Darren A. Smith

My experience
I have now worked with all the major UK supermarkets supporting them to deliver their goals. Every buyer, category manager and business planner that I have ever met wants a plan to show their boss, deliver their tough targets or just give them confidence that they have steps laid down that will achieve their targets.
 

This is where I can help
15 years experience of buying and 7 years as a specialist in business planning have given me the benefits of having done it wrong, spot the trends, and know where the biggest opportunities might lay in a category.

My home life

Manic! Running a specialist business with demanding clients like UK retailers, coupled with a working wife, 2 children, Gabby (8) and Jack (4), means that life is busy. I enjoyed my time in the corporate world and I now enjoy being on the other side. Working from home, can prove challenging. For anyone that does this you’ll know what I mean.

Swimming with the children, ferrying them about to parties, swimming, Brownies and so on means that keeping my work/life balance in check is a constant struggle…as it is for us all!

My interests
Personal development is my ‘work’ hobby and one that I am truly passionate about. Reading management books, attending training courses and observing behaviour is ‘my thing’. From Brian Tracy’s “Eat that Frog” book which changed my ability to time manage forever for the better, to Jack Black’s Mindstore to Ned Herrmann’s brain profile. They fascinate me.

If you just want to chat about personal development please give me a call.

Richard has over 15 years’ experience in project management and facilitation, from both an internal and an external perspective.

Clients include Sainsbury’s, Comet, Argos, The Arts Council, Cranswick plc and Asda.

Richard’s main expertise is facilitating retailers and FMCG manufacturers to create outstanding business plans that deliver significant results.

He is trained in the facilitation of Total Quality practices, Category Planning (by The Partnering Group – the founders of Category Management) and Lateral Thinking.

Richard is co-founder and joint business owner of making Business Matter along with its sister company, Making Counters Matter.