Logistics
General overview
The Logistics and Supply Chain central operation is based in London and is responsible for the inbound delivery of all product from our suppliers worldwide to UK Distribution Centres and delivery to stores at home and internationally via an outsourced logistics company.
Types of role
- Import Manager
- Import Operations Assistant
- Import Analyst
- Logistics Manager
- Export Manager
- Export Co-ordinator
- Export Analyst
This team reports into the Supply Chain Director.
If you are interested in any of these roles please click here to find out if we have opportunities available.
Profile
Martin C Jones
Head of Logistics
"Getting up early to find out what is going on in the Far East, checking if our containers have moved, if there were delivery problems into our distribution centre, and if we've cleared Customs with garments for our Singapore franchisee partner is just part of my role.
It's about managing our intake (arrival of product from suppliers) and international contracts, working closely with Customs on duty initiatives and legislative changes and cost-savings initiatives. But, fundamentally, it's about relationships and changing what we do for the better - building networks with freight forwarders, Customs, our own warehouses, suppliers and within Arcadia. But it's also about knowing what everyone and every other business is up to in the supply chain. That suits me because I am incredibly nosey, I like to know what is going on.
To do my job it helps to be logical, to have a cost focus and sense of value for money, to be prepared to say what you think but to be able to see beyond the now to how things could be better.
With a degree in geography and religious studies I should have become a missionary!
Instead, I joined a firm of Chartered Accountants in central London as an articled clerk. The experience was fabulous. After a short period travelling and living in France I went self-employed offering accountancy services before joining the confectionary business Bard Brothers as a cost accountant before becoming production manager and ultimately logistics manager. Then it was back to London, using my supply chain and accountancy experience, to become Finance Manager for Logistics for Arcadia. From there I went on to become Senior Finance manager for Shared Services and then Head of Shared Services, Finance. Finally, I took up my current role in Logistics as Head of Global Logistics in 2007.
Arcadia suits self-motivated individuals. It's ideal if you share a passion for fashion, but that extends to being excited about all aspects of the business. Arcadia is large enough to follow a full career path - I have transferred from Finance and Logistics but in the time here I have built close relationships with many departments across the business."
