Ms. Wendy Munt

Wendy Munt is a Consultant and Director of ‘Be Inspired Consulting Limited’.

Wendy has 34 years experience in the UK Toy industry and commercial retail; she held senior posts at 4 major retail giants and is a consultant to major global companies such as Disney and the BBC. Her many clients range from SME’s to industry superbrand Lego and other blue-chip leading companies.

With her unrivalled levels of knowledge on the UK toy industry and all matters involved in retail trading, Wendy impacts at Board level, delivering strategies and highly successful ranges for major UK retailers, brands and licensors.

Having worked on both sides of the retailer/supplier fence, Wendy understands the many complexities faced in manufacturing, importing and retailing.

For retailer clients, Wendy creates and implements category buying and merchandise plans in order to meet their strategic objectives and deliver highly successful branded, own label and licensed ranges in order to grow sales, profitability and market share.

To assist toy inventors and supplier clients, Wendy assesses the commercial viability of toy concepts and for those worth progressing, she manages the development from conception to launch.

For those clients wishing to diversify into new toy categories, Wendy shares her knowledge of the opportunities and challenges of each respective category for clients to determine if such transistions are right for their business.

Wendy has spearheaded the re-design of the content and packaging of many toys and brands which were previously successful years ago. This re-design revitalised their consumer appeal and when relaunched with new marketing campaigns, went on to deliver multimillion pound sales.

Working with licensor clients, Wendy helps maximise toy sales and royalties through recommending the best suppliers and manufacturers with whom to partner from a product and reliability of supply perspective. She also consults on how licensors, licensees and retailers can best achieve strong and mutually beneficial trading relationships.

Career highlights include:
* As Senior Buying Manager of Home Retail Group (Argos), Wendy consistently grew toy sales every year to over £160M, profit to £75M & UK market share to 40%. Whilst under her leadership, toys became Argos’ second highest earning category and Argos became the UK’s largest retailer of toys.

* In 2015, Wendy was invited by Licensing International Merchandisers Association (LIMA) as 1 of 4 panelists speaking at the House of Commons on ‘UK Retail and the Future of Licensing’

* Received a 'Special Recognition Award’ by the Retailers Association for work assisting entrepreneurs

* Previously a monthly full-page columnist for ‘Toys n' Playthings ‘ magazine, one of two UK trade press publications.

* Co-wrote chapters in ‘Secrets Of Success in Brand Licensing’ book.

* Regular speaker and panelist at various Toy Industry events. Media trained also.

Wendy has exceptional knowledge of the UK toy industry and UK retail marketplace. She stays close to the everchanging trends and retailer performance within many market sectors.

Work with Dragons Den
She has frequently worked with the BBC’s Dragons Den team, assisting entrepreneurs with getting their products to market, driving retail sales and investment pitch to the Dragons: plus provided lecturing and coaching on Business and Entrepreneurship at Dragons Den’ Peter Jones Enterprise Academy (PJEA).

For her services and work with Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis from the BBC's Dragons Den, see www.beinspiredconsulting.net

See testimonials here or download a pdf.

Work as an Expert Witness
Wendy has worked as an Expert Witness on 2 cases - the first went to trial at the High Court in 2011. Since 2020, she has been heavily assisting a £300M dispute which is due to go to the High Court in October 2024. This will be her second cross examination in the High Court and she has completed 6 court reports.