Profile of Trainers

Linda Ward, Assoc. CIPD

Management and Retail Services is a company that specialises in providing top class advice, expertise and workable solutions on an affordable budget.  The principal of the company is Linda Ward who has over 25 years of practical experience in business at a senior level.

At Debenhams, Linda was part of project team for the setup of the first store in Ireland and was General Manager for 6 years.  As the first store in the group to operate outside the UK, she helped to shape the strategic management of the Irish business on commercial and HR policy.

With Marks and Spencers for 17 years in the UK, Europe and Ireland, she was responsible for many store developments and a new store.  Other retail experience was with The Body Shop as General Manager for the 17 stores on the island of Ireland; Esso as Operations Specialist for the setup of the new "On the Run" brand and The Simon Community as Shops Development Manager, defining a new model and standard for charity shops.

James McGowan BA, ACA

James is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has worked in both practice and as a financial accountant in industry since 2001.  James has recently worked with several businesses on their strategic development in the retail, print and design and tourism / entertainment sectors.

Sustainable retailing with the 4P's

People - Product - Process - Profitability

People - Customers, You, Your Employees

• Reconnecting you with your business
• Re-energising your employees
• Exciting fresh interest in your customers
• Re-capturing and sustaining the essence of your business

Product - What you sell - good or services

• What do you really sell?
• Current trends in your product area
• Establishing the correct balance between sales and stock
• Diversification, re-channelling or rationalisation

Process - Layout, Branding, Sales Management, Marketing, Your Competition

• Refocusing your attention on sales
• How to maximise sales by target setting
• Refreshing your store layout and shop fit
• Improving the image of your brand and your business
• Marketing to reinforce brand and communicate to your customer
• Paying attention to your competitors

Profitability - Business Viability, Profitability and Cost Control

• Confirming viability of the business
• Improving the efficiency of working capital management
• Stabilising cash flow
• Margin Management
• Cost review programme focused on cost control and profit maximisation
• Providing management with reporting tools to monitor progress and enable greater control

Programme takes place over 4 Tuesday evenings in October and November, commencing Tuesday 13th October.   Participating businesses can also avail of two 1 to 1 sessions, one of which can be a mystery shopper experience.