‘Janet is one of the best people I have ever worked with in my career. She fully understands the whole process of product development, supply chain and marketing. She is quick to understand the issues involved and resolve them with ease. Janet is a great leader and has in-depth experience of toiletries and international retailing. I would recommend her to any company or client.’
Category Manager and Buyer, Crabtree & Evelyn
Success Highlights
Led Global Product Development Team for Crabtree & Evelyn. Defined 3 – 5-year global product strategy, pricing, product propositions by brand and by category. Led redesign, repackaging, reformulations of signature hand creams, fine and home fragrances. Led design and development of Christmas Collection.
The Issue
Heritage beauty brand needed to be repositioned to appeal to a more contemporary market. Year-on-year sales down across global markets. With their head office and factory based in the US and offices based globally, better planning, process and communication was needed across global markets.
The Approach
Range review and product rationalisation
Reviewed the product performance across their product portfolio based on sales, stocks, margins, market specific requirements identifying non-performing lines. Managed markdowns and discontinuations across global markets.
Competitor and gap analysis
Conducted a competitor analysis focusing on their primary competitors to identify gaps and opportunities within their range. Based on market trends and conferring with the global formulator, identified opportunities to reformulate existing products and launch innovative new lines including fine and home fragrances, body care, soaps, hand creams, gifting, men’ grooming and beauty accessories.
New packaging based on consumer insights
Together with the creative director and creative agencies conducted market research to gain consumer insights based on design concepts found in the brand archives. Positive feedback confirmed this was the new design direction, a contemporary look with a nod to heritage that was uplifting in stores.
Pricing, product concepts, strategy and markets
Consulted with the MD’s for the brand across each market (US, Canada, Asia, Australia) to identify market specific products, prices and positioning. Implemented a gated new product development (NPD) process supported by global sales forecasts to measure financial viability of new product launches by market.
Cost transparencies
Introduced greater transparency of costs and a more stringent quality control processes. Greater cost transparencies improved margins and a more stringent quality control process reduced percentage of late deliveries and stock returns.
Communication and collaboration
Introduced new product development (NPD) process supported by weekly calls, video conferencing and working from multi-site offices in the UK and US to improve communication between global product development team, MD’s, sales, marketing and PR.
The Results
Janet led the new product development (NPD) team through rationalisation of the product portfolio, relaunch of best performing lines in new packaging and new formulations, introduction of innovative new products across categories and the implementation of an improved product development process with measures built in to manage stock, pricing and forecasting by market to drive an increase in gross margin.
If you would like to discuss how we can work with you to develop and grow your brand in the marketplace, GET IN TOUCH, we would love to hear from you.
As a beauty and wellness consultancy, we develop a comprehensive strategy for your business by understanding your vision (and the marketplace) and then delving into the details to create order and structure neatly packaged up to deliver you commercial results. We design brand identities and visual elements, manage your product development, build your go-to-market strategies to help you to engage with your ideal customers.
We are proud to support our clients from different regions of the world – from Saudi Arabia, to Dubai, Sri Lanka, Africa, Australia, the US, Canada, Europe and the UK – from entrepreneurs, to multi-award-winning beauty and wellness brands, retailers, investors, distributors, embassies and trade bodies. And we work with you across the retail sector, and the professional sector, including the hair care market, professional nail care market, spas, salons, hotels and the aesthetics market – here’s a snapshot.
If you would like to discuss your ideas with us, get in touch, we would love to hear from you.
As an international beauty and wellness consultancy, we are proud to work alongside clients from different regions of the world – Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Sri Lanka, Africa, Australia, Canada, US, Europe and the UK . We love collaborating with entrepreneurs, multi-award-winning beauty and wellness brands, retailers, investors, distributors, embassies and trade bodies across the retail sector, and the professional sector, including those selling into the hair care market, hotels, spas, professional nail care market and aesthetics market.
If you need support with devising a new strategy, developing a new product range, designing your packaging or rebranding your current product range, managing your PR, or with planning your market-entry into international markets, get in touch, we would love to hear from you.
Bespoke is a brand management expert with deep industry knowledge, extensive experience and a comprehensive understanding of the beauty and personal industry in the UK and Europe, complemented by an extensive network of contacts in the relevant market segments. Bespoke’s expertise, experience and contacts significantly contributed the success of the UK/Europe project with the companies that Bespoke assisted successfully entering or well on track to enter the UK and European markets. The Bespoke team was very professional, responsive and obliging and always delivered within timeframes. It was a pleasure to work with them.
Working with Janet over the past year has been a real pleasure, she has fantastic industry experience and knowledge of the UK beauty market. She has delivered a number of webinars for my clients looking at how to enter the UK market, providing an overview of the market and how to build a strategy. She took the briefs we provided and added real value to them, included key insights and information that my clients have found incredibly useful. Feedback on these sessions has been very positive. Janet is a clear communicator and has always delivered as agreed and on time. We are continuing to work together on other projects and I very much value the conversations we share.
‘Janet has a wealth of experience across retail, buying and marketing. She conducted a full strategic review of our cross functional business and the travel retail market to develop a comprehensive buying and quality control strategy that was signed off at board level. I highly recommend her as an asset to any business.’
‘As a Queensland-based company, we were determined to tap into the European market and establish a strong presence. From the very beginning, Bespoke Advantage demonstrated a deep understanding of our export goals and objectives. Their comprehensive knowledge of the European market, coupled with their extensive network of contacts, enabled them to connect us with key decision-makers and influential stakeholders in our target countries. Their strategic guidance and insights were invaluable in shaping our export strategy and positioning us for long-term success.’
‘Through Janet’s management skills, expertise and proven track record on the job she successfully managed the purchasing of our retail operations and ensured the integrity of our brands in-stores. Her enthusiasm and total dedication, delivered results in any project she was involved in.’
‘Janet has excellent beauty market knowledge. Level headed with clear vision, direction and the ability to drive business forward, Janet led the teams through a complete product design change advising on what the key marketing messages should be, incorporating her technical knowledge and beauty expertise.’
‘Absolutely fantastic course. Condensed learning from Janet, an expert in developing beauty brands. Also, valuable introductions to expert professionals, in the Masterclass sessions. In 12 weeks, you will learn from Janet, what would take years to learn by yourself. A very worthwhile investment’