Thomas BatesAccomplished management professional with a proven track record driving sales, operations and customer service within the retail/wholesale industry. Success based on effective supplier negotiation, relationship management, planning, and team leadership. Constantly striving to explore and open new business pipelines to support a company’s success and add value to customers through excellence in account management. Collaborative approach to management and maintaining group morale during periods of change resulted in low levels of staff turnover.

KEY SKILLSBusiness DevelopmentNegotiation Relationship ManagementLeadershipOperationsCommunications

CAREER H IGHLIGHTS

June 2014 – Present: Self employed field sales representative contracted to Appco Group. Direct sales, sales training and sector leader.

1993 – March 2014: The Almanac Gallery (Bought by the Great British Card Company plc in June 2012)

Greeting Card publisher operating in the B2B, direct to retail and charity markets

2003 – 2014: General Manager, The Almanac Gallery

Strategic planning and day-to-day management of the business. Developed business plans and pricing strategy, establishing budgets and sales

forecasts. Negotiated prices and terms with all suppliers (print, product materials,

outsourced fulfilment, IT, etc.) Sourced and managed production and fulfilment. Planned, organised and oversaw all trade show participation. Managed three office moves due to organic growth of the business. Coached and performance-managed staff to deliver exceptional customer

service Recruited and lead staff across Creative, Sales, Customer Service and Accounts

functions Stock management/planning, forecasting and issue resolution

Key Achievements

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Pre-empted the inexorable decline of the corporate Christmas card market by expanding in 2006 into Christmas, everyday and occasion cards for the direct to retail market and building turnover of the business line.

Planned product ranges and established sales & marketing strategy for both domestic and export markets.

Saved costs through on-going negotiation Recruited and managed independent sales agents covering the UK. Built and managed sales avenues, and nurtured key customer accounts for

both small independent businesses and major high-street names, including John Lewis, House of Fraser and Selfridges.

In 2010, focused on the growing direct to retail and direct to charity businesses, sourced a buyer and negotiated the sale of the personalised Christmas card business.

1993 – 2003: Corporate Sales Manager, The Almanac Gallery

Managed direct marketing of personalised Christmas cards to businesses through deploying a range of promotional and advertising strategies.

Composed copy for and designed direct mail brochures. Introduced new mailing list, trebling response rates; maintained customer

databases. Developed excellent customer relationships, ensuring account retention. Recruited, trained and managed temporary call centre and order processing

staff for six months every year.

Key Achievements

Trebled turnover in first two years. Maintained turnover and profit in a seriously declining market after 2002,

outperforming competitors.

1988 – 1993: Corporate Sales Director, 4C Direct marketing and sales company for charity Christmas cards in the B2B market(promoted from Corporate Sales Officer in 1990)

Direct marketing of personalised Christmas cards to businesses. Doubled turnover of the business in 3 years after promotion to Corporate Sales

Director.

2006 – Present: Company Secretary, Soccer International Ltd

Sports information provider

KEY QUALIF ICATION

BSc (Hons) Sociology 2:1, North London Polytechnic

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