Product Presentation done properly

An interview with Jonathan Sciberras; Managing Director, 360 Retail Supplies Ltd

Jonathan Sciberras has proven himself to be a consummate retail professional.
He has been at the helm of his company 360 Retail Supplies Limited for over 10 years, during which the company has grown from strength to strength.

What started as a one-man shop is now a fully fledged retail supplier, providing shop and warehouse shelving, protection, traffic management, branded bags, trolleys, ladders, light fixtures, and a slew of tools, products, finishings and accessories which improve, enhance and embellish storage, product presentation and product placement.

Perhaps what lay the ground for the company’s immeasurable strength in supplying the finished product is Jonathan’s sheer depth of experiences within those international outlets which are obsessed on perfecting a symbiotic end result of efficiency of passage and product movement with the maximisation of retail exposure; based upon the advantages, or limitations, of the place in question.

But 360 Retail Supplies has not simply relied on Jonathan’s core competences.
A solid structure has been developed over the years which has resulted in a strong mid-sized enterprise which employs qualified personnel, hosting specialised departments, and this holistic approach based upon sheer competence has taken this industry by storm.

360Retail Supplies Limited is also widely sought for the design of both shop interiors and warehousing. “The layout and logistics of a retail project need to be thought of before the project itself even starts. We look into everything from customer experience, product placement, shop layout and anti-theft measures to enhance retail sales,” he said, adding that clients seek out the company for consultation services before they buy or rent a property.

“The layout and logistics of a retail project need to be thought of before the project itself even starts”

The company employs a full-time in-house architect who heads a team of three draughtspersons, all with extensive experience in retail. This enables 360 Retail Supplies to serve as a one-stop-shop, where clients can go from an unbuilt plot of land to a fully-fledged retail, corporate, hospitality, industrial, warehousing or supermarket outlet, with all the finishings and accessories this entails.

“We provide everything from plans and renders to shop fittings, accessories, baskets, bags, trolleys, staff lockers, warehouse shelving, shop shelving and mezzanine shelving, cages from warehouse, and palletisers. We also sell used and new machinery,” he added.

“Today we are able to furnish a shop from top to bottom, including their warehouse and parking areas,” Jonathan explained. The company further employs a team of five full-time mechanics, of whom two also conduct on-site visits with separate mobile workshops, to diagnose and repair at the client’s own premises, and convenience.

An Astounding Level of Experience in Shop Logistics , Layouts and Design

Jonathan’s interest in retail started when, at the age of 26, he was working in Italy with a leading international food retail company, prior to their opening an outlet locally. “I was one of their first managers locally speaking and when they offered me training abroad I jumped at the opportunity. I was so excited and impressed by what I saw in the retail sector in Italy that I wanted to stay there and so I told the company that I was not ready to come back to Malta,” Jonathan reminisced.

Jonathan was thus exposed to 22 different shops over a span of years, in which he encountered a range of different scenarios. And after thriving in Italy, he decided to relocate to Ireland which was booming at the time. “I tried something new and went to work for a chain which rented DVDs, but I immediately realised that it wasn’t my field. So I made my way to my previous employers’ Head Office, and a week later I was once again employed at this same chain, taking care of shops that were about to open, this time in Ireland rather than Malta or Italy,” he explained.

He subsequently moved to the UK, where he operated within a different supermarket giant in Manchester, where he was taking care of one of their outlet’s night operations, as “the deep cleaning and product replenishment in such a store is carried out overnight,” he explained.

Between 2018 and 2021 … Jonathan was exposed to 22 different shops, in which he encountered a range of different scenarios

After his impressive career outside of our shores, Jonathan decided to return to Malta and entered into a relation with yet another giant food chain, where he took care of a number of their shops and their online shopping website. “My experience back in Malta led me to understand that the shop fitters and suppliers for retail in Malta were not providing the quality of service and product that I was bred to perforce live up to. This may have been because the supply was so limited before 360 Retail Supplies came into force: it was practically a monopolistic scenario,” he opined. Seeing an opportunity for growth and investment, Jonathan thus took the plunge, banking on his extensive international experience in retail and set up his own business providing retail supplies.

“As it turned out, both my previous local employers became my first clients,” he proudly told us. “Of course, the beginning was tough – I was on my own, doing everything from taking orders, unloading containers, stacking and installing. And as a result I learnt the entire business cycle first hand,” he explained.

Going from strength to strength, Jonathan then started employing his own staff, purchasing vehicles and renting warehouse space. After a few years, he moved his operation from Luqa to Zebbug, investing in his own business premises. “Back in 2019 I bought 800 square metres of land and during Covid years, when work had slowed down, I saw the opportunity to focus my energy and team on the new premises. This paid off for us as we saw the premises go from a field to a built, finished and operational business centre within a two-year time frame,” he said.

“Of course, the beginning was tough – I was on my own, doing everything from taking orders, unloading containers, stacking and installing. And as a result I learnt the entire business cycle first hand”

Jonathan explained that the project helped to keep his staff busy enough even with overtime, when business was slow. “The staff appreciated this very much and I am pleased to say that I have a professional and loyal team – many of which have been with the company for a number of years,” he added. Jonathan is eager to retain his professional team members, particularly in view of the challenging restrictions in the skilled labour market.

360 Retail Supplies Limited today employs around 100 full-time staff members. Jonathan is a stickler for a job well done and very aware that his company’s reputation is at stake with each project commissioned. Indeed, he is not fond of sub-contracting, and is meticulously selective when so doing.

The new business premises led to further business influx, with an increase in clientele, which now included hotels, restaurants and other big players. “Clients come into the showroom and see with their own eyes the finishes and materials which we promote. We carry stock of all the items, so they can walk in, see the products, buy them and immediately incorporate them into their infrastructure. This, in itself, is a massive selling point,” the business founder detailed.

Jonathan is a stickler for a job well done and very aware that his company’s reputation is at stake with each project commissioned

He is especially proud to receive business from repeat clients, who now see 360 Retail Supplies Limited as a point of reference in the sector. “We are proud to see our clients recommend us to third parties. I am also happy to see our clients recommend us on Meta and other social media group postings,” he beamed, adding that the support of his clients is a highly appreciated and invaluable asset to the business.

While rightfully proud of the company’s work to date, Jonathan has a keen eye on the future and looks to consolidate his market position and continue the stable growth. “My focus is on always providing better, faster, more complete services, in the best interests of both our clients and staff,” he concluded.

Jonathan is adamant about providing clients with a premium, high-value service. “We aim to provide the best package that will work for that particular client, especially in terms of efficiency and cost,” he explained. “But we don’t cut on prices to compromise quality.”