Experience

• 

  Truworths

  • Senior Buyer

    • Apr 2014 - Present

• 

  Aca Joe

  • Cape Town

  • Senior Buyer/Designer/Visual Merchandiser

    • Apr 2007 - Dec 2013
    • Cape Town

    • Member of Core Brand Team• Range Building, planning and buying in of men’s and ladies ranges and accessories• Designing of range / mood boards / seasonal palettes• Product, artwork and marketing graphic design and development• Trend analysis• International trend and supplier visits - London/New York/Hong Kong/China/Mauritius• Fabric and trim development• Supplier negotiations• Establishishing and cultivating new supplier relationships • Local and international supplier liaison from tech pack to delivery• Spec calculations, fit assessments and QC • Driving on time delivery to stores• Mentorship of new product and design team• Management of brand caché through visual merchandising, marketing and store experience• Visual Merchandising seasonal campaign strategy, management and rollout• Weekly store and visual merchandising setup and country wide rollout• Management and development of visual and product teams• Retail team support and development • Managing of new store roll outs, layout, fitout, setup and launch• Weekly brand strategy planning, sales, people, product, instore production• Product strategy formulation including mark downs and promotions • Analysis of sales trends and formulating strategy• Monitoring of Stock Sellthroughs and adaptation to sell off rates• Monthly Budget setting• Yearly brand stategy planning

• 

  University of Pretoria

  • Pretoria Area, South Africa

  • Graphic Designer

    • May 2001 - Mar 2007
    • Pretoria Area, South Africa

    • Design and implementation of brand identity in all BTL forms• Conceptualising of ideas and presentation• Liaison with faculties and schools regarding printing and promotional needs and deadlines• Overseeing of reprographic work to final product• Management and production of the universities software needs

• 

  Graeme de Wit Design

  • Pretoria Area, South Africa

  • Freelance Fashion and Graphic Designer

    • Jan 1998 - Mar 2007
    • Pretoria Area, South Africa

    • Client liaison with regards to client briefing, needs, problems, deadlines and expectations• Conceptualising of ideas and presentation• Management of production to final product, ensuring high standards and deadlines are met • Presentation of completed concepts and final product to clients• Designing of all below the line work• Copywriting and copy corrections • Idea conceptualisation for advertising campaigns, layout and production• Art Directing and creative conceptualising

• 

  Stride Studios

  • Pretoria Area, South Africa

  • Graphic Designer

    • Jun 1999 - May 2000
    • Pretoria Area, South Africa

    • Designing of all below the line work• Liaison with clients and printers, brief preparation, idea conceptualisation, copy writing and presentation. • Art Direction – Management, styling and production of photo shoots• Clients include: Jo Borkett, DTI, Momentum Life

• 

  Creative Fingers Advertising

  • Pretoria Area, South Africa

  • Graphic Designer

    • May 1997 - May 1999
    • Pretoria Area, South Africa

    • Liaison with clients and printers and brief preparation• Overseeing of reprographic work to final product• Designing of all below the line work• Idea conceptualisation for advertising campaigns, layouts and production • Copywriting of advertising material, slogans and promotional text

• 

  InQbate Clothing

  • Pretoria Area, South Africa

  • Fashion Designer

    • Jan 1996 - Dec 1997
    • Pretoria Area, South Africa

    • Range development and production of menswear and ladies wear high fashion clothing• Supplied to small independent retail store and specialist orders for clients• Key functions included marketing, production, design, textile sourcing, CMT contracting and merchandising

• 

  Boots and All

  • Pretoria Area, South Africa

  • Retail Manager

    • Jan 1992 - Jan 1993
    • Pretoria Area, South Africa

    • Day to day managing of this leather retail business• Supervision of staff and liaising with customers and suppliers• Buying in and maintenence of stock • Paying of wages and suppliers