Mark Shackleton

• Took on the the lease of my own retail premises. Completely refitted the shop and stocked/merchandised it.
• Took care of all the general day to day running.
• Hired mentored and trained staff.
• Focused on growing the business and maximising its profitability.

• Arranged and helped with each new stores design, shop-fitting and merchandising.
• Responsible for the daily managing of staff and the assigning of duties. Managing and motivating staff to increase sales and ensure store efficiency. Analysing store sales figures.
• Implemented effective customer service procedures
• Assisted in recruiting, hiring and of staff.
• Worked closely with suppliers to drive down costs

Gower manufactured all the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom fitted furniture for Wickes (Diy Chain of 190 stores with turnover with Gower of £80M) the job entailed looking after all their requirements on trading/sales, logistics, product training and installations. I was also involved with new product development and conducted detailed R&D and market research on proposed new fascias, materials and monitored all aspects of the supply chain from raw material to the finished Wickes SKU. I also oversaw Gower display installations throughout the Wickes estate especially on display refits.

• Helped Wickes implement their own in house installation service

• Helped recruit new contractors (fitters) and provided training on product and H&S

• Dealt with product issues from the supply chain and customer complaints

• Prepared and presented kitchen and bedroom workshops across the Wickes estate.

• Project managed Wickes contract business from design to installation.

Headed the Technical services Dept comprising eight employed kitchen fitters and an assistant. Responsible for the installation of 1200 kitchen and bedrooms displays installed per annum, recruiting up to 100 sub contractors. Re shaped the dept to deal with the company's growth and played a major role in new product development. Liaised with and prepared reports for the Board.

• Negotiated significant reductions in the cost of sub contract labour

• Oversaw the introduction of a Planit CAD system to design kitchen layouts.

• Recruited and trained five new Technical Reps

• Developed procedures for Customer Service to provide technical support on product complaints

• Spent time at Smallbone (Gower sister Co.) on bespoke installations.

• Managed numerous domestic kitchen projects from design to installation

Deal with all customer service issues. Produced detailed display drawings of large kitchen and bedroom showroom's, studios and domestic kitchens. Assisted the Technical Services Manager with the scheduling of fitters and sub contractors to install kitchen and bedroom displays into retail showrooms. Listed the product and materials required and ordered via the distributor.

Produced detailed drawings of sheet metal machinery components and tooling, printed drawings for the shop floor and listed/filed all drawings.