Experience

G.Fox

• South Africa
• Retail Office Equipment
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Manager Products

  • Aug 2021 - Present



Barron South Africa

• South Africa
• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Head Of Commercial (Retrenched)

  • Jun 2019 - May 2021

  As Head of Commercial I look after the pricing & product strategy for the entire business. I also look after, design and monitor a Royalty program. My team forecast sales for the entire business. I specialize in analytics. I also head the costing of manufactured products and review the bu for profitability. I report to the CFO. The commercial teams also manage all product data. We also set up product on the web, influence marketing to drive commercial propositions. We manage the product line from birth to through life cycles to end of life ensuring commercial optimizations. Through the stages. I believe in using technology and have adopted and use AI tools for optimization. I also do competitor analysis as well as market place trend analysis. Sales contracts on specific programs negotiating price and contract length. My main focus is Rev optimisation, profitability & productivity around products and categories.

• Head of Product & Merchandising

  • Nov 2016 - Jun 2019

  Corporate Clothing/Gifting Brandable solutions (Mobile/Computer Accessories, Sportswear, Corporate Clothing,Workwear Footwear & Apparel, Gifting, Display solutions & Printing) I am the commercial lead for all categories. Setting budgets, targets and reporting on results.



Sabbatical Break

• 200 - 300 Employee

• Sabbatical due to family illness & passing

  • May 2016 - Oct 2016



Avon

• United Kingdom
• Personal Care Product Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Campaign Manager (FMCG cosmetics & accessories)

  • Aug 2015 - Apr 2016

  I managed a team of 5 people we plan each months commercial/marketing campaign from a 360 perspective. Ensuring all financial KPI's are met and that each campaign engages the environment, rep & customer. Managing costs to a budget and tracking ROI. Store planning is part of the job and effective productive use of space measured and monitored. We analyse and ensure robust category plans are brought together through the category teams ensuring all key segments are growing. We also consult and direct category to ensure commercial success.We plan annually, quarterly and monthly. I attend all senior/exec commercial meetings reviewing demand, stock holding, margin management, trend working as part of team to solve problems, execute solutions & learn from successful strategies. Briefing, managing and executing creative plans and execution is part of the role.



Nike

• United States
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Africa Brand Merchandise Manager (Running,Fitness,Tennis,kids,basketball, skate, football, Womens)

  • Apr 2012 - Jul 2015

  Planning product lines per season per territory taking the consumer into consideration. Creating long range and short range forecasting for the entire African continent. Running 2 product lines together to cater for seasonality. Building directed modules of product in order to tier and segment the market place & achieve the correct financial mix of products to optimise profit both internally and for the retailer. Directed assortments built per channel & tier. Nike only stores assortments are built and directed to partners. Within this role I managed African distributors and Nike only partners to ensure Global strategies are pushed and adopted. We presented to partners and National retailers to support sales and look for opportunities. Pricing, margin, Size of line and budgeted financial targets are a major focus and the merchant is accountable and reports back to global on these KPI's. Locally made products are developed managed and planned. I managed almost every category within the Nike portfolio at some point however my major focus was women's, kids, fitness, tennis, basketball, football & running. I travelled to the US, Dubai, and various parts of Africa within this role. I personally played a key role in transitioning from an SA operation to an Africa continent one, there was great success but did not come easily. There is also focus on launch and product reviews and work closely with supply chain to ensure products is on time for launches etc. Analytics and market place management is key to each category success and this role deals with analytics and market place intelligence.

• Category Sales Manager (fitness,basketball,Tennis, Jordan & kids,womens)

  • Jan 2011 - Apr 2012

  In this position I reported to the Sales Director and Managed Men's & Women's Fitness, Baskteball, Tennis & Jordan & kids categories. Managing the market place through channel plans, forecasting, target setting and account management. Creating GTM Strategy and implementing commercial management measures. Managing the SA market place. The CSM is the spokes person and go to for all areas of the business as the commercial lead. I worked closely with merchandisers, marketing and account managers a like ensuring all key initiatives are communicated and driven within the market place. Reporting back to Global HO on a seasonal basis gather market place intelligence and seasonal requirements to ensure a strong commercial position within these categories for the brand. I was key in creating a foundation and driving womens fitness within the market place. travel nationally and to the US. Engaging in all the key accounts.



Converse

• United States
• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 700 & Above Employee

• Converse Brand Manager & National Key Acc Mgr (Skye Group)

  • Jun 2007 - Jan 2011

  Converse focused I planned all footwear, for the brand. All footwear was bought off a global line adapted for South Africa all apparel and accessories where designed and developed under license. I priced, managed margin and forecast to budgeted plans. We also focused on contract replen. converse basics which meant we had to plan safety stock holdings. In addition I also negotiated and sold product in to National chains , negotiating agreements and marketing efforts within the year the chains managed Edcon, Studio 88, Sportscene, Tekkie town & Dunn's, Shesha, Boogaloos, Jet( with Mille'), John Craig, The X Trainer. I also over saw their delivery service customers correctly I.e ticketing and deliveries managed on time and correctly. etc. In addition I sold the other brands within the business . I.e Mille, DickiesI also managed a Converse concept store in Century City which included all operations and buying. I also designed and set up sales targets with the Sales Director for the company. I pitched in with many tasks and was always open to help out. I also set up the agent pricing/ catelogue templates and populated when needed. I assisted with reporting on sales on a monthly basis.



Global Warming

• National Sales Manager (bespoke & in house brands)

  • Jun 2003 - May 2007

  This position was a National Sales Manager position which reported to the sales director. I managed and set up targets from a budget for all sales reps in all regions and monitored them on a monthly and weekly basis. I was also involved with marketing and Managed some Key accounts myself i.e. Edgars, Jet, Dunn's, Studio 88, John Craig. I also did adhoc design and development for my Key accounts traveling to China and dealing with factories and ensuring we bring product to the accounts that where on trend and within the correct cost pricing structures. I managed the relationships and service delivery to these accounts as well. I managed PR events to ensure we got exposure for our own in house brands as well.



Acer

• Taiwan
• Computer Hardware Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Buyer, Retail Sales consultant (computer hardware & devices)

  • Mar 1998 - Jun 2003



National Brands Ltd

• Food and Beverage Services
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Exports Administrator (FMCG Food)

  • 1996 - 1998