Jessica McRae
London,City of London
Summary
I am a proactive, dedicated, and enthusiastic professional, with 7 years of industry experience, in both the On-trade and commercial sectors. I am passionate about offering unique education and advocacy opportunities to London's best cocktail bars, both present and upcoming, whilst encouraging brand loyalty and engagement. I have consistently excelled at constructing support contracts that are accurately tailored to the top bars in the city, and know how to ensure that these proposals demonstrate a finite understanding of how to effectively collaborate with them. Relationship building remains a top priority for me in these key venues, and I have been able to consistently balance working relationships, and also maintain relevance and respect from the bar industry.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work history
Prestige Account Manager
Franklin & Sons
London, City of London
07.2023 - Current
- Managed an average of 85 accounts day to day, organising and scheduling retro payments, planning out marketing spends and activation calendars with venues, developing and maximising relationships with both management and bar teams.
- Competitively tendered against other mixer brands, negotiating investments with prospective accounts, and offering the most beneficial and compatible mixer partnership for different types of On-trade venues, whilst ensuring strong visibility wins, and financial profitability, for Franklin & Sons.
- Specialised in collaborating with 50 Best/Top 50 UK Bars, Michelin-star Restaurants, Private Member's Clubs, 5* Hotels, and London's Top Nightclubs.
- Consistently developed new business, winning exclusive distribution in 66 new venues throughout the F24 financial year.
- Maintained a strong presence and relevance within the industry, building great relationships in all areas of the On-trade, developing a strong network that offered additional and organic opportunities for the brand, and finding innovative ways to support the industry.
- Built and lead advocacy and education projects with spirit partners, venue partners, influential trade, and organisations such as Celebrate Her, and Equal Measures.
Cocktail Waitress
The Connaught Bar
Mayfair, City of London
01.2023 - 07.2023
- No 1 World's Best Bar at 50Best Bars, 2020-2021.
- Upholding the extraordinary reputation of the Connaught Bar, providing memorable hospitality in a consistently fast paced environment, engaging and building rapport with guests from all parts of the world, in the atmosphere of the bar.
- Followed specific standards of ultra luxury service, in line with LQA and Forbes Assessments.
- Developing my knowledge continuously of both the menu, and the products used within the bar, to offer insightful recommendations throughout service, and engage guests in the storytelling of the drinks and the venue itself.
- Networking inside and out of the bar, representing The Connaught Bar at industry events, and building connections with people from all parts of the industry.
Bar Manager
JUNGLE Nightclub
Worthing, West Sussex
03.2021 - 12.2022
- Managed a bar team of 8-10 people, specialising in speed bartending, free pouring, and round building.
- Developed a Bartender Training Programme of bi-weekly training sessions, to maintain exceptional standards across the bar and floor, focusing on growing the teams knowledge on their products, refining service standards, and ensuring a consistently excellent service to guests throughout exceptionally busy service periods.
- Liaised with brand representatives and product distributors, negotiating support agreements, and collaborating with brands like Pernod Ricard throughout their agreement.
- Lead the recruitment across all departments within the venue, filling roles with excellently matched applicants, and minimising staff turnover.
- Organised, designed, and directed social media posts for the bar, building a strong understanding for the importance of advocacy and developing a keenness for innovative promotion and marketing.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Musical Theatre
MET University
Brighton 09/2018 - 06/2021
Skills
- Strong sense of budget management and tracking
- Multitasking efficiency
- Confident public speaker and keen educator
- Relevant market insight, very strong personal network and relationships
- Time management and reliable with deadlines
- Strong ability to build mutually beneficial, and tailored support agreements, and win big tenders over competitor brands
- Always maintains in depth product knowledge, to provide engaging storytelling, and technical understanding, to the On-trade
- Ease with rapport building in business and personal contexts, balancing professionalism and respect with friendships and open communication channels
- Works well in both leadership and supporting roles
- Expertise in balancing new business development while maintaining current account base, and upholding account trust
- Adaptable and professional, comfortable handling sensitive conversations
- Project/advocacy ideation, innovation, and execution
Timeline
Prestige Account Manager
Franklin & Sons
07.2023 - Current
Cocktail Waitress
The Connaught Bar
01.2023 - 07.2023
Bar Manager
JUNGLE Nightclub
03.2021 - 12.2022
Bachelor of Arts - Musical Theatre
MET University
09/2018 - 06/2021
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