Danny McLean-Low

Revenue driver

Danny is an expert consultant in Retail Operations and Commerciality with over 23 years of experience gained whilst working on the High Street and for the World’s second-largest visitor attraction operator and Europe’s number one, Merlin Entertainment.

After leaving school he took a part-time job at NEXT Retail in the city of London and this is where his love affair with retail began; working his way across the city of London and then across the globe with Merlin Entertainments.

Managing double-digit million pound turnovers, he has a detailed understanding of what makes the difference in Retail. He understands the art of productivity, space management and visual merchandising, as well as how to manage large teams of people to constantly deliver excellent customer service and standards.

With Merlin Entertainments Danny’s career started at Madame Tussauds London, taking retail from being ‘just a gift shop’ to an immersive experience that was embedded into the customer’s journey.

He then progressed on to opening 27 retail sites across 7 counties, working with some of the biggest IP holders and brands in the world: LEGO, DreamWorks, and Peppa Pig.

Danny’s passion is driving innovation and brand integrity from concept to creation, focusing on delivering experiential customer experiences through both environment and product.

Expertise

  • Store design

  • Store layout + flow

  • Store theming + theatre

  • Visual merchandising

  • Range rationalisation + development

  • Product storytelling + categorisation

  • Product sourcing

  • Pricing + promotion strategy

  • Driving profit

  • Operational procedures

  • Project management

Favourite shop

Forest Pet Foods, Loughton

This is a very traditional pet shop on my local High Street. There is not a time that I do not visit this shop when I visit the High Street and eight times out of ten, it’s the reason I visit.

It’s family-run and the whole family plays a role in the business. It also has a dog groomer attached, so serves a dual purpose for me and my two dogs. I purchase our dog’s food, treats, toys and leads and also have them groomed there.

I don’t need to buy the food items from the pet shop, having two large supermarkets close by, but I choose to because of the experience we, as a dog family, get from visiting or just passing by (always a hello and treats for the dogs!).

The team are experts and have great knowledge of everything sold on-site. They can lay their hands on whatever you need and nothing is ever too much of an ask. It’s clear they have a passion for the business as well as caring about the well-being of all of the customers and pets. I never fail to leave this shop without a smile on my face.