Arts & craft retailer Hobbycraft has today announced that it has appointed a new Retail Operations Director and a new Chief Financial Officer.
Dominic Jordan joins the company having spent the last 12 years working at pets goods retailer Pets at Home, eight of which he was Head of Retail Operations, while Mike Griffin has been recruited to head up the finance team at the company having worked for Waterstones since 2007.
Griffin held the position of Finance Director at Waterstones, after performing that role for two other non-retail specific companies, and he also spent three years around the turn of the century as Group Financial Controller at Waterstones‘ previous owner HMV.
Catriona Marshall, CEO of Hobbycraft, said: “We are delighted to welcome Mike and Dominic to the Company. Their skills and experience in the UK retail sector will further enhance our management team as we continue to make encouraging progress in building this exciting business.”
Marshall initiated a transformation initiative when she joined the company last year which has entailed investment in IT and supply chain management, as well as the opening of new concept stores which try to create an enhanced sense of retail theatre.
These new appointments will be seen as further attempts by Marshall to change the shape of the business, and in an interview with Retail Gazette in June she explained how she wanted Hobby craft to appeal to a younger demographic.
“Unless you know what we‘re about, we‘re not the most compelling retailer,” Marshall explained.
“We‘re redesigning to be much more vibrant and friendly and to appeal to 25-35-year-old women with children, as well as our core over-45 crafter audience.”
