Issue 43/08

USA - Notes from Andy Schofield

Week 43 had it’s ups and downs – a weird week, it started out strong and if it had carried on that way through the weekend we would have smashed target. As it was, the weekend fell apart and the footfall wasn’t there in the stores. We closed the week cumulatively 78% of Target and 93% of Last Yea - The good news is that the overall outcome was similar to 2007…. Except this year it was all on Measures.

As mentioned, Made to Measure did very well and the last week of the BOGOF promo showed us that you made sure your last minute customers were contacted and did come back to buy. We finished the week with a whopping 137% of target and an even more impressive 209% against last years numbers! This is a good sign guys…. Customers are still interested in bargains, and more so they are interested in Made to Measure. Obviously the money is out there – it’s just a little harder to “Squeeze” out of them! Keep up the good work in this area everyone, the factory are being driven hard to make sure errors are not leaving the factory and the Head Office Team are behind us all the way.

Ready Made suffered last week, it really does show that the money went onto the Measure side of the business – but we’ll take it anyway we can…. Right?!! Finishing the week with 57% and 67% of last year, it was a tough one. That said, we can only get better, so let’s continue the push through the end of the Winter Sale…. And let’s get rid of those topcoats. I for one don’t want to have any hanging around when the temps hit 100 degrees!

Week 43 - Star Players

Top branch last week was actually an Un-Staffed branch – BOLLING AFB, staffed by Richard did 265% against target…. This was as much of a surprise to Richard as it was to me, but it goes to show you that customers are and will keep spending! – Well done Richard… keep plugging away at them.

• FORT BRAGG – Moving up the ladder this week, Adelle continues her reign in the top spot with 127% that was split 50-50 between MM & RM. Adelle is already planning her next fashion show in June and it’s sure to be a huge success….. as always! See the picture below of “Adelle’s Boyz” from the latest of her now infamous “Fort Bragg, Alexandre Fashion Shows”
• NELLIS AFB – Now here’s a name you don’t get to see up here very often! Allan managed to hit 103% of his target this week and just tipped the scales in his favor for the number 2 spot above a tie for third…. Well done Allan – keep the momentum going!
• FORT MEADE & FORT DIX – It was a battle to the finish with these two branches. Both coming in with 102% for a joint third position was Trevor & Nicky. I’ll let you two sort out who’s name should have been first here! – Well done guys…
• FORT SAM HOUSTON – Jeff showed his salesmanship skills this week and hit his target combined with 100%. He had $6000 in total sales, but that wasn’t the best – he was knocked into second place for highest weekly sales by...
• FORT BELVOIR – Steve & Nathan didn’t manage to hit their target figure this week, but they did get the top honors for biggest weekly sales with almost $8,000. Followed by Quantico and then Fort Sam – Well done to all of you that had a cracking week but just missed your targets.

PAUL'S TIP CORNER

Just a ‘wee tab’ bunch cover idea for this week’s “ corner “ if you haven't already tried: The Fort Carson sample is quite a primitive one and is about the size of our biz cards… (See below)… You could even ' tailor ' your own Big Blow Out one. (Sorry - couldn't resist)

Remember - this is the only time you can say 'B.O.G.O.F' to your customers and get away with it!

Enjoy - Paul.

Great idea for the cloth books Paul – I hope everyone will try this simple but effective idea….. (Email Paul and he will send you the sample for you to change.)

A LITTLE "DITTY"

I had to send this to you all (If you haven’t already seen it!), as it’s not only a great piece of literature from one of our own, but was thoughtful and made me laugh out loud!

A BIRTHDAY WISH - FROM US TO YOU - ANOTHER FAST YEAR - HAS GONE TOO - BLOW A CANDLE - OUT OR TWO - COZ THERE’S NOUT - TO STOP YOU.

STOLEN WORDS - MOST MAY SAY - FROM A CARD - THE ANSWER NAY - JUST AVIN A LAFF - ON THIS DAY - A SIMPLE POEM - WITHOUT DISMAY.

SO HERE’S TO YOU - O’ TEAM LEADER - TO HELP AND INSPIRE - OUR SALES WE FEEDER - WEEK AFTER WEEK WE TRY TO BRINGER - WITH YOU HERE - WE WILL LINGER.

SO START THE ‘BEAST’ - UP AND AWAY - THE SPEED LIMITS - HE WON’T OBEY - CHANGING GEARS AS HE FLEW - HE’S NOT HEAVY - HE’S JUST ANDREW.

THE TEAM USA 08 Thank you... (Mr Black I believe??!)

(Oh and for those of you not aware of the “Beast” and always ready to show off a picture of the kid…..)

FORT BRAGG – ALEXANDRE LONDON - FASHION SHOW

Adelle Miller below is “The star of the show” in Fort Bragg. Adelle can be seen in the centre of this picture where she is “Stuck in the middle” of lots of handsome men. Lucky her…… Well done Adelle, keep up the good work. Your figures show that your efforts are paying off.

Good Luck this week everyone – Andy.

Europe - Notes from John Collins

So how did we do this week?

Europe Sales	L/Y	Target	Actual	% Target	L/Y %
Made to Measure	13,654	10,682	18,965	178%	139%
Ready to Wear	36,548	39,336	34,676	88%	95%
Total Week	50,202	50,018	53,641	107%	107%

Another good team effort from the area this week.

As you can see from the above table, the area on made to measure was 178% of target and 139% of last year, ready to wear let us down a little with 88% of target but we just missed last year sales with 95%. This meant that we were overall 107% of target and 107% of last year.

If we look into the spread of the made to measure sales it shows that 71% of our made to measure sales were from two Managers Gary Bloom with $7,875 and Dave Cox from his three stores $5,205 - well done to these two Managers. Of course, with the help of the other stores it put us over target by 178%. So well done to us all.

How did the individual branches do?

Full time branches:

• No 1 Lakenheath - 254% of combined targets and 261% on last year. Another brilliant and prosperous week for Gary. This week, Gary not happy with last week’s made to measure trade of $4,835 came in with a whopping $7,875 on measures and this added to his ready to wear trade brought him in at $11,075 in total sales. That smile is getting bigger each week Gary.
• No 2 Stuttgart - 167% of combined targets and with his part time branches that he visited this week came in with a total of $7,875 well done Vince.
• No 3 Chievres - 165% of combined targets and with Dave’s part time branches, he brought in $7,796 - again well done Dave. These Geordie lads love to travel.
• No 4 Kaiserslautern - 133% of combined targets and 130% of last year coming in with a grand total of $7,750 of trade with $1,990 on made to measure. Well done Leigh and Geoff Heath.
• No 5 Mannheim - 112% of combined target and 152% of last year - nice to see you in the top five again Melvyn.

They did not make the top five this week but a worthy mention goes to :-

Ramstein 110% with $5,275 of trade, hard luck just out of the top 5 Trevor, Leigh and Rob. Heidelberg 107% of target well done Alan and Geoff Heath. Wiesbaden just missing target with 99% of target good effort Geoff and Rob.

This is the final week of the B.O.G.O.F so make it count, try that little bit harder, let everybody know and be rewarded with the 4% commission payment on made to measure.

If you have not done so already would you all put up a display with a Valentines Day theme shirts, ties, cuff links etc. This week Thursday the 31St January is “old ladies day” in the “fasching” calendar where the women of the village go around cutting off the ties of any unsuspecting men. So be warned, wear an old tie or do not bother to wear one on this day.

Once again well done to you all.

Thank you, good luck, and good trading.

John Collins
ASM