Experience

Amka Products (Pty) Ltd

• Manufacturing
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Brand Manager - Fragrances

  • Oct 2016 - Present

  AMKA Products produces a wide range of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) including Personal Care, Hair Care & Household Cleaning products for the local market as well as for export | www.amka.co.zaAs the Fragrance Brand Manager, I am tasked with uncovering consumer insights & delivering innovative marketing campaigns. I am responsible for overseeing the entire creative process of the products I manage including the brand strategy, brand communications, assisting with product development, launching new products, market analysis, driving sales & the further market development of the brands that I manage & I work collaboratively with various departments including the Research & Development department, Quality Control department, Packaging department, Exports department & Planning department.Managing the marketing team working on brand initiatives, & leading the creative development to motivate the target audience to “take action”.Analysing & monitoring of brand position, competitor & consumer insights & strategies.Developing and implementing short to long-term strategic marketing plans in NPD, Trade, Sales & gross profit growth.Initiation & management of innovation projects.Developing strategic 360° marketing campaigns.Supervising advertising, public relations, digital & social media, product design & NPD launches.Responsible for managing the brand marketing budget.



Tupperware Southern Africa

• South Africa
• Retail
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Product Manager

  • May 2015 - Sep 2016

  Tupperware is known worldwide for their products & innovative business model offering independent business opportunities to its clients | www.tupperware.comAs the Senior Product Manager, together with two direct reports, my team was responsible for creating & executing brand strategies within the product portfolio & marketing function consistent with overall Tupperware business objectives. Additionally, responsible for understanding & monitoring competitive activity & identifying customer needs.Collaborated with Platform (Global Office) on globally agreed brand strategies. Leveraging new product & communication assets for the creation & implementation of local market plans.Controlled & managed the marketing portfolio plans in line with financial budgets to ensure alignment to monthly & annual targets.Monitored & analysed competitive activity through internal market research, leveraging internationally research with local research houses, & utilization of Euromonitor for 5-year forecasts. Built strategic plans to grow the portfolio in line with market trends.Management of production & supply chain through close collaboration with the demand planner & local manufacturing plant, ensuring that forecasts were in line with demand, & stock deliveries were executed in time for product launches. Ensured communication to the sales team on brand & product direction to develop 360 ° annual & monthly plans.



Avon South Africa

• South Africa
• Personal Care Product Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Category Manager

  • Oct 2012 - Feb 2015

  Avon Justine (PTY) Ltd. is a leading direct selling company producing beauty & lifestyle products, providing a strong earning opportunity to South Africans, particularly women.I was appointed Category Manager for Jewellery & Watches & my daily responsibilities included product sourcing & development, packaging design & quality inspection as well as strategic planning of the brand products & marketing strategy. I oversaw annual sales budgets & utilised the allocated marketing & promotions budgets to achieve sales, cost & gross profit targets & was responsible for the management of stock, stock availability, supply chain & product logistics. In my position as Category Manager of Jewellery & Watches, I had one direct report, who assisted with market research & new product development.Analysed data or insights to determine industry & consumer trends, developing new product ranges & managing existing product ranges.Sourced & negotiating with suppliers & verified the reliability & quality of suppliers & products prior to buying, fostering trust relationships with suppliers to achieve better pricing & quality of services.Determined the positioning of a product category to maximize visibility, & managed the brand through new product launches & marketing through print, radio, television & online media.Liaised with marketing teams to determine competitive pricing & promotional activities of a product category such as product launches.Collaborated with sales teams to expand product categories, & developed new packaging from market analysis, overseeing sample development & approval, quality inspection & compliance to safety, health & environmental standards.Assumed responsibility for budget development & revenue for the category.Tasked with process improvement, participating in projects to develop & implement systems for measuring service levels.



Sunpac Pty Ltd

• South Africa
• Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Category Buyer

  • May 2011 - Sep 2012

  As a Category Buyer for Cosmetics, Skincare & Haircare Accessories & Dental Care, I managed all Product Innovation for 5 major Retail Chains in South Africa. I managed the procurement & supply chain process' including compliance, quality & specifications, delivery & price. My day-to-day activities were varied from putting together sourcing plans & managing supplier selection to dealing with claims & price tracking. While employed at SUNPAC I was also the Head of Training for Ruby Kisses South Africa.Marketed the brand through coordinating the sales teams nationally with new launches, in-store marketing signage & promotions.Tasked with the strategic planning of the brand, product packaging design & quality inspection.Oversaw the annual sales budgets, & utilise the allocated marketing & promotions budgets to help achieve the sales targets.Managed the stock levels, ensuring the availability of a balanced assortment of merchandise in the correct seasonal quantities at the required outlets against a projected forecast plan.



Edcon

• South Africa
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Assistant Buyer | Buyer

  • Feb 2009 - Apr 2011

  EDCON is southern Africa's largest non-food retailer with stores across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Ghana, Zimbabwe & Zambia | www.edcon.co.zaBoardmans Buyer – Décor Hards & Softs January 2011 – April 2011Boardmans Buyer – Crockery, Glassware & Cutlery May 2010 – December 2010Edgars Kids Wear Assistant Buyer – Infants Wear, Clothing, Acc, & Hardlines February 2009 – May 2010Researched, selected & purchased quality products & materials, building relationships with suppliers & negotiated with them for the best pricing.Processed requisitions & updated management on the status of orders, & developed an efficient & accurate system for monitoring all open purchase orders.Analysed market trends & applied this knowledge to make insightful buying decisions.Utilised a range of criteria, such as pricing, styling, colours, fabrics, units (volumes), sizes, options per store, stores & locations, to ensure the achievement of a balanced assortment in line with the sales plan.Management inventory throughout the supply chain.Analysed latest & upcoming trends for New Product Development.Managed & mentored my assistant buyer, who reported to me during my role as Boardmans Buyer.



Seton South Africa

• Sales & Marketing Coordinator

  • Apr 2008 - Nov 2008

  Seton Company is a leading global automotive supplier that offers a wide range of leather products to a substantial number of international automotive manufacturers | www.setonautoleather.comAs Marketing Coordinator of Seton South Africa, I reported directly to the Sales & Marketing Director of Seton South Africa. I performed the role of customer liaison between the various departments within the company & with suppliers, coordinating the timeous distribution of information between these departments & the successful management of two internationally recognized automotive accounts.Liaised with the technical department to ensure that they have the correct information for orders from the clients brief & specifications & handing over the job to the technical department.Managed the analysis & compilation of Automotive Industry Reports in the internal & external environments.Developed & managed the after-sales market website & competitor research reports.



Synovate South Africa

• Executive Offices

• Market Research Project Coordinator

  • Jul 2007 - Mar 2008

  Synovate (Now IPSOS) South Africa is a market research house that offers a range of research-based products & services | www.ipsos.com/en-zaAs a Market Research Project Coordinator for Synovate, my duties within the Mystery Shopping research team include the management of research information for national & international clients. My duties included:Client Management: Management of client research projects.Development of research material.Project Management.Data Analysis & Report Writing.Presentation to client of research outcome.



Transnet

• Belgium
• Freight and Package Transportation
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Branding & Communications Officer

  • Sep 2006 - Jul 2007

  Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) is a division of Transnet SOC Limited, South Africa's state-owned freight transport company which owns & operates 16 terminal operations situated across seven South African Ports.My responsibility as Communications Officer included acting as the communication channel & liaison between the internal & external stakeholders of the company.Responsible for strategic planning & management of the Communications department.Responsible for enhancing & increasing the company brand.Tasked with managing SAPO promotions.Planned & organised SAPO events.Managed the department finance budget.