Experience

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  B Seated pty ltd Furniture Manufacturer

  • Cape Town, South Africa

  • Sales Director

    • Aug 2018 - Present
    • Cape Town, South Africa

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  B Seated (Pty) Ltd Furniture Manufacturers

  • Parow

  • Creative Business Strategist & Development

    • Mar 2016 - Present
    • Parow

    The origins of our company, go back 19 years and it all started as a small workshop business run by a Husband and Wife team manufacturing furniture for the Residential Sector as well as Upholstery repair work for both Corporate Companies & Residential. This small venture has continued to expand at a steady pace ever since, whereby now the Son has joined to expand on the Residential, Corporate and Hospitality Sectors. The combined industry experience is vast with the Father Lionel being in the industry since 1964, the Wife Norma since the 1980’s and the son Brian since 1996.Since its inception, the company has always adopted the philosophy to offer only the best quality products at affordable prices. We feel very proud that this philosophy has proved the company right as we consider ourselves to be a leading manufacturer in South Africa. Over the years we have developed high quality products which have taken our respective market by storm.Innovation has been a continual focus of our Company. Since our establishment, we have concentrated on unique designs to distinguish our products from those of others, and especially when it comes to the quality of the raw materials we use as from the ground up we have specific qualities of foam manufactured exclusively for us thus ensuring levels of comfort are unique to each Clients specific requirements and application. Further to this, our frame construction is made from solid timber, glued and screwed with custom support on each arm, back and sides.Our company considers the unique demands of various environments our Customers both live and work in when developing our furniture products. We have also developed strong relationships with our suppliers who manufacture our steel bases and frames for our various designs in steel and aluminium. We leave no stone unturned to produce first quality products and we adopt a very strict quality control policy throughout all production process.

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  Kinetic Events

  • Cape Town Area, South Africa

  • Key Accounts Manager - eCommerce Africa

    • Sep 2014 - Dec 2015
    • Cape Town Area, South Africa

    A well presented highly personable and efficient Accounts Manager with an ability to work independently in a changing and multi-tasking environment with numerous and competing deadlines. Having a strong customer service orientation and delivery focus and an active commitment to continuous improvement and quality standards. Excellent communication skills and comfortable working in a fast paced, hands-on, growth orientated work environment. Liaising with clients to ascertain their precise event requirements. Working closely with key stakeholders at every level of the business to ensure the effective delivery of events. Duties: • Offering a first class service to both potential and existing customers.• Maintaining accurate reference documentation for internal management.• Attending trade shows, exhibitions and events.• Providing weekly reports to the client in line with KPI’s.• Identifying and cultivating new prospects.• Managing a portfolio of over 170 key clients both current and potential.• Working closely with creative teams, management, production teams.• Identifying promotional opportunities and integrating them into monthly marketing plans.• Assisting with sales pitches to win new business.• Management of processes to improve efficiency and reduce risk.• Help monitor competitor activity and report it to the team. Setting daily workload, tracking progress, revising plans to ensure objectives are met.• Developing customer experience initiatives both pre, during and post events.• Developing online media initiatives in line with client’s expectations.KEY SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES - Experienced in running events for up to 200 Delegates.- Ability to delegate.- Able to work effectively with different personalities. - Can work effectively on several projects simultaneously. - Demonstrated ability for accuracy and thoroughness. - Able to work under pressure and as part of a team.

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  Spintelligent

  • Cape Town Area, South Africa

  • African Utility Week 2014 Exhibition

    • Nov 2013 - Sep 2014
    • Cape Town Area, South Africa

    • Effective Development of Market Sector within African Power / Energy Sector.• Constantly improving Service Levels throughout the Value Chain.• Employed consultative selling approach and relationship marketing to close contracts and exceed objectives. • Intensive, penetrating ability to get permissions at domestic and international level for shows, management through proven networking.• Maintained a well-qualified pipeline of prospective managed opportunities by establishing and maintaining professional relationships with key decision-makers.• Holds strong database and networking of industry specific sponsors for events and promotions.• Staging: to assist in the design and flow of the event• Senior Managers/Executives: to assist with relationship management & escalations.• Prepared and presented proposals and close new accounts in targeted Sectors.• Developed strategies for ongoing sales while maintaining customer base and high levels of customer satisfaction. • Generated new business, conducted on-site presentations for multi-level executives within large corporations and agencies at Competitor Events and own Companies Events.• Online Marketing Initiatives via targeted emails to various sectors of interest.• Brand Building across African Continent & Europe.• Identifying niche market segments within Sector.• Successfully managed Projects, far exceeding expectations.• Identified new clients through online lead generation.• Developing Solution Based proposals for C-Level Executives Globally.

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  CO Designs

  • Epping Cape Town

  • Business Development

    • Sep 2012 - Jul 2013
    • Epping Cape Town

    • Enhance Client Relationship experience.• Identify new sales opportunities through constant contact with Clients through Efficient Calling Cycles thus keeping Company abreast of Projects, present and future. • Employed consultative selling approach and relationship marketing to close sales and exceed objectives. • Developed cost saving structures for clients working with budgetary constraints. • Floor Plan Layout to maximize available Office Space allocated. • Maintaining and developing rapport with existing and new suppliers in order to obtain increased service levels as well as obtaining cost saving measures for product ranges purchased. • * Developed strategies for ongoing sales while maintaining customer base and high levels of customer satisfaction. • Generated new business, conducted on-site presentations for multi-level executives within large corporations and agencies.• Online Marketing Initiative.• Developed portable catalogue Folder for Smart Phones & Tablet PC’s.• Brand Building• Developed Brands & Revenue for Company through adding additional services and products offered.• Identifying niche market segments, and effectively developing and manufacturing products to fall in line with client expectations.• Successfully managed Projects, far exceeding expectations for delivery times.• Creating Décor, Design and Floor Plan Layouts schemes to fall in line with client’s objectives and requirements.• Identified new sales opportunities through cold calls, referrals and leads.• Developing Solution Based proposals for Corporate Clients. • Within 6 months, expanded their Client Base to 130 + New Potential Clients.• At time of leaving Quotations outstanding R4’300,000.00.

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  CN Business Furniture

  • Cape Town

  • Consultant

    • Mar 2011 - Jun 2012
    • Cape Town

    • Enhance Client Relationship experience.• Identify new sales opportunities through constant contact with Clients through Efficient Calling Cycles thus keeping Company abreast of Projects, present and future. • Employed consultative selling approach and relationship marketing to close sales and exceed objectives. • Developed cost saving structures for clients working with budgetary constraints. • Floor Plan Layout to maximize available Office Space allocated. • * Developed strategies for ongoing sales while maintaining customer base and high levels of customer satisfaction. • Generated new business, conducted on-site presentations for multi-level executives within large corporations and agencies.• Identifying niche market segments, and effectively developing and manufacturing products to fall in line with client expectations.• Informing Clients of new developments in all facets of the Company, in particular new ranges launched or to be launched. • Successfully managed Projects, far exceeding expectations for delivery times.• Build and maintain good relationships with staff, suppliers and key functions in the business.• Assess Clients needs and implement workable solutions in all aspects.• Creating Décor, Design and Floor Plan Layouts schemes to fall inline with client’s objectives and requirements.• Administration including Relevant Customer Inquiries during ordering process. • Identified new sales opportunities through cold calls, referrals and leads. - Sales achieved: R1'2m UNISA Parow, R210'000 V&A Waterfront Conference Center, R800'000+ Mobil Oil

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  Wetherlys Decorating Warehouse

  • Sales and Trainee Manager

    • Sep 2007 - Mar 2008

    • Focus on new-business development among existing clients.• Identified new sales opportunities through referrals and qualified leads.• Employed consultative selling approach and relationship marketing to close sales and exceed monthly objectives. Monthly sales objectives/quota were set at R250, 000 per month, my sales objectives averaged R400, 000 per month. • Creating Décor, Design and Floor Plan Lay-out schemes to fall inline with clients objectives and requirements. • Maintaining and developing rapport with existing and new clients in order to obtain increased sales levels as well as obtaining cost saving measures for product ranges purchased. • Developed strategies for ongoing sales while maintaining customer base and high levels of customer satisfaction. • Administration including Relevant Customer Inquiries during ordering process.• Maintaining Branch Procedures.• Following up on client orders and complaints, making sure service levels are kept to a maximum inline with Branch and Company Requirements and Policies.

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  Fabric Elegance Textile Wholesaler

  • Sales And Marketing Manager

    • Feb 1995 - May 2007

    * Collaborating with European suppliers in joint-venture activities in representing them in South African market.* Assumed significant role in piloting developments with suppliers locally and overseas.* Researched trends in the Textile market and provided input to product development.* Frequently attended International Textile Trade Fairs in Brussels and Italy from 1996 to 2002.* Established and maintained rapport with Overseas Suppliers by frequenting their Manufacturing Plants and spending time developing ranges for the South African markets at the required quality SABS and European Standards for Corporate, Hospitality and Residential Sectors.* Negotiating with relevant suppliers for cost effective pricing structures. * Developed ranges to meet client expectations in quality and design. * Up-dating the data-base, records, evaluations and fabric samples.* Establishing cost control measures, streamlining business principles and constantly improving and maximizing operational efficiency.* Successfully Directed sales for the entire Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Northern Province client base from 1997 single handedly.* Developed new business by cultivating relationships with Head Buyers, Procurement Managers, Facility Managers, Sales Directors, Sales Staff, and Production Supervisors in key accounts. * Provided ongoing operational analysis and identified and resolved operational issues and constraints.* Deploy cold calling techniques to identify key prospects.* Liaising with relevant departments from key clients in order to facilitate orders for current and new contracts, on an ongoing basis.* Identified new sales opportunities through cold calls, referrals and leads.* Advised on operations activities in possible future joint ventures with clients.* Established a client base with top Corporate and Retail Groups

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  Olympic Cycles and Locksmiths

  • Sales & Trainee Manager

    • Feb 1989 - Jan 1991

    Customer Liaison and Sales.* Managed stock control.* Took the responsible for the layout of the store. * Maintaining and nurturing client loyalty and securing repeat business. Sales.* New Product Packing and Pricing. * Quoting on Services.