Specialisations:

• Aligning retail systems with business process
• Development of systems requirements in the areas of POS, Merchandise planning OTB and buying, Inventory management, B2B, and eCommerce
• Channel design and organisational change to deliver coordinated channel strategy
• Capturing traffic counts and using the data to improve business performance
• Loyalty program design and implementation

Summary of Relevant Experience

Julian has developed System Specifications for a large number of retail projects over many years.

He has managed the development of many Request for Proposal (RFP) processes, and assisted with the implementation of many systems within retail.

Julian has worked with over 200 Australian retailers implementing systems to improve business performance.

Projects include POS, Merchandise planning, OTB, buying, Inventory management, stock taking, mobile systems, B2B and B2C eCommerce trading, head office accounting systems, Loyalty and Customer Relationship Management systems, Strategic Business Intelligence systems.

Julian has very wide and deep knowledge about industry best practice, vendors, and retailer implementations.  As an example, Julian wrote a series of detailed papers relating industry best practices to a large (3,000+ stores) retailer’s in-store and head office business processes.

Julian has managed a team that designs and implements changes to multi-channel management strategies within retail organisations.  He has developed a guiding framework and methodology that can be applied to retailers and other businesses.

Julian has written numerous articles that have been published in the trade press on various aspects of going online and the deployment of technology within the retail industry.

Julian has often been engaged to review retail systems and their alignment with business objectives and to make recommendations for improvement.

Julian has an extensive retail industry network with his work establishing the Australian Chapter of ARTS to promote the use of IT standards within retail. (He is Secretary). 

Julian is a sessional lecturer  at Monash University lecturing on Retail Technclogy and Multi-Channel marketing throughout the logisitics and fulfillment processes. 

Specialisations:

• Budgeting – budgeting and forecasting in turbulent times
• Merchandise Planning – OTB, Range planning, Assortment Planning, Profiling stores, Allocations
• Merchandise mix – optimise under current trading conditions
• Inventory control – sourcing challenges, ‘just in time’
• Pricing strategy – maximise margins under pressure
• Markdown policy – clearance of slow stock
• Store layout and visual – tweaking at no or low cost  

Summary of Relevant Experience

Stuart is a highly experienced retailer who has extensive background gained throughout the world.

He has first hand experience in trading under particularly difficult economic conditions in both South Africa and Indonesia (through the Asian Economic crisis in the late 90’s).

Stuart has worked in a large Department Store Group and subsequently a 160 store chain selling clothing, footwear, textiles and accessories.

He has owned and managed a single store and appreciates the challenges in this environment, especially the importance of cash flow.

In the 80’s Stuart emigrated to Australia and joined a specialty handbag and luggage chain.

Stuart has held roles including Chief Executive Officer, Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director.

He has lived in Australia for over 20 years and currently consults to retailers in Australia and Asia.

Specialisations 

Buying

• Achieving Sales and Profit results against budget
• Maintaining competitive value and price positioning against other retailers
• Developing and maintaining supplier relationships both locally and overseas
• Managing a direct import program
• Establishing and maintaining high quality control standards
• Identifying trend opportunities in the marketplace
• Setting up new departments & private label ranges
• Financial planning
• Analytical and forecasting
• Inventory Management of replenishment stocks

 Marketing

• Market research
• Strategic Planning
• New Product Launches
• Creatively executing products suitable for website format
• Mail Order catalogues
• Manage advertising agency process from briefing through to creative execution

Management and Leadership

• Team building through sharing of goals and visions
• Customer focussed to both internal and external parties
• Train and develop staff

Summary of Relevant Experience 

Karen has an MBA and Business degree (Marketing) and has over 16 years experience in retail, specifically in Buying and Marketing for various divisions of Coles-Myer. 

Karen has an MBA and Bachelor of Business (Marketing) with over 16 years experience working in retail.  

Karen has worked in the buying and marketing departments for various divisions of Coles.  

Karen has been responsible for managing multimillion dollar buyerships within various departments of the Grocery, Hard and Soft goods Categories.

She is able to communicate at all levels of the organisation and facilitate change.  Karen has a demonstrated record of achieving results.

Currently lecturing, training and consulting in Retail Buying and Marketing.  

Specialisations 

• Inventory Management
• Supply Chain Planning
• Supply Chain Execution
• Logistics
• Electronic Commerce
• Business Process Reengineering
• Project Management

  Summary of relevant experience 

Scott has over 20 years experience in Manufacturing, Supply Chain and e-Commerce locally and Internationally, both in managing the Supply Chain function and in identifying strategic value from IT for customers.   

His experience spans consulting, management and sales management roles at Mobil Oil Australia, Deloitte Consulting, Australian Vinyls, and e2e Supply. 

As Supply Chain Manager of Australian Vinyls, Scott was able to develop, articulate and implement a supply chain strategy intimately linked with e-commerce solutions to achieve savings greater than thirty percent over a two year period. 

Scott has project experience across a range of functions, including Technical, I.T.,Sales and Marketing, Strategy, Operations,  warehouse management and end to end Supply Chain.  

Other selected experience includes:

• Project managed and led 13 other sub project managers for the relocation of Healthcare facilities after a major acquisition. This project was brought  in under budget and ahead of schedule.
• Implemented Paperless warehouse management system at the largest manufacturer of plastic pots in Australia.
• Implemented EXE warehouse management systems and IPT e-commerce solutions in China for direct retail communication to global retailers.
• Led an international study into developing a supply chain strategy for a major pharmaceutical firm. The project involved direct and wholesale pharmaceutical supply to major hospitals around the world.
• Along with Supply Chain strategy projects, Scott has also worked on business strategies for a major petroleum company that resulted in a 200% turnaround for a loss making department to become a profitable one. 
• Led the network design project for a major paper manufacturer resulting in savings of 15% of supply chain costs.
• Using mathematical modelling, identified numerous savings in storage and distribution functions in a number of organisations.
• Trained top level executives in functional Supply Chain management for a number of organisations
• Scott has also spoken locally and internationally at supply chain and e-commerce conferences.
• Scott also participates in a number of Government committees on Supply Chain and e-Commerce and is a current committee member of the SCLAA.

Specialisations 

Primary Skill Areas

• 25 years of experience in Retail IT Systems
• Development of requirements for In-Store Retail Systems
• Management of RFP tendering processes
• Vendor management and selection
• Infrastructure Lifecycle Management and planning
• Project Management and implementation
• Stakeholder Management and reporting
• Integration of the Store into a Multi Channel Retail Solution 

Solutions experience with a wide range of technologies:

• Point of Sale and EFT Payment technologies
• Databases, Middleware and Web based solutions
• Wireless Networks and Real Time Mobility solutions 

Product Experience including:

• Retail Point of Sale solutions (POS)
• Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
• Network Implementation including Wireless LAN
• Portable Terminals and Scanners
• Portable Computing solutions for Retail and Logistics
• Retail Merchandising solutions (RMS)
• Warehouse Management solutions (WMS)
• Database, Middleware and Development Tools

Summary of Relevant Experience 

Paul Fitzpatrick has 25 years experience working with Retailers in Australia and New Zealand, assisting them with retail technology solutions. Paul has worked for technology suppliers and major retailers in various roles including: Project Manager, Business Analyst, Account Executive, Channel Manager and Product Manager.

He has extensive contacts within the Retail and IT markets including all the major suppliers. Paul has managed projects covering: Point of Sale selection and tender management, Detailed Infrastructure Design, Network implementation, Retail and Supply Chain mobility solutions (Portable terminals), Deployment Management for a large scale Point of Sale rollout. 

Paul has developed IT Infrastructure strategies for retailers including lifecycle management of the installed systems and alignment with business planning and future vendor releases. This has included vendor management and tender management processes. Paul has implemented mobility solutions (wireless networks and portable terminals) for retail stores, retail logistics and supply chain. 

 During his working career Paul has worked for both the suppliers and the retailers and is therefore well positioned to assist with business planning, product selection and implementation of these projects.