Issue 20/08

Europe - Notes from John Collins

I would like to thank Tracey for doing such a good job on Teamtalk whilst I was a way on holiday.

So how did it go last week?

Top four stores are:-

• Vilseck - 198% of target with help and a lot of work from the commissary orders. Well done Paul
• Lakenheath -157% of target. Good going again Gary especially with sales on the Alexandre Savile Row shirts and suits.
• Chievres - 104% of target. Well done Dave keep on pulling the customers out of the woodwork.
• Stuttgart – 101% of target. Well done Vince.

The area hit 100% of target this week, which is great so let’s keep on the positive side and let all customers know who approach that we currently have a sale on made to measure and ready to wear.

For our own benefit keep pushing the made to measure (4% commission) selling a made to measure is like selling 2-3 ready to wear garments in trade and 4 ready to wear sales in commission.

This week’s Teamtalk is a shorter version than normal, as you all know I have been on holiday and will get in touch with you all through the week to see how things are going and what else we can do to try to boost business.

Do not forget: We all need to work together to succeed

Good luck and good trading.
John Collins

PROMINENT SEATS ON TROUSERS

We have received a number of comments recently regarding plain front trousers and the pockets gaping when the customer’s put them on. Due to the nature of a plain front and as there is no ease in the front as there are no pleats, Kevin Roche would like to re-iterate the following:-

Points to remember when measuring PLAIN FRONT TROUSERS

• Check what the customer is wearing - do the pockets gape ?? If they do it is an indication of a prominent seat or heavy thigh.
• Always measure the most prominent part of the seat.
• If you have a difference of 7” or greater between the Seat and waist measure, the customer will be more prone to a prominent seat.
• If a bicep measure is quoted always quote a thigh measurement and look if the customer has a prominent seat.

SILK KNOT CUFFLINKS

We still have a stock of silk knot cufflinks available for order in Goole, please contact Alexandre Support if you require some for your store.

We also still have a supply of Icon brochures which are available for order.

ALEXANDRE SAVILE ROW SUITS AND SHIRTS

All European stores now have a stock of Alexandre Savile Row shirts and some of you also have suits. In the last 10 days we have sold 28 shirts in Europe and 5 suits – this is helping us to clear the stock through the business and is also giving us additional sales. So well done to you all and thank you for getting behind pushing the stock.

Stock has been allocated to USA stores, you can see what is due into you from your store stock enquiry. I look forward to reporting equally good sales for America in next week’s team talk.

QUANTICO CHANGE OF TELEPHONE NUMBER

Until further notice, our department in Quantico have a new telephone number due to the renovations, going forward Mark and Amanda can be contacted on:-

(703) 432 8859.

SALE – SALE – SALE

On Friday of last week a list went to all USA stores confirming the ranges that you have on sale and the sizes that you had available on each range as at Thursday night. This proves that there is plenty of sale stock in all stores and I would ask you to use this to your advantage. For the coming weeks all that you have to do is manually downdate the sizes sold, either on paper or on the spreadsheet, as when you sell them and you have a list to hand showing all of your sale garments by size and fit on your department at all times. You may also want to consider merchandising the garments by size over the weekend as opposed to by range, this will give a sale look to the department which may inspire those Back to School shoppers to stop and look...