RISING STARS MICHAEL TOMLINSON
Job title: Company eCommerce & Branch Manager Company: Manningham Concrete Ltd
What’s your role?
I am Company eCommerce Manager and Branch Manager of our Fencing & Decking Centre in Bradford.
How did you get into this industry?
Manningham Concrete is a family business established by my Grandad and Great Uncle. My Dad and Uncle have run the business since 1995. I began by working Saturday mornings while at school and gradually took on more responsibility while working part time. I left for university in 2009 but continued to work at the company during my summers at home. When I graduated in 2013 I took a job offer from I worked for Ironmongery Direct in Essex, joining their Graduate Management scheme, before coming back to Manningham Concrete in 2015 to lead the design & launch of our eCommerce website.
What might a typical day for you at work be? With fencing & decking being a season product, my time is currently split 60/40 with the lean towards my ecommerce role. Typically I’ll review our website orders in the morning with our web team before referring to our action board for which ongoing projects need working on that day and the progress we’re making. I’ll then catch-up with Sam (Assistant Branch Manager) about the Fencing Centre. We tend to review our delivery schedule for that day, any deliveries due in to us and speak about any other matters that might come up such as yard organisation, staff, customers or stock ordering.
What were you doing at work last week? With the web team we’re working on some exciting new projects to move our website on. Last week we spent time testing these improvements and giving feedback to our web developers. We’re also trialling new forms of online advertising to promote our showroom so I met with an agency to talk about our needs and how they can help us. My branch focus is on preparing for our busy period typically May until August. Last week I spent time working on a data model to help improve our stock management. To finish the week off, Sam and I gave a presentation to our Directors’ reviewing the branch progress in 2018 and our proposed strategy for 2019.
What are your big challenges in this role? The big challenge with eCommerce is to keep moving forward and meeting customer needs as they increase. We try to match this through improving our online offering to customers.
The challenge with my Branch Manager role is the speed
of growth we’ve seen. In three years our turnover has quadrupled! This is great and something we’re proud of. However rapid growth does cause growing pains. Reflecting on challenges that have come up and putting things in place to help cope with them is the biggest challenge.
What do you love about your role?
Coming up with ideas to improve current situations and carrying them out. It’s great looking back at the progress both the website and Fencing branch have made over the past few years.
What has been your biggest achievement so far? I’m really proud of where we are as a branch and how we’ve risen to the challenges that have cropped up in the past few years. On a personal level, last year I managed to complete a Post Graduate Diploma in Merchanting from Birmingham City University. However my proudest achievement is the companies’ eCommerce website and how it has become a fundamental part of the business.
What would you like to achieve next? ’m looking to take on more responsibility throughout the whole company as we continue to grow as a business. I’m also keen to be more active in networking with other Merchants.
What advice would you give someone new to this industry?
The Building Industry has plenty of opportunities for anyone who is willing to work hard. The majority of our management team started in the yard and worked their way up – outside of Merchanting I would say those experiences are becoming increasingly limited. If you work hard and are motivated you can go a long way in Merchanting.
What would you say to someone who thinking about a career/getting a job in the merchant industry? We may not be the most glamourous industry to work in but The Building Industry is fundamental to the world and every economy. The Merchanting industry is a fantastic one to be involved with, especially at a time when we see a lot of uncertainty in many others.
What are the changes you foresee the industry making in order to survive the future?
Trading online shouldn’t be something to shy away from but it needs to be thought out correctly to be integrated smoothly into a companies’ strategy. Merchants should embrace online trading. BMJ
DIRECTOR’S VIEW
Michael Tomlinson has worked for the company for three years and has had a big impact on profotability in that time. Initially he was brought in to launch our internet platform which he designed and populated with over 2,000 products and growing: turnover is now predicted to be around £750,000 a year.
Last year we
expanded our fencing centre and made Michael manager. This year that branch will be over 50% up on its turnover last year.
Michael is a good manager, earning the respect of customers and staff alike. In addition to his ecomerce and branch manager roles, he also found time to work through the BMF Diploma, passing it with distinction.
Our vision is to be recognised as a market leader and our customers’ preferred ‘Partner in Wall Building’, supplying innovative, sustainable and cost-effective
aircrete building solutions.
Our mission to supply value added aircrete solutions for any wall.
February 2019
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net 19
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