water based inks, discharge, plastic, flocks, transfers, glitter and foil.
Responsible for production, sourcing, logistics, operations and implementing new systems. Sourced new factories and suppliers in the UK and Turkey and introduced factories in India.

Muuba Ltd – High fashion leather clothing 40+ Employees Operations Director July 2013 – June 2014  – Managing, mentoring and improving a production team of 5 people, to deliver product on time and to the desired standard. Personal visits to factories to improve their quality standards and inspection procedures, audited and monitored their compliance to ethical and R.E.A.C.H guidelines, REACH being the Registration Evaluation Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals when used for clothing, particularly leather tanning. Developed and implemented supplier manual. Managed revisions to contracts of employment and developed new employee starter pack, and induction procedure. Initiated regular monthly meetings with managers to discuss and resolve personnel problems. Introduced and administered bi-annual appraisals for all employees. General day to day running of the Muubaa business. Responsibility for 3rd party warehouse operations and logistics, where I worked closely with principles to improve their processes.

Cabbages and Roses Ltd Luxury – British retailer of clothing and textiles
Production Manager
Initially responsible for all product development and bulk production providing finished goods for 15 retail outlets within the Jigsaw Group and 5 dedicated Cabbages and Roses shops. Products included all categories of women’s clothing plus textiles and wallpaper for home furnishing. Providing accurate costings, and delivery schedules, including the sourcing and purchase of all fabrics and trims. Negotiating price and purchase terms, then liaising with finance department to ensure payments made on time. Additionally creating Letters of Credit when required. Budget management for all departments. Implementing stock control, I.T. and systems to ensure smooth running of all operations.

Wall Luxury Essentials Ltd – Luxury ladies wear and accessories.
Consultant Production Manager (Part time) Nov 2009 – May 2011 – The company sold to consumers directly via a website, mail order and a boutique. My role involved taking full responsibility for all stages of production, monitoring critical paths and liaising with suppliers, negotiating with factories in Peru and China, and for CMT production in the UK. Additionally, working closely with designers, merchandisers and finance, processing purchase orders and coordinating all shipments and logistics.

Tatiana Dreams Ltd – Young fashion, shoe manufacturer.
Operations Manager (Part time) Aug 2008 – March 2010 – Assisted the MD in all aspects of the business which supplied Top Shop, Faith, Dune, Office and Urban Outfitters (UK and USA), with product made in India. Took sole responsibility for purchasing and supply chain, factory capacity planning, critical path, sales order processing, invoicing and credit control. Additionally liaised with 3rd party warehousing and forwarders, which involved working closely with suppliers and retailers. Visits to factory in Agra India to train staff in administration and export/import procedure.- 

Production Consultancy and Career Break Oct 2005 – Aug 2008 Clients included M.R. Simak (China), Narrowgate (USA), Shirley Harrison Design, Ben Green, Celessence International, Grenfell Country Clothing, Puffa Country –  Troubleshooting and devising practical solutions. Formulating new supply chain, product development, sourcing and purchasing systems.

Puffa Ltd – Iconic brand leader in unisex outdoor clothing and accessories.
Managing Director Jan 1993 – Oct 2005 –  Recruited by the owner to replace the failed management team. I was able to facilitate the turnaround of the company after 3 years of loss. Puffa Ltd became profitable within 12 months of my appointment through a 20% reduction of product costs and improvements to the supply chain. In particular redesigning the product for more efficient manufacture and upgrading the warehouse layout and systems enabling quicker delivery to customers. This resulted in an improvement of 25% to the gross margin.

  • Devised and implemented new systems for production planning, product costing and pricing, and stock control of raw materials and finished goods. Personal visits to European fabric mills to establish best working relationships and achieve improvements to credit terms gaining 120 days credit from one mill and 90 days credit from the others. Controlled the management and co-ordination of all operational functions and cash flow, whilst driving through productivity and efficiency improvements using lean manufacturing techniques. Wrote supplier manual and developed quality control and sealing procedures.
  • Sourced and audited new factories and suppliers ( for product quality and ethical trading ) both in the UK and abroad including Europe and the Far East. Then devised processes to ensure that exacting quality control and administrative procedures were implemented and adhered to resulting in 95% of all deliveries reaching customers on time, with the balance delivered within 10 days of agreed delivery date, coupled with a returns rate of less than 1%.

Responsibilities:

  • Full responsibility for Profit and Loss, control of all budgets (target setting, monitoring and achieving), stock control, administration and office procedures

  • Direct responsibility for a team of 15 people internally. Human Resources including recruiting, training, motivating, appraisal and dismissal. Additionally managed, trained and motivated a UK sales team of 10.

  • Personal responsibility for management and growth of sales to key accounts

  • Managed the transition of production from CMT in England to Fully Factored from the Far East

  • Planned the design, development, sourcing etc of new collections and broadened the product range to include waterproof jackets with sealed seams, feather filled jackets and gilets, shirts, hats, scarves, gloves, socks and luggage. Negotiated price and purchase terms

  • Managed product development within specific cost targets and time deadlines

  • Regular travel to factories in Far East to supervise QC, presentation and packaging methods, whilst continuously

    appraising a strict ethical trading policy

  • Management of all advertising and marketing materials. This included the content, printing and distribution of a bi-annual brochure, national advertising campaigns, web site, exhibitions, customer retention schemes, point of sale materials distributed to customers, product labelling and branding, packaging and presentation

  • Facility management including structure, maintenance, communications and working environment

  • Overall management of all warehousing operations including goods inwards, goods outwards and pick and

    pack, both for own and third party

Tricoville Group PLC – 150+ employees with 45 direct reports in UK and HK Group Production Director Sept 1989 – Jan 1993 – The Tricoville Group comprised 3 labels, Tricoville, Bellino and Entente. Tricoville was a well-known manufacturer and importer of ladies suits and dresses (woven and knitted). Bellino sold separates i.e. tops, shirts, skirts, pants and co-ordinates, and Entente was known for eveningwear.

Joined company as Merchandise Manager. Promoted to General Manager of Bellino Ltd in November 1989. Promoted to Production Manager of Tricoville Ltd and Bellino Ltd in September 1990, and then to Group Production Director in February 1991.

During my time with the company I was able to

  • Cut product costs by 20% through fabric savings and costing improvements
  • Advanced delivery times to 95% on time from previously 61% by improved financial management and earlier order placement
  • Improved order fill rates from 79% to 98% by more efficient sales order analysis and better cooperation with factories

Responsibilities:

  • Responsible for all aspects of product development for all 3 labels, quality control and targeted delivery of garments from sketch/prototype sample stage, through to delivery of finished product to retailer.

  • Established quality control with suppliers abroad, necessitating regular personal supervisory visits to factories in India, Turkey and Hong Kong.

  • Responsible for UK production, administration, import/export and warehousing Departments as well as Hong Kong buying office

  • 45 staff reporting to me

Brondino Ltd – 50+ EmployeesManaging Director June 1980 – July 1989

Controlled a CMT factory making dresses and suits for retailers including Wallis and Windsmoor, evening dresses and ball gowns for Shubette and Marie Lecco and childrenswear for Minou, Micheal de Leon and Paula Lee. Responsible for recruitment and training of more than 50 employees. Developed into a skilled stock cutter, marker maker and pattern grader

Peggy Page Ltd
Sample Room Manager Sept 1975 – June 1980

Peggy Page Ltd was part of the The Raybeck Group and manufactured womens clothing specifically for the mail order market. Direct responsibility for sample room employing 11 people including designers, pattern cutters/graders, sample machinists, sample cutter, finisher, costing technician, who produced 50/60 new samples each week. Liaised with buyers making sure that their selected sample collections were ready and priced for their visits. Approved sealed samples with customers.

Just Jane Ltd – Mar 1974 – Sept 1975

Operations Manager

Just Jane was a retail Group specialising in quality fashion maternity wear.

Alexon/ Steinberg Group April 1970 – Mar 1974
General Office Manager
Alexon/ Steinberg were manufacturers and retailers of ladies clothing.

Simon Ellis Ltd, Sept 1969 – April 1970

Allocator