Two new appointments bring 36 years’ industry experience with them, their recruitment realised to introduce more large-scale customer contracts to sit alongside household names like Sodexho and Compass Services.
Shane Bray joins as commercial director, while Julie Hogg takes up the new position of director of new business.
Bray – who has worked in the clothing sector for almost two decades – rejoins Simon Jersey after he successfully bought shares in, developed and co-ordinated a full management buy-out of a leading sportswear company.
New business platform proved great success
While working at Simon Jersey between 2003 and 2005, he introduced a new business platform that brought in contracts worth more than GB pound 16 million in just two years. This included the company’s largest single contract win with Emirates Airlines. Other notable contract wins for Bray included Sodexho and the Reliance Security.
He will now work with the new business development team to further enhance its strategy and structure, and bring in more bespoke clothing and managed service clients. Hence the appointment of Julie Hogg.
“Julie enjoys a fantastic reputation in the industry, and has delivered consistent top line growth for each of the companies she has worked at,” said Bray. “She understands the needs of clients that require a tailored clothing solution backed up by quality account management, and will be able to demonstrate how Simon Jersey can provide the best solutions to help them through the current economic difficulties they may be facing.”
Bray added: “Julie’s list of client wins and industry expertise complements and adds to the core client base at Simon Jersey, and I’m very much looking forward to announcing new customers in the near future.”
Distinguished record in the sector
A long and decorated career for Hogg began 19 years ago when she headed up sales at Dewhirst Corporatewear. The experience she gained led to her appointment as sales director and then managing director at Vermilion plc, the company boasting a substantial turnover of GB pound 35 million.
In 1998, Hogg joined Rainbow Corporatewear as sales and marketing director, and was later promoted to group marketing director for the Crown East Group (which incorporated Rainbow Corporatewear, Rainbow Direct, Faithful, Beechtree, Crown East Europe and Crown East International).
“When I was approached by Shane to head up the new business development team at Simon Jersey I knew instantly that it was the right move for me,” commented Hogg in conversation with SMT Online. “The company has an enviable reputation in the industry for its award-winning catalogue business, but people are less aware of the impressive list of blue chip clients it has served for many years.”
Hogg went on to explain: “The fact that Simon Jersey is already clothing hundreds of thousands of wearers with its bespoke clothing and aftercare programme is testament to the quality of its products and services. I will now be working very closely with buyers to ensure that they get the best uniforms at the right prices.”
New business Dream Team
Chris Claydon-Butler, managing director at Simon Jersey, added: “Shane and Julie are a new business Dream Team. Together they posses an unrivalled knowledge of the industry and the individual sectors in which Simon Jersey works. This, I believe, will help us continue to set standards and lead the way in bespoke clothing solutions.”
One of the pioneers of the corporate clothing industry, Simon Jersey is part of the Swedish-owned Kwintet group which has a $1 billion turnover and badges itself as “Europe’s undisputed market leader for work clothing”. The company employs 170 people at its headquarters at Altham, and was established 37 years ago by Lancashire entrepreneur Simon Moyle.
It supplies off-the-shelf and bespoke corporate uniforms to sectors including leisure, hospitality, catering, healthcare, beauty and retail. Blue chip clients include Emirates Airlines, Vision Express, Asda, P&O Cruises, Avis, Sodexho and Pets at Home.
Award wins at the clothing industry ‘Oscars’
A recent string of award wins has further bolstered the company. For example, its prestigious and widely publicised contract with Emirates Airlines clinched the ‘Deal of the Year Award’ at the Lancashire Telegraph Business Awards in late 2008.
At the clothing industry ‘Oscars’ – The Company Clothing Awards – only this year, Simon Jersey claimed an unrivalled hat-trick of accolades after fending off stiff competition in the account management, catalogue and website categories.
The company was also shortlisted for two of the coveted Be Inspired Business Awards after “demonstrating excellence in both international trade and customer service”.