Ken Tickle is a retail management accountant with over 30 years of practical retail, accounting and manufacturing experience.
Ken joined the retail department store group, Farmer and Co (Myer Sydney), after graduating from Uni of NSW (Accounting) becoming the first administration graduate trainee in the company. During the 9 years at Farmers Ken held management positions in every section of retail administration, buying and merchandise information areas culminating with his appointment as Profit and Budget Accountant for the company at 26 years of age.
He then joined with the Farmers Finance director (Mr R.K. Ramsden) in a public accounting practice with particular focus on retail management accounting and retail consulting services. The practice provided support to retail and manufacturing clients showing them the retail skills and disciplines required to manage the business for profit.
After 5 years in the practice, Ken turned his skills to financing the establishment of two fashion manufacturing businesses in Sydney. They were sold to joint venture parties at their peak of profitability. In both cases Ken was seen as the underlying business strength that enabled them to grow and prosper in a difficult industry. His integrity, compassion, and business skills were recognised by suppliers, staff, and customers.
After a period of time travelling overseas, Ken worked with several manufacturers and retailers. Today one of those businesses, a large manufacturer and a retailer of women's clothing, will state that the lessons learned from Ken in margin management, range planning and cash flow controls enabled them to get to the strength and size of operations that they now enjoy.
In 1998 Ken was approached by Westfield to join the retailer relations program. This program was to provide peer support to retailers within the Westfield shopping centres. Ken's background as an accountant, as a retailer and an as a successful business owner was to provide an important contribution to the ongoing success of the retailers relations program. In the 12 years that Ken has been with Westfield as an independent consultant he has trained over 1800 retailers and 300 Westfield management staff in retail financial disciplines in Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia.
The retail financial training program developed by Ken is without peer in that it brings a commonsense step by step approach to retail disciplines required in today's tough retail environment. The training program has been embraced by other shopping centre owners and retailers alike.
Ken also works with many retailers directly in the areas of retail financial management, range planning and open to buy. He has developed in partnership with an IT company (Australian Retail Technology) a software program called MFP- Merchandise Financial Planning that enables retailers to "see" the outcomes of their buying strategies by categories, cash flow requirements and profit and loss outcomes which then flows through to range planning.
Ken's vision is to further the skills of retailers and develop practical tools such as the online Gross Profit calculator and product range planner that will ensure that retailers have not only the skills but also the culture in their business to embrace retail disciplines and be well equipped to grow their retail offers and secure profitable outcomes.
