Ed Ferguson is a highly experienced senior retail and FMCG manager who now provides consultancy services through his company Insight & Action Consultancy. He has over 30 years of international experience in senior management roles in retail, grocery distribution, and business development. His consultancy focuses on providing strategic insight and driving action to solve business issues for clients.

1. Ed fergusonmba
insight & action...*
A
Highly
experienced
senior retail
Fmcg manager
consultancy
*“action without insight is folly, insight without action is a waste of time...”
Winston churchill

2. A wealth of
Insight &
experience* action
consultancy
Date Title organisation
present Managing director Merlin properties
2009 Chief executive officer Spruce carpets ltd
2008 Corporate business development The sultan center, kuwait
2005 Business development consultant 80:20 business solutions ltd
2003 Managing director Cj lang & son ltd (spar Scotland
2002 Group sales & marketing director Cj Lang & son ltd (spar Scotland
2001 sales director Cj lang & son ltd (spar Scotland
1998 Area Retail operations manager Naafi – Germany / uk
1995 Superstore general manager Somerfield plc
1980 Shelf-filler, trainee manager, Fine fare, gateway, Somerfield
store manager *see detailed job profile on LinkedIn

3. International Insight &
action
Experience consultancy
United Germany
Kingdom Holland
Kuwait
Jordan
Oman
Dubai

4. education Insight &
action
consultancy
Stirling university
Mba in retailing
igd
Diploma in grocery distribution
Central college of commerce
Hnc in distribution studies
Kirkintilloch High School
4 higher grades, 7 ,o, grades

5. Case Study #1 Insight &
action
Issue – what was happening? consultancy
•Declining sales
•Low customer confidence Spar
•Low morale in the sales function
scotland
Insight – why was it happening? The spar convenience
store wholesale
•Unclear objectives and job functions franchise is held by CJ
•Lack of leadership of the sales function lang & son, based in
•Cumbersome management structure dundee.
It has a turnover of
Action – what needed to be done? 300million and employs
•Reorganised the team into strategic business units +2000 staff.
•Set clear, audacious goals and objectives
As sales director, the
•Redefine the role from sales to business development
challenge for me was
turn around the spar
Results – what happened? wholesale b2b unit to
over 300 independent
•Increase sales by 9 per cent
retailers while reducing
•Reduced costs by 11 per cent
costs and increasing
•Growth of spar membership sales

6. Case Study #2 Insight &
action
Issue – what was happening? consultancy
•Declining sales and profitability Naafi germany
Naffi supplies retail and
Insight – why was it happening? leisure facilities for the
armed forces around
•Declining customer base the world.
•Rise in competition In 1998, a government
•Cost base too high strategic spending
review, made it critical
that losses sustained
Action – what needed to be done? by naffi but
underwritten by the
•Increase sales by improving the offer e.g. opening government, had to be
hours, promotions, store standards etc urgently stemmed.
•Drastically reduce cost base
As retail ops
Results – what happened? manager, all 45
stores in germany
•Increased sales by 14 per cent were under my
•Removed 1 million pounds worth of staff costs control.

7. Case Study # 3 Insight &
action
Issue – what was happening? consultancy
•Major challenge - insolvency Spruce
carpets ltd
Insight – why was it happening? Is a social enterprise
•Trying to do too many things based in Glasgow which
recycles carpets and
•Lack of commercial awareness
carpet tiles.
•Few systems or processes
It creates supported
Action – what needed to be done? placements for people
from challenging
•Developed a standard operating procedures manual backgrounds to return
•Introduced a sales solves everything culture! them to the world of
•Focused on a few key markets i.e. retail and commercial work.
Initially, this was a 6
Results – what happened? month project to cover
maternity leave but was
•Commercial sustainability within 6 months extended due to the
•Reduced costs by 40 per cent successes achieved.
•Increased sales by 24 per cent

8. “It was good to work with “Ed brought a sharp Ed is a great guy to
someone who could bring fresh business edge to a work with - focused
ideas and an innovative very socially focussed and hardworking but
approach. I am happy to business and is a real also with a sense of
Insight &
recommend his services.” pleasure to work fun.”
action
Professor paul freathy, with.” Dave Biggs,
stirling university Susan actively, ceo, Cio, the sultan center
impact arts consultancy
He combines a high level of
professionalism with a
warm sense of humour
“His ability to cut through
"perceived wisdoms" and
understand the core
What Martin Gaber
Consultant, jos de vries
issues and take the
appropriate action was
incredible...
Malcolm murphy,
people On e of the best presenters
and communicators i have
ever seen!
senior account manager
defaqto say...* Laurie Martienssen
Md, naffi, germany
“The sheer depth of expertise “Ed has a deep understanding of retail...driven
that Ed brought impacted quickly and visionary in his approach...takes people
on the transformation strategy... with him...A natural communicator, he has a
Well planned and thought through warm personality and charisma of someone
coupled with commercial people are happy to follow and believe in.
acumen...A senior Manager well Always open to ideas and opinions, he will make
capable of delivery within any decisions, and move forward. Not frightened to
forum or sector...Plays a mean make the hard decisions, Ed is one of the best
guitar too !” retailers I have ever met in my career.”
Neil parker John Godman
Retail director, tommy hilfiger IBM retail systems
*see recommendations on LinkedIn...

9. Ed fergusonmba
insight & action...*
edferguson99@yahoo.com
Insight &
Office : 01555 666748 action
consultancy
Mobile : 07789 822708
www.linkedin.com/in/edferguson
*“action without insight is folly but insight without action is a waste of time...”
Winston Churchill