Hi, I’m Jim Clear - founder of Clear Digital, an ecommerce, digital, marketing and media blog. I’m a commercially focused ecommerce, digital, marketing, CRM and management expert with over 15 years of digital leadership experience, including stints working at Argos, Bupa, Wyevale Garden Centres and running Derby House, a smaller ecommerce brand. I'm currently working as Senior Ecommerce Consultant for Entropy Consulting - find out more about how Entropy can help you with your digital marketing and commerce needs at entropyconsulting.io
Prior to entering the world of consultancy, I most recently spent 3 years at Wyevale Garden Centres as “Head of Ecommerce and CRM”; (previously the UK’s leading garden centre group with 150 stores and £300m turnover); headed up all digital marketing as well as launched Wyevale’s first fully transactional website, before also taking responsibility for CRM, including Wyevale’s Garden Club loyalty scheme, which accounted for 70% of Wyevale’s sales.
Previously worked for 8 years in the ecommerce operation of Argos in a wide range of roles, during which time online sales rose from 2% of company sales to 36% (a total of £1.6bn). As a member of the senior ecommerce management team, I headed up all Argos digital marketing for 5 years, introducing and developing a wide range of new channels/technologies and methods, as “Ecommerce Trading & Marketing Controller”.
I then spent 2 years in Bupa's central global digital team in an international, consultancy and strategic innovation role as "Head of New Digital Channels and Insights", developing and managing digital shared solutions (including Bupa’s first global mobile app), strategic programmes and global best practice.
Following that, I was “Digital/Managing Director” with Derby House, a specialist lifestyle/clothing retailer, as they transformed into a pureplay ecommerce operation, included developing and launching a new Magento Enterprise website, plus introducing multiple new marketing and sales channels.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS SUMMARY
ECOMMERCE/DIGITAL
Digital planning & strategy
Website trading & content
Web development & launches
UX/CRO: design & optimisation
Data & analytics
Mobile & apps
New channels: marketplaces, reviews
MARKETING
Integrated marketing & planning
PPC, SEO, social media
Affiliates, display, campaigns
Email marketing
CRM, databases, segmentation
Loyalty, rewards, direct mail
Customer insight & analysis
COMMERCIAL
P&L management/budgeting
Agency & vendor procurement
Product ranging/buying
Distribution/supply chain
LEADERSHIP
Team management/development
Board level presentations & reports
Cross-team project management
Coaching & mentoring
Away from the digital world albeit with some crossover, my main passions are music, sport and travel. I’m an avid record collector and gig goer as well as a pretty dedicated England/Essex cricket fan and less committed Ipswich Town football fan. I also write about my hobbies on my personal Wordpress blog at jimclear.uk, which includes recently created articles about my 100 favourite songs.
