Marc Duckworth

I am the OEM product manager for Russell Hobbs floorcare, second fastest growing floorcare brand within the UK and Europe. Working alongside Nicky Clarke, I am the product manager for the brands personal care electrical appliances within the UK. I also manage own brands Lowry/Abode/Holme, and work alongside retailers providing ODM solutions. I manage the life cycle of a product from design, development, and purchasing all the way to shelf. I lead on range design and strategy, and continually monitor and improve product based on customer need. I work closely with the teams from Sales and Technical, to Customer Services to ensure that the best job is done for our retailers and our customers.

I was the buyer for the Personal Care Electrical category across the Asda stores estate, with secondary responsibility for buying Small Domestic Appliances [SDA] for the George.com e-commerce website. My role involves full category management including product selection, P&L, promotions, negotiations, sourcing/buying in the Far East, and management responsibilities.

I was a visual merchandiser on the promotions team, designing and building promotional gondola ends to maximise sales and profit across the home and leisure area for all categories.

I was the assistant buyer on the SDA and Floorcare category. My role involved: - Working closely in support of my line manager - Dealing with domestic suppliers in queries and financials - Liaising with international colleagues in China for own-label and import products - Purchasing responsibility for vacuum bags, solutions, and accessories - Working closely with support role colleagues to ensure a 100% correct store range implementation - Representing the wider Home Essentials team in promotions, and collaborating with the team to resolve issues - Managing 'Sale' events for total General Merchandise team for admin and process I have previously bought for Asda Direct in the role, increasing sales over 50% YOY, and maximising profit through joint business plans and promotional funding.

I worked to develop the online Toys & Sports range, expanding the toys range 300% and ensuring 100%+ YOY growth for the department. It involved working with large suppliers such as MGA, Mattell, and Lego. I also had under my direct remit, the development of the sports department. This involved growing from 100 SKU's to circa 500, involving bringing on the brands Raleigh Bikes and York Fitness. I also worked alongside existing suppliers to renegotiate contracts and cost prices, and expanding the range. I personally arranged the Bike Event, which showed a 300% comp, and the 2012 Kids Online Licensed Event.

I was responsible for buying and building the Festive fancy dress range, showing massive sales growth and improving our market share drastically. My role also involved ensuring the full range offering was featured on Asda Direct, working directly with suppliers such as JML showing 2000% YOY growth, and a projected sales plan of £100k over one small area, which was unprecedented for the platform.

I was responsible for featuring the Homewares and Furniture range on Asda Direct, building events and pages, experimenting with the pages to produce results, and entasked with growing the departments 200% YOY. I was personally responsible for building the JML range on Direct, and working with suppliers within smaller departments such as Wall Art to produce an extended range online.

I was responsible for ensuring tolerance of all, from LGB societies, to under represented minorities at Chester University.

My main role was focused on supporting the corporate communications department, working with multinational journalists, and also on the internal publications of information. I wrote and updated the internal training pamphlets, created a full range of training DVD's, wrote newsletters, produced a Year End Update video, and also worked with the Assistant Chief Constable on promotion of the Restorative Justice campaign. As another part of my role, I organised the Cheshire Show stall, that involved many parts of the constabulary from dog training squads, to special constables and PCSO's. I created training DVD's, newsletters, yearly update films, Chief Constables message, and also was a model for a poster campaign. I also organised the Cheshire Show stand for 2008.