FINDING A GENERAL MANAGER FOR A VENTURE CAPITAL BACKED £1M REVENUE DRY-CLEANING FIRM
July 6, 2021
The Appointed Executive
Blue Wire Capital were giving the opportunity to work within a fast-growing, entrepreneurial company, and manage and lead a diverse, experienced team.
General Manager
Nauman Ali is a results-driven operations and retail management professional with extensive experience leading multi-site teams, optimizing business performance, and driving revenue growth. As an Area Manager at The American Dry-Cleaning Company, he oversees 35 high-end retail locations across London, managing a £15M turnover while improving profitability and customer service. He has successfully implemented staff training programs, enhanced stock control, and streamlined operational efficiency to maximize sales. Previously, as an Assistant Store Manager at Marks & Spencer, Nauman led a high-performing team, achieving weekly revenues of £120K and significantly reducing waste and costs. His expertise in team leadership, process improvement, and sales strategy makes him a key driver of operational success.
5
Years of experience working for a competitor
8
the number of new retail outlets opened in a prior role
REASON FOR THE SEARCH
The current General Manager had a one-month notice period, and they needed the role filling and the person to start in the business within 3 weeks.
THE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM
Blue Wire Capital.
THE PORTFOLIO COMPANY
Droplet combines exceptional dry-cleaning care and service with attention to the tiniest detail. The firm takes state-of-the-art machinery and combines it with high-quality finishing techniques to ensure their service is always of the best quality.
They maintain a low carbon footprint by using advanced technology, as well as biodegradable cleaning products and recyclable packaging.
THE SEARCH REQUIREMENTS
- Preferred candidate needed to work autonomously while inspiring and motivating a team
- Role provided the freedom to operate independently within the business while driving strategic initiatives
- Opportunity to engage with the local community, fostering relationships and enhancing the firm's regional impact
- Required strong leadership in building a high-performing team and aligning operations with company goals
- Collaboration with Blue Wire Capital to define a comprehensive role requirement, ensuring clarity in expectations and strategic direction
- Emphasis on a candidate with both operational expertise and a passion for community-driven business growth
THE PROCESS
We worked urgently on the search, providing a shortlist within two weeks of five relevant candidates.
THE RESULTS
Raw Selection worked over the weekend with the candidate to get him secured in the role, and we arranged for him to be able to start within three days of being offered the position, even though he had a three-month notice period.
The hired candidate is now helping Droplet to grow their sales, make a great turnover, and manage the teams effectively.
This candidate has already implemented huge improvements into the business and has very quickly built out a strategic growth plan.
This is the third search we have done for this client now, and all of them have been very successful.
THOUGHTS ON THE CANDIDATE
"Ali stood out from the shortlist of 5 candidates not only because of his experience in a well-branded competitor but his passion for helping businesses grow. Ali had worked for many years at a dry cleaning business and had supported the company to offer many different new services, improve customer satisfaction, and create a strong team."
Alex Rawlings, Managing Partner
GET IN TOUCH
If you are looking to complete a successful search for talent, please get in touch with Alex at: alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com
Get in Touch
Raw Selection favors a meticulous approach to talent research. Our process for selecting the right talent means we can boast a 100% success rate for all our retained and engaged C-Suite clients, with 96% of placed candidates still in their roles after 12 months.
If you are looking for new talent, contact us now.

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