Summary
Overview
Work History
Skills
Hobbies and Interests
References
Timeline
Generic

Craig Holland

Belgrave,VIC

Summary

25 + years of experience in Retail, Product Development Wholesale, Merchandising, Training, Leadership and Mentoring. Collaborate and create a focus on products that meet the needs and preferences of customers and consumers in different regions and segments. Leverage my skills alongside my team in merchandising strategies, retail category management, and market research to design and optimise products that align with the brand's vision and values. My focus is to deliver products and offers that are profitable, sustainable, and competitive. I am passionate about developing innovative products and solutions that enhance the customer experience and drive growth. Factories and sourcing are also my greatest passion as I work in partnership to achieve the best possible outcomes in quality, price and timing. Responsible for creating and executing strategies for increasing sales, building brand awareness, and driving profitable growth for a retail business. This involves developing a product assortment, pricing strategy, marketing campaigns, visual merchandising displays, and inventory placement. Tracking sales data and trends, analysing customer feedback, and adjusting strategies to meet business goals. I believe to succeed NOW you need to be ON TREND and have an eye for innovation and advance understanding of consumer needs within any segment of the market.

Overview

36
36
years of professional experience

Work History

Head of product Development - Homewares

Global Retail Brands
09.2023 - 07.2024
  • Based on range reviews present, create and develop products to suit business assortment plans
  • Ensure compliance in product, packaging QC and QA
  • Training and education of new product launches
  • Brand focus to meet quality expectations
  • VM space management
  • Ensured sell though of seasonal products
  • Achieved required sales and margins
  • Over and above travel and training and selling in The Custom Chef concept internationally

Merchandise Manager - Homewares

Global Retail Brands
07.2020 - 10.2023
  • To lead the product and buying team in achieving Sales and profit
  • Learning all aspects of Online business
  • Training and Mentoring team
  • Setting targets and goals for product development and sales growth
  • Launched Baccarat Electrical - Developed and to market in 6 months period for Christmas 2022 selling
  • Now 4th biggest category within business
  • Re launched Bessemer cookware into Australian market
  • Maintained growth within current categories for sales and profit

Senior Product, Category and Merchandise Manager

Global Retail Brands
06.2017 - 09.2023
  • To lead the product and buying team in achieving Sales and profit
  • Senior Product / Buyer Developer - Cookware, Knives bakeware and Cutlery
  • Training and Mentoring team
  • Setting targets and goals for product development and sales growth
  • Baccarat #1 brand in cookware and Knives – Southern Hemisphere
  • Empowering our Team for success with critical paths and range reviews as well as international travel
  • Drove the launch of House UK all products and development for 3,500 SKU’s under Cuisine::pro brand
  • Assisted in training, Merchandising and planogramming
  • Opening the first shopfront at Westgate Oxford UK simultaneously with the HouseUK.com online store

Senior Product Developer - Homewares

Global Retail Brands
01.2009 - 05.2017
  • To lead the product development and buying in achieving Sales and profit
  • Senior Product / Buyer Developer - Cookware, Knives bakeware and Cutlery
  • Created products and ranges to increase development and sales growth for business
  • Baccarat developed over 65 ranges including iD3 - Bio+ - Granite - Iconix - Cuisinepro - Damashiro - Diamond 9 - Stone – and many more known now as household brands within brands
  • Created market share to be the #1 brand in cookware and Knives in choice and brand recognition – Southern Hemisphere
  • Developed critical paths and range reviews, costing sheets, launch packs, VM guides for store promo set ups and Planning files for promotional activity
  • Created Training and sale guides for cookware and knives
  • Price list and margins and high / low retail price setting
  • Education info packs and INSTORE training for all 5 facts to a sale
  • Worked on strengthen brands by working alongside chef’s like Luke Nugyen and Pete Evans to create exclusive ranges
  • In 2014 Global Retail Brands Australia acquired the Robins Kitchen business 145 stores including House
  • In 2015 we stopped supplying wholesale to all other retailers exclusive to only House and Robins Kitchen - Worked as Product developer and buyer for all stores

Senior Buyer - Homewares

Wheel and Barrow
02.2008 - 08.2008
  • To lead the buying in achieving Sales and profit
  • Cookware, Knives, tools and gadgets, bakeware and Cutlery
  • Work with local Suppliers to create products and ranges to increase development and sales growth for business
  • Assisted in creating a stronger focus in homewares within Wheel and Barrow

Product Developer - Homewares

Global Retail Brands
04.2007 - 01.2008
  • Employed by Global Retail Brands after Takeover from (Breville HWI) to Global Retail Brands in April 2007
  • To lead the wholesale buying and product development in achieving Sales and profit
  • Re Sourced and launched - Arcosteel / Arcosteel Premium / Baccarat / Alex Liddy / Mayfair and Jackson to market - Re developed new products and packaging in wholesale market to retailers
  • Sold products to retailers in connecting with sales team in trade fairs
  • 7,000 SKU's re developed or re packaged
  • Worked with Major Retailers MYER / Kitchen Warehouse / Robins Kitchen with House brand and exclusive ranges to suit their price points and range assortment
  • ID3 cookware first to do Hard Anodised non stick inside and out the biggest selling loose cookware range in Australia
  • Assisted in creating a one stop cookware stand concept for retailers
  • Created special Magazine offers for Retailers selling our products

Product Developer - Homewares

Breville (HWI)
02.2005 - 03.2007
  • Company Overview: Homewares arm of Breville
  • To lead the wholesale buying and product development in achieving Sales and profit
  • To work on development and programs with retailers under the Acosteel / Arcosteel Premium and Baccarat brands
  • All sourcing done through China from selecting products to working with design team on packaging and QC and QA
  • Tracking orders from China working with Retailers and account managers based on achieving launch timelines
  • Homewares arm of Breville
  • Worked on Concepts for Retailers with exclusive deals, Kitchen in a box as well as the rollout of Arcosteel - Prep - Cook - Serve – Store in Kmart
  • Created a cookware and knife range for Breville (coloured cookware and homewares) Exclusively to MYER
  • Created a Coloured cookware range for USA market under BlinQ to Macy's

Senior Buyer homewares and workplace Mentor

Harris Scarfe Ltd
04.2001 - 06.2004
  • To lead the buying in achieving Sales and profit
  • To brief weekly catalogue offers for homewares categories
  • Promoted to Senior Buyer (Selected workplace Mentor to work alongside Managing Director for revitalization program of Harris Scarfe)
  • Work with local suppliers on promotional programs, instore team training and managing stock and sales targets
  • Built relationships with local suppliers to introduce exclusive ranges and products to suit our Consumers in conjunction with local suppliers - set briefs of product assortments and target prices required
  • Jan 2001 Travelled to the USA with (Managing Director) to look at the revitalization program of Harris Scarfe with extensive input into the look at feel of the new store concepts and roll out based on Kohl's USA
  • Assisting Buyers as the workplace Mentor in Teaching and education on the Harris Scarfe Buyer training Scheme
  • Feb 2002 Travelled to China to begin sourcing for Harris Scarfe, Created the exclusive home brand called Smith + Nobel (Which is now one of their major brands)
  • Sourced all Home related products from Kitchenware, Cookware, Manchester, Laundry, Dinnerware, Cutlery and Glassware
  • Oct 2002 Began the rollout with the Managing Director to create our new store network and branding
  • Assisted in the remodelled with new products, layouts and new branding
  • Input into locational floor planning for all homewares including Manchester
  • As a result, Harris Scarfe had record growth in Homewares categories
  • By 2004 (2 Years) grew to 80 + stores Nationally

Buyer homewares - Youngest Ever Buyer in Harris Scarfe history

Harris Scarfe Ltd
02.1988 - 03.2001
  • To lead the buying in achieving Sales and profit
  • Merged the buying role from 3 buyers to 1
  • To brief weekly catalogue offers for homewares categories
  • Work with local suppliers on promotional programs, instore team training and managing stock and sales targets
  • Built relationships with local suppliers to introduce exclusive ranges and products to suit our Consumers in conjunction with local suppliers - set briefs of product assortments and target prices required
  • Negotiated a special buy from local supplier to sell loose cutlery (Increased sales 25 Times more than previous year)
  • My love for product development came from my skills in being able to work with local suppliers to create products exclusively for Harris Scarfe
  • Educating the suppliers rather than the opposite which in normal local buying you would take what the suppliers thought you needed and buy and I created a what we need mentality with our suppliers which created higher margin products and exclusive deals as well as suppliers using my knowledge with other customers
  • This was my main drive to move into Product development in 2005

Skills

  • Technical expertise
  • Negotiation
  • Business focused
  • Critical thinking
  • Data analysis
  • Research skills
  • Problem-solving
  • Prioritization
  • Communication
  • Task setting
  • Strategic thinking
  • Product road mapping
  • Time Management
  • Market research
  • Training
  • Mentoring
  • Adaptability
  • Analytical Skills
  • Excel
  • SAP
  • TRS
  • Pronto
  • Reporting
  • Team management
  • Empowerment
  • Support
  • Assistance
  • Market trends
  • Product promotions

Hobbies and Interests

  • Researching the best of the best in product (Any category)
  • Golf
  • Gym
  • Spending time with family and friends

References

Available upon request

Timeline

Head of product Development - Homewares

Global Retail Brands
09.2023 - 07.2024

Merchandise Manager - Homewares

Global Retail Brands
07.2020 - 10.2023

Senior Product, Category and Merchandise Manager

Global Retail Brands
06.2017 - 09.2023

Senior Product Developer - Homewares

Global Retail Brands
01.2009 - 05.2017

Senior Buyer - Homewares

Wheel and Barrow
02.2008 - 08.2008

Product Developer - Homewares

Global Retail Brands
04.2007 - 01.2008

Product Developer - Homewares

Breville (HWI)
02.2005 - 03.2007

Senior Buyer homewares and workplace Mentor

Harris Scarfe Ltd
04.2001 - 06.2004

Buyer homewares - Youngest Ever Buyer in Harris Scarfe history

Harris Scarfe Ltd
02.1988 - 03.2001
Craig Holland