Kane

Franchise Brand Manager

“At AllSaints I feel my career and job role matters.”

• What does a good day look like in your role?

  I start the day off by checking my emails, this way, I can reply to clients and get everything organised at the start of the day. I then look over my to-do list and get started on the projects that are my top priority. My ideal day would be one where I’m able to satisfy every customer and partner I interact with, and ensure they have a pleasant experience. This is one of our biggest company values, so by upholding this, I feel that I’m positively contributing to our business. Another aspect that would make my day, is being more productive than I had been the day before. With time and practice, I know I can do my job faster and more efficiently. At the end of each week, I compile my week's activity into a report and present it to my team. I find that this blend of creative work and analytical work helps me stay interested in what I'm doing and gives me a huge sense of fulfillment!

• What does a challenging day look like in your role?

  It has been a rather challenging year, let alone a usual week or day, with global issues impacting almost every aspect of my day-to-day role. Despite the challenge, it is my duty to remain as a base for our franchise partners, to communicate changes and developments clearly and effectively, and confront problems head-on with a creative mindset.

• What do you get up to in a typical day/week?

  As a franchise account executive, I am responsible for managing and growing our international franchise businesses within the Middle East and South Eastern Europe. I monitor each individual franchise store to sell-in the optimal collection, run day-to-day operations and am the main point of contact at our East London Head Office for our franchise partners across all aspects of the business.

  Day-to-day, I forecast sell-out and sell-in plans across four regions and over 50 stores. I generate and track weekly sales reports by store; monitor, track and analyse style selling daily and manage weekly replenishment programmes. I coordinate brand and product knowledge training remotely or in stores for sales teams. I also work with franchise partners and in-house retail merchandising teams to ensure appropriate merchandise assortment per store and review quarterly apparel and non-apparel collections with all partners during our seasonal markets.

  I advise franchise partners of merchandise deliveries and any production issues, review execution of monthly floor directives, mannequin and store uniform directives.

• What’s the best thing about working for AllSaints?

  Our business strategy.

  Everything about our brand's style and creativity is curated in-house, from store design and construction to our brand image and clothing design. We are truly an agile business which works at pace and I am not only a part of this process, but get to watch as these inspirations and ideas come to life.

• What’s the most surprising or unexpected thing about working for us?

  The AllSaints team.

  Working at a brand that is renowned for its unique take on fashion, as well as grungy and dark aesthetic, I expected the same facade from the team that work here: edgy, with a ‘too cool for school’ rock n’ roll attitude. My expectations could not be further from the truth! I am so honoured to be part of a team that is so joined up, with the same goal in mind to continually make the coolest clothes that evoke emotion for our customers, worldwide! Our global teams are a daily inspiration, I am supported in all ways and despite everyone's busy schedule, we are all in continuous communications with one another. This is a tough time for all, but as a team and a global business, everyone has pulled together, done their bit, and we are on track for a winning year!

  I feel as much part of a family whilst at work than I do of my own blood. 

• Why AllSaints?

  Why Not?

  At AllSaints I feel my career and job role matters, and the brand will do what it takes to help me on my journey in life. I feel I contribute on a daily basis, whilst being challenged by myself and my leadership, but the opportunities are there and I work within an environment that rewards hard work and innovation. Our flexible working allows me to work to a schedule that suits me.

• What’s not in the job description but something you’d tell a friend if they were looking to join the brand?

  Our charitable commitments.

  At AllSaints not only are you part of a business that knows its responsibilities are to not only help our customers looking good, but also feel good, safe in the knowledge that we have carefully considered the materials used as well as the processes involved in creating our collections. We, as a team and as employees, are included in our commitments to protecting our planet and the people within it, and are able to contribute to, and volunteer within, the various initiatives and partnerships that AllSaints has committed to.

• Tell us about your journey with AllSaints so far.

  A decade later.

  November 2021 marked my 11th year working at AllSaints, and what a decade it has been!

  I moved to London to study ceramic design and joined AllSaints as a peak stylist at Regent Street. From there things moved quickly for me. I moved through the ranks taking on managerial positions in various stores (becoming the youngest store manager at the time), before heading back to where it all began on Regent Street as the floor manager in womenswear. In 2015, I moved to the East London Head Office, to become a talent partner and built the first-ever digital onboarding platform for the brand. I created our online training hub and welcomed Sarah Hong to the brand, who is now my boss! Six months later I joined brand operations as brand coordinator, creating global product training decks and videos.

  In 2017, it was time for the next chapter in my AllSaints career. I started travelling as retail franchise support for new store openings and team training. Account executive was added to my extensive CV near the end of the year, and travel saw me head to the Middle East and Turkey. 2020 marked eight markets complete, two more partners and two new regions. I am officially the longest-running member of the wholesale, franchising & licensing team!