Product Development Manager Apparel

• Sep 2020 - Present

Planner- Jewellery

• Dec 2019 - Sep 2020

Snr Merchandiser

• Apr 2017 - Feb 2019

Successfully Designed, Costed, Sourced and Developed ranges for Various home brand labels across women’s and girls wear sold into Edcon and The Truworths group. Managed key accounts within the groups. Planned and forecasted MOQs, budgets and lead times for production at production facility, ensuring optimum profitability Successfully Designed, Costed, Sourced and Developed ranges for Various home brand labels across women’s and girls wear sold into Edcon and The Truworths group. Managed key accounts within the groups. Planned and forecasted MOQs, budgets and lead times for production at production facility, ensuring optimum profitability

Merchandise Manager

• Feb 2012 - Nov 2016

 Product partnership and event co ordination with other international brands (Ford Ranger Odyssey, BlueBulls Rugby Union, Voetspore)  Trade show project management (Nampo, Huntex and Getaway shows)  Brand and retail marketing management  Managed ambassador relationships, Kobus Wiese and Eben Etzebeth Travel overseas to source latest product and trends (USA and Europe) and suppliers (Far East). Report to Rene Duffar, Drimac Trading Managing Executive. Manage 9 staff: 1 x Designer, 2 x Merchandisers, 1 x Merchandise Trainee, 1 x Procurement Planner, 2 x Sales Planners and 2 x Sales Administrators.  Optimise staff productivity by setting deadlines, monitoring performance, facilitating weekly production meetings and tracking holiday leave dates.  Ensure high staff morale by dealing appropriately with individual grievances and offering a viable solution for all parties. Control budgets: Sales (R38,8 million), Buying (R47 million) and Marketing (R2,5 million).  Drive maximum business profitability through analysis, to ensure that correct product and ratios are bought at the correct prices.  Meet monthly targets by analysing weekly sales figures, determining the possible reasons for any shortfalls and finding solutions (markdowns, cancellations, projections and buy adjustments) to avoid this in the future.

Senior Merchandiser

• Sep 2007 - Feb 2012

Senior Merchandiser- Accounts: Edgars Ladies, Jet Ladies, Legit, Edgars Girls,Jet Girls DENIM. Previously Merchandise of Edgars and Jet Mens and Boys DENIM Client Interaction: Overseas travel to analyse market trends and purchase range samples specific to customer’s and buyer’s target markets. Sale of ranges to customers and negotiation of costs. Monitoring of sales fluctuations within retail stores. Compiling and presenting sales reports. Manufacturer Interaction: Preparation of sample requests for manufacturers in China, based on personal recommendations for the customers’/ buyers’ styling requirements. Communication and mediation between customers and manufacturers in China. Negotiating of costs with manufacturers in China. Quality Assurance evaluation, fabric assurance testing and sample measuring while adhering to buyers’ and customers’ standards. coordinating of the logistics process from manufacturing, freighting and forwarding, quality testing, to delivery at retail stores.

Designer

• Oct 2006 - Aug 2007

Textile Designer Merchandise Co Ordinator Textile Designer Merchandise Co Ordinator

Visual Merchandiser

• Dec 2005 - Sep 2006

Chain Store Visual Merchandiser- Edgars and Studdafords. Chain Store Visual Merchandiser- Edgars and Studdafords.