Enterprise partnership proposal
Talent sourcing: London pilot · Prepared exclusively for Dolce & Gabbana
What's inside
Letter to PaolaCover letter 01Self-expression is your greatest assetPhilosophy 02Why Dolce & GabbanaAlignment 03What Able fixesCurrent vs Able 04How Able worksTwo scenarios 05The gigfolio and the video bioThe product 06Store Ready™Certification 07Enterprise: Elite pricing for London pilotThe numbers 08Talent pipelineTen channels 09Working with AbleGuarantees 10Backing & ethicsCredentials 11Team and testimonialsPeople 12Implementation & next stepsFrom hereLetter to Paola
Paola,
Thank you for our conversations. You see what is broken about the way this industry sources talent — because you live it, every day.
What follows is a proposal for you and Dolce & Gabbana. I have written it for your leadership team, but I have built it around everything you told me: the calibre problem, the store approval chaos, the markup that makes no commercial sense, and the simple fact that temporary talent representing D&G deserve to arrive prepared, confident, and aligned with the house.
You see the gap before other people and I am delighted to be discussing working with you and supporting your colleagues.
This proposal is yours to champion. I have designed it to speak for itself in any room, with or without us present. The numbers are compelling, but the philosophy is what makes this different from anything D&G will have seen before.
I look forward to the next step,
Warmly,
Alexandra Wright
Founder & CEO, Able AI Agent Limited
aw@able.global
Self-expression is your greatest asset
The hiring market still operates as it did thirty years ago. Traditional recruitment — CV, application, interview — applied to fill a single shift. A static document, absent of face, voice, or personality. In our digitally enabled, AI-enhanced world, this makes no commercial sense.
Able makes your skills work for you.
We built a platform with heart-centred design and ethical AI-enhanced infrastructure that connects talents to opportunities faster than any other, at a fraction of the cost. Traditional agencies are people-heavy operations — layers of account managers, recruiters, coordinators — and their overheads are passed directly to you. Able leverages multiple AI agents to do that work. The result is a platform that aims to be 50% cheaper than competitors while delivering higher quality, faster.
That efficiency is the point. The AI handles the logistics so the humans can be human. Every interaction on Able is designed to celebrate the talent — their skills, their presence, their potential. Fair pay. Same-day payment. Transparent pricing. A platform built for the people on it.
You search for what you need — "a person with Italian language skills, who understands stock management and is a strong communicator" — and you are presented with a curated list of available, vetted talents. Watch their video bio. Review their gigfolio. Book in minutes.
We instantly match to available talents.
What makes Able unique
Able makes people bookable. Built with the talent in mind, heart-centred and human-first, Able supports talents in sharing their strengths in a meaningful, whole way — skills, experience, presence, personality, potential. Everything a CV leaves out.
Able has no star ratings. Every other platform reduces a person to a number. Able replaces ratings with structured feedback — focused on growth, development, and readiness for the next opportunity. Talents improve with every shift, guided by insight rather than punished by score.
Retail is a significant focus for Able, and for this proposal it is the heart of the conversation. But Able is a skills-agnostic platform. We can support your team across your entire business — from shop floor sales and visual merchandising to logistics, warehouse operations, social media, HR, and events support. And because Able is a training and development focused operation, we can support your talent as they move across areas of the business, building skills and confidence as they go.
"Innovation, for us, means making the most of tradition through the humanisation of work — meaning people's work is more important than the use of technology to create it."— Alfonso Dolce, CEO, Dolce & Gabbana
That is, quite literally, what we are building. Every AI agent on the Able platform exists to elevate the human — to make the talent visible, prepared, and celebrated. Among workforce management platforms, this makes Able genuinely different.
Why Dolce & Gabbana
The alignment between Able and D&G is structural.
Dolce & Gabbana was born from a collision of two aesthetics. Domenico Dolce from Polizzi Generosa in Sicily — the son of a tailor, steeped in linearity and craft. Stefano Gabbana from Milan, Venetian roots — energy, colour, the city. Two completely different relationships to beauty and the body, held together in productive tension, with an unrelenting commitment to craftsmanship.
"The DNA of D&G is the union of multiple elements — the harmony of opposites, femininity and masculinity, sensuality and austerity, the sacred and the profane."
Able is built on the same structural principle. The human and the technological. The ancient act of skilled labour and the cutting-edge infrastructure that carries it.
Like D&G, Able is fiercely unique and unconventional amongst its peers.
For a house whose entire philosophy says the talent's self-expression matters as much as the garment, this is the most coherent workforce platform that has ever been offered to you.
You are sending someone to represent your brand on the shop floor. Able ensures you see them — fully, humanly — before they walk through the door.
The provenance parallel
D&G uses the Digital Product Passport to prove the provenance of a bag — where the leather came from, who crafted it, every stage of its journey.
Able uses the gigfolio to prove the provenance of a person — what they can do, where they've worked, how they present, what they hold. The same principle. The same commitment to transparency. Applied to the workforce.
We are currently raising our seed round, and a core part of that investment will fund a blockchain-based, talent-owned credentialing platform — portable, verified credentials that travel with the talent wherever they go. Provenance, proven.
What Able fixes
D&G's London stores have worked through three temporary staffing providers. Each has delivered the same result: unreliable candidates, inflated costs, and unapproved talent arriving at Harrods and Selfridges. The current provider charges approximately £25 per hour for talents paid £15 — a 66% markup. Roughly 75% fall below the standard required.
| Current agency model | Able | |
|---|---|---|
| Talent quality | ~25% meet the standard | Pre-vetted, video-screened, Store Ready™ certified |
| Search process | Search a long, often out-of-date list | Smart semantic search — available talents that meet your requirements |
| Time to fill | Days to weeks | Minutes. Search, watch, book. |
| Store approvals | Paid for but often missing | Verified on profile before offer |
| Cost to venue | £25/hr (£15 talent + 66% markup) | Up to 50% cheaper than agency rates |
| Brand alignment | Agency makes no assessment | AI coaching + bespoke D&G training module |
| Talent visibility | Name and CV | Crafted video bio, skills, qualifications, availability, badges, awards, and references |
| Feedback loop | None (or star ratings) | Structured development-focused feedback that improves matching |
| Right to Work & credentialing | Manual checks, often incomplete | Verified on-platform via Passport Reader API and government share code. Role-specific credentialing checks included. |
| Permanent placement | 10–20% of salary | Trial-to-Hire™: flat fee £500–£1,500 |
How Able works
Scenario one: urgent shift cover
Saturday morning. A D&G sales associate at Harrods calls in sick. The concession needs cover by midday.
Scenario two: Trial-to-Hire™
The Sloane Street boutique needs a permanent Italian-speaking sales associate.
| Role level | Able flat fee | Industry standard (10–20%) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level sales associate | £500 | £2,700 – £4,200 |
| Skilled associate / specialist | £750 | £3,200 – £4,800 |
| Supervisor / team lead | £1,000 | £3,800 – £5,400 |
| Store manager / department head | £1,500 | £5,000 – £8,400 |
The gigfolio and the video bio
Sixty seconds of personal, human, crafted content. The video bio is the centrepiece of every gigfolio — a short, guided self-presentation where talents articulate their skills, experience, and the quality of presence they bring to a room. A living profile that carries everything a CV flattens: warmth, confidence, cultural fluency, the way someone holds themselves.
But the gigfolio goes further. Through guided conversation, Able's AI draws out each talent's strengths — skills they might undersell, experience they might overlook. Able helps you be the best version of who you are. The result is a rich, verified professional profile: video bio, skills, qualifications, availability, badges, awards, and development history.
For luxury retail, where every interaction is a brand moment, this changes how you choose.
The gigfolio
Here is what a D&G store manager would see:
Store Ready™ certification
The video bio reveals the person. Store Ready™ ensures they are prepared.
D&G describes their own onboarding as "initiation rituals that introduce new talents to the brand's DNA." Store Ready™ is that initiation, delivered through Able — so temporary talent arrives with the same preparation as permanent staff.
Where every other platform uses star ratings to filter people out, Able uses Store Ready™ to develop people in. Structured feedback, guided training, verified certification — a development pathway that makes every talent better with every shift.
D&G brand module
Talents complete D&G's existing training content — brand heritage, product lines, customer approach, dress code. Able hosts and delivers the module; D&G retains full control of the material.
Store-specific module
Harrods and Selfridges each operate their own screening processes. Able's Store Ready™ programme includes a dedicated module for each department store's approval requirements.
Verification
Completion is verified and displayed as a badge on the talent's gigfolio. A store manager sees "D&G Store Ready" and "Harrods approved" at a glance — before making an offer.
Continuous updates
Certifications refresh as collections change, store layouts evolve, or new protocols are introduced. Your temporary workforce stays current.
Enterprise: Elite pricing for London pilot
D&G currently manages multiple agencies and platforms across its London operations — different providers for different stores, different roles, different approval processes. The result is fragmented sourcing, inconsistent quality, and duplicated cost.
Able consolidates everything into one platform, one provider, one relationship. On-demand shifts, permanent placement, training and certification, payment infrastructure — all managed through a single dashboard, across every London location and every role type.
D&G London: five locations
| Sloane Street | Standalone boutique · Knightsbridge |
| Old Bond Street | Six-storey flagship + beauty corner · Mayfair |
| Harrods | Six concessions across five floors + beauty · Brompton Road |
| Selfridges | Menswear concession + wholesale · Oxford Street |
| Covent Garden | Beauty & accessories boutique · Covent Garden |
Roles Able can staff
Able provides skilled talents across the full operational breadth of D&G's London presence:
The Elite subscription
Elite Enterprise · D&G London
Special introductory price · To be revisited after twelve months
All five London locations · All role types · Unlimited bookings · No booking fee
Same-day payment to talents · D&G tops up a prepaid balance weekly
How payment works
D&G maintains a prepaid balance on the platform, topped up weekly. When a talent completes a shift, Able releases their pay the same day from the balance. D&G receives a weekly summary of all bookings, hours, and payments. The subscription (£2,200/month) is invoiced separately on a rolling quarterly basis.
Current estimated spend
Assumptions stated clearly: based on conversations with Paola regarding current staffing patterns and industry benchmarks. Final figures confirmed during discovery.
| Average temp talents across all locations per day | 2–3 |
| Seasonal peaks (Christmas, Fashion Week, events) | 4–5+ |
| Average shift length | 7.5 hours |
| Operating days per year (six days average, seven during peaks) | ~310 |
| Agency bill rate (talent £15/hr + 66% markup) | £25/hr |
| Estimated annual temp staffing cost (5 locations) | £116,250 – £174,375+ |
Total annual cost: side-by-side
| Current agency | Able Elite | |
|---|---|---|
| Talent pay | £69,750 – £104,625 | £69,750 – £104,625 (same) |
| Platform / markup cost | £46,500 – £69,750+ | £26,400 (subscription only, no booking fee) |
| Total annual cost | £116,250 – £174,375+ | ~£96,150 – £131,025 |
| Estimated annual saving | £20,100 – £43,350+ |
D&G's platform cost drops from an estimated £46,500–£69,750+ in agency markups to a flat £26,400 through Able — with no booking fee, no hidden costs, and same-day pay to every talent. The savings increase with every additional booking during seasonal peaks.
Permanent placement: where the savings multiply
The Elite subscription also covers Trial-to-Hire™ — Able's permanent placement pathway. Across five London stores, D&G is likely making 5–8 permanent hires per year. Through a traditional recruiter, each placement costs 10–20% of salary. Through Able, it's a flat fee.
| Role level | Recruiter fee (10–20%) | Able flat fee | Saving per hire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level sales associate | £2,700 – £5,400 | £500 | £2,200 – £4,900 |
| Skilled associate / specialist | £3,200 – £6,400 | £750 | £2,450 – £5,650 |
| Supervisor / team lead | £3,800 – £7,600 | £1,000 | £2,800 – £6,600 |
| Store manager / department head | £5,000 – £10,000 | £1,500 | £3,500 – £8,500 |
| 5–8 hires per year (blended) | £17,500 – £52,000+ | £3,500 – £8,000 | £14,000 – £44,000+ |
Every permanent hire made through Able's Trial-to-Hire™ pathway arrives already proven — they've worked the shop floor, earned feedback, completed Store Ready™ certification. Day one as a permanent employee feels like month three. And the placement fee is a fraction of the industry standard.
Total annual value
Against a subscription of £26,400/year
The subscription includes the platform, the talent pipeline, Store Ready™ training and certification, the prepaid payment infrastructure, quality guarantees, and emergency cover. At £2,200 per month across five stores, Able pays for itself within the first year — and the value compounds as the partnership matures.
London is the beginning
Able is expanding across the UK and to New York within the next twelve months. A successful London pilot establishes the operating model and Store Ready™ framework that can be replicated across D&G locations globally — delivering these savings at every location, with the same quality guarantees, from one trusted provider.
Actual volumes will be confirmed with Paola during the discovery phase. These projections are based on current staffing patterns.
Talent pipeline
A platform is only as strong as its people. Able will build and maintain a dedicated luxury retail, beauty, and operational talent pool for D&G through ten channels.
Colleagues and leavers' networks
Current D&G employees who want additional flexible work, and former employees who would return for part-time or seasonal shifts. Brand knowledge already embedded.
Paola's luxury retail network
An immediate warm pipeline of experienced luxury retail professionals. The fastest route to qualified, store-ready talent.
London fashion, beauty and retail schools
London College of Fashion (UAL), Central Saint Martins, Fashion Retail Academy, London College of Style, and beauty academies. Ambitious, brand-literate graduates.
AIESEC UK / university partnerships
Able's existing partnership provides access to internationally mobile, multilingual graduates — ideal for a house that values cultural fluency.
Italian diaspora networks
Over 220,000 registered Italians in London — Casa Italiana, Il Circolo, the Italian Cultural Institute, Business Club Italia, St Peter's Italian Church. Natural brand ambassadors.
South American and Lusophone networks
450,000+ Latin Americans in London. CLAUK, Latin American House, Canning House, university societies. Many speak Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian.
Co-branded Able × D&G advertising
Targeted campaigns positioned as "D&G is looking for extraordinary people." Talent-first framing. D&G's brand carries the campaign; Able delivers the infrastructure.
Targeted digital advertising
Precision targeting reaching people whose interests signal affinity with luxury fashion — high-fashion content consumers, beauty creators, fashion film enthusiasts.
Luxury retail events
Retail Trust events, British Fashion Council networking, London Fashion Week volunteer programmes. Where the best talent already gathers.
Continuous AI matching
As talents join and build profiles, the matching engine continuously identifies those whose skills align with D&G's requirements. The pipeline grows without manual effort.
Retention and favourites
D&G store managers can add talents to a favourites list for easy rebooking — creating continuity and consistency that traditional agency models cannot deliver.
Working with Able
Service level commitments
Matching within 30 minutes during operating hours. Dedicated account manager for all D&G locations. Emergency staffing response within 2 hours. Platform uptime SLA of 99.5%.
Right to Work and credentialing
Every talent on Able is Right to Work verified before they can accept an offer — checked via Passport Reader API and the government share code system. For roles requiring additional credentials, Able conducts role-specific checks and displays verified certifications on the talent's gigfolio. D&G store managers can see compliance status at a glance, before booking.
Data protection
Able's architecture is privacy-by-design. All matching is pseudonymised — the algorithm never sees names, videos, images of a person, or demographic data. (Images on the platform are of certificates and qualifications, which the algorithm does see to verify credentials.) Fully GDPR compliant. Talents own their data, their gigfolio, and soon their blockchain-verified credentials — all of which travel with them.
Quality and no-show guarantee
If a confirmed talent does not arrive, Able activates an emergency replacement from the Store Ready™ pool at no additional cost. If a placed talent falls below the required standard, Able provides a replacement for the next available shift and the original placement is credited.
Flexibility
The Elite subscription operates on a rolling quarterly basis with 30 days' notice. D&G can scale up or down as seasonal demands shift. Able's value is proven by performance.
Insurance and liability
Talents placed through Able carry their own professional indemnity cover. Able holds employer's liability and public liability insurance. Full details provided during commercial terms.
Government backing and ethical architecture
Able is backed by the UK government and built on ethical principles that align directly with Dolce & Gabbana's Code of Ethics.
Backing & recognition
Values: be good, be fair, be kind
Baked into the architecture, the operations, the process, the policy, the practice and the culture. D&G's Code of Ethics commits to equal opportunities, respect for human rights, and the enhancement of professional skills. Able delivers on each through its architecture.
Good On You's people rating for D&G highlights an opportunity in living wage assurance within the contingent workforce. A partnership with Able provides a credible, auditable response.
Team and testimonials
Alexandra Wright
Former Vice President at BlackRock — corporate strategy and fixed income business management. Management consultant at Deloitte — HR transformation for Fortune 100 clients including Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and DuPont. King's College London alumna. Works closely with the UK government on employability initiatives.
Joe Fennell
Cambridge MPhil, Ethics of AI, Data and Algorithms — Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence. First cohort.
TBD
Igor Terentjev
Full-stack engineer building Able's AI-enhanced matching, verification, and booking infrastructure.
What people say
"Thank you for this."
Maria
"I'm so excited to be part of this new platform."
Chelsea, event organiser
"I want an Able person every time."
Tech CEO
Implementation & next steps
Target: first bookings in September 2026.
Next steps
We would welcome the opportunity to present this proposal in person.
Alexandra Wright
Founder & CEO, Able AI Agent Limited
aw@able.global
Able AI Agent Limited · able.global
This document is confidential and intended solely for the use of Dolce & Gabbana.