Experience

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  Fashion Code

  • Almaty, Kazakhstan

  • General Director / Head of Buying

    • Jan 2017 - Present
    • Almaty, Kazakhstan

    - Development of the business concept for own brand Fashion Code – online store of trendy womenswear and accessories.- Customer profiling and analysis of market opportunities.- Analysis of current and forecasting future fashion trends.- Analysis of the latest developments and best practices in global e-commerce. - Launch of the online store www.fashioncode.kz in March 2017.- Buying of seasonal collections in Seoul, South Korea, according to the needs and preferences of the target customers.- Development of partner relations, negotiations with suppliers.- Strategic and operational management of the retail activities.- Brand marketing and promotion online and offline.- SMM, cooperation with fashion bloggers and fashion-media.- Regular promotion activities to boost up the sales.- Product placement (for free) in glossy magazines (Cosmopolitan, L'Officiel Kazakhstan, Good Housekeeping).- Participation in local and international Pop-Up Stores (Almaty, Astana, Aktau, Atyrau, Paris -December 2018).- Pricing, merchandising and profitability analysis.- Logistics and supply management.

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  Chiffonier Showroom

  • Almaty, Kazakhstan

  • Buyer / Brand Manager

    • Nov 2015 - Dec 2016
    • Almaty, Kazakhstan

    Chiffonier is a rent-a-dress start-up (rent and sale of women’s party-wear and accessories), located in Almaty, Kazakhstan. I participated in the start-up from the business idea development to purchasing of the designer dresses and showroom opening. Part-time from November 2015, full-time from April 2016. My current duties include:• Development of customer profile and trend analysis in women’s evening fashion.• On-going search for young party-wear designer names.• Purchasing dresses and accessories for the rent and sale.• Negotiating with international party-wear brands (Mac Duggal, Bagdley Mischka, Tony Bowls, Dave & Johny, Aidan Mattox, etc.) on best terms of product buying.• Coordinating logistics from order placement to customs clearance and delivery.• Calculation of profit margin, costs and pricing strategy.• Analysis of weekly sales vs targets, implementation of corrective actions if needed.• Monitoring of competitor activities.• Regular stock assessment, building more stock for high seasons• Selling the left-overs at the end of the season, to increase Open-to-Buy (OTB) for next season

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  Fashion Retail Kazakhstan / Fawaz Alhokair Group

  • Almaty, Kazakhstan

  • Retail Operations / Marketing Manager

    • Oct 2014 - Mar 2016
    • Almaty, Kazakhstan

    Leading retailer of international brands in Kazakhstan, with 22 brands and 70+ stores in the country. The brands portfolio includes such names as Topshop Topman, Marks & Spencer, New Look, F&F, Monsoon Accessorize, Gap, Aldo, Suiteblanco, Jennyfer and others.My role included:• Coordination of the company’s marketing and PR activity with regard to all 22 brands.• Preparation of marketing plans and reports for the brand partners.• Monitoring and analysis of daily sales, and stock movement and availability.• Regular correspondence with brand partners regarding marketing strategy and its implementation in Kazakhstan.• Production of in-store graphics and POS materials for all stores according to each brand's standards.• Control over timely windows change in line with international brands’ requirements.• Cooperation with mass media (bloggers, fashion magazines, Fashion TV).• Free product placement of branded clothes and accessories in most popular glossy magazines (Cosmopolitan, Elle, Harpers’ Bazaar, Men’s Health, Lisa, Good Housekeeping, etc.).• Organisation of PR-events, fashion shows of new collections, store opening parties, VIP events.• Development of partner relationships with malls’ management (Mega, Khan Shatyr, Aport, etc.).• Negotiations with the malls management on best conditions for conducting in-mall marketing activities and promotions.• Support to young Kazakhstani designers – participants of Kazakhstan Fashion Week and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Almaty.• Management of the company's SMM (Facebook, VK, Instagram). Achieved 1000% growth of the follower audience in one year.

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  Sauvage Group LLP

  • Almaty, Kazakhstan

  • Internship

    • Sep 2014 - Sep 2014
    • Almaty, Kazakhstan

    Internship at a leading luxury multi-brand fashion retailer. Visited retail stores: - Sauvage (flagship store stocking Alexander McQeen, Balenciaga, Giambattista Valli, Azzedine Alaia, Mary Katrantzou, The Row, etc.), - Villa Dei Fiori (Gallery of mono-stores Tom Ford, Chloé, Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent, Etro, Giuseppe Zanotti Design, Brunello Cucinelli), - Boutique N 1 (concept store stocking Maison Margiela, Ann Demeulemeester, Haider Ackermann, Sacai, Damir Doma, Olympia Le Tan, etc.), - Lui-Lei (brands Paul Smith, Donna Karan, Tabitha Simmons, Ralph Rucci, Balmain, Ulyana Sergeenko, etc).Studied seasonal collections of the brands stocked; Helped with visual merchandising of the stores, consulting clients and selling.Created looks from existing collections.

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  Invest Realty

  • Almaty, Kazakhstan

  • Owner / CEO

    • Jun 2006 - Dec 2013
    • Almaty, Kazakhstan

    Major responsibilities: • Founder and Director of the overseas real estate agency Invest Realty.• Strategic planning and business development.• Marketing and sales of real estate in Kazakhstan and overseas (25 countries).• Development and maintenance of partner relations with overseas developers and real estate companies.• Development of an internet portal on overseas properties www.investrealty.kz. • Successful launch in 2009 of a weekly electronic newsletter Invest Realty News, with hot offers, news and analytical articles on the world real estate markets. • Publications in local and overseas media: analytical articles on KZ and overseas real estate markets and interviews in newspapers/TV.• Regular reports and presentations at exhibitions and conferences on topics of investments and development or local and foreign real estate markets.• Participation in real estate exhibitions in KZ as an exponent and speaker.• Vice-President of Kazakhstan Real Estate Federation, member of international property professionals association FIABCI.

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  Kazkommertsbank

  • Almaty, Kazakhstan

  • Head of Retail Sales Cnannels, Retail Business Department

    • 2003 - 2006
    • Almaty, Kazakhstan

    • Management of retail banking sales through the network of retail branches and personal service centres;• Annual business-planning of retail sales, regular monitoring and analysis of sales volume;• Development of indirect sales through agent network; • Supervision of savings products (deposits) development and sales;• Development of retail sales channels throughout Kazakhstan;• Development of cash and accounts services to the population;• Organisation of external funding for consumer lending (mortgage, car loans).

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  UNDP

  • Almaty, Kazakhstan

  • Communications and Outreach Specialist / Project Manager

    • Jun 2002 - Dec 2002
    • Almaty, Kazakhstan

    • Management of the project “Strengthening Professional Standards of Media in KZ”; • Organisation of PR events (presentations, receptions) and press-conferences for UNDP• Preparation of press-releases on UNDP events and organisation of their media coverage;• Organisation of workshops for media representatives (TV, radio and print journalists) on the topics of sustainable human development;• Organisation of media site visits to UNDP project sites (Kyzylorda, Semipalatinsk) for preparation of special reportages.

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  SNR Denton

  • Almaty, Kazakhstan

  • Marketing and PR Coordinator

    • 1997 - 2001
    • Almaty, Kazakhstan

    • Preparation of the law firm’s experience statements, marketing brochures and booklets.• Organisation of the firm’s conferences, receptions, workshops.• Co-ordination of PR activities, including communications with local and international MM.• Development of adverts in local and international mass media.P.S. The company was called Denton Wilde Sapte at the time of my employment.