Speaker Profile

Ken Watson Managing Director Industry Forum Services
Industry Forum Services (IFS) is consultancy which assists carries out projects to assist retailers and manufacturers in delivering fast fashion to the consumer from ‘concept to carrier bag’ and research based projects on consumer behaviour and customer service. Ken is an expert in supply chain issues and has extensive knowledge of international retailing, wholesaling and distribution, having worked in most of the major markets throughout the world, covering all areas of the retail supply pipeline. He also specialises in understanding consumer behaviour and delivering customer service. IFS recently researched and delivered the BCSC Best Practice Guide to Customer Service launched at their annual convention in Belfast in November 2005. Ken spent eight years in the Far East as general manager of Michel of Hong Kong, a trading company with retail (Bodyshop, Cacharel, Sports Connection), wholesale and manufacturing interests in Asia, USA and the UK. He was also group director of operations for Diane Freis, an international designer brand vertically integrated from manufacturing to wholesale and retail. On returning to the UK, he was general manager of Mothercare International with 120 stores outside the UK before setting up his own consultancy business in 1995. He has spent the last 10 years working on developing best practice within retail, the fashion design and manufacturing supply chain and advising governments on industry development strategies. He recently completed a four year project delivering 30 successful supply chain improvement projects within UK retail supply chains as well as carrying out over 50 training workshops and 20 best practice seminars on behalf of the sponsoring trade association. He managed a number of projects on behalf of the British Fashion Council to assist designers work with manufacturers, one of which resulted in the Designer Manufacturing Handbook. His client base includes the majority of UK retailers, brands and manufacturers and international brands and trade associations. He is a regular speaker at international conferences and recently was invited to present to the US retail industry at the FIT, New York, on the retail phenomena, Zara.	Presentations by this speaker: Customer care

 

 

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