Experience

Label Labs
• United Arab Emirates
• Retail
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Director & Co-Founder

  • May 2018 - Present

SQUATWOLF
• United Arab Emirates
• Apparel & Fashion
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Chief Operating Officer (COO) Expansion & Retail & Partner

  • Aug 2019 - Feb 2022


Al-Futtaim

• United Arab Emirates
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• General Manager

  • Mar 2016 - May 2018

  Total remit 250 stores, +300 POS, Leading the Retail, Wholesale, E-Commerce and Franchise Partners portfolios across the MENA region.• Managing and supervising 1,400 employees across the region, including retail staff, brand managers, buyers, planning, wholesale, operations, visual, marketing, logistics and compliance.• Handling portfolio, P&L and budget of 250 stores, +300 POS regionally with total retail turnover of $270m• Restructuring and integrating a company team to create a new operating model combining wholesale, retail and e-commerce• Restructure of the business to ensure indirect costs are controlled and the business is EBIT positive.• Stake holder for the launch of a Fashion e-commence platform• Responsible for All MENA Brand Growth and Profitability• Responsible for growth in retail, wholesale and E-Commerce channels• Responsible for commercial, operations, visual and marketing for the retail & wholesale division• Maximize sales and profitability of brand stores in line with company targets.• Building and maintaining strong relationships with brands and ensuring all parties are succeeding financially Show less

• Senior Brand Manager Guess & Head of Wholesale

  • Mar 2014 - Mar 2016

  • Operated and managed retail activates for Guess and wholesale for fashion.• Directed 250 staff members across departments, commercial, operations, buying/planning, marketing and visual merchandising.• Project manager for introduction of SAP, EDI, RFID and Retail Pro 9 in the MENA• Achieved NPAT for Guess retail & wholesale from -$3m to positive +$1m• Increase profitability on wholesale business from $1m to $4m in three years Head of Wholesale 2014 - 2015• Led the commercial, operations and marketing activities related to the brands of the whole division, including Fashion & Accessories• Increased wholesale turnover $4m to $15m in three years• Directed 4 regional departments (Men, Kids, ladies & Accessories)• Supervised 18 staff members Show less



Time Out

• France
• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution

• International Business Development Manager

  • Dec 2010 - Mar 2014

  • Launched the brand with Franchises partners, department stores, wholesale, and E-Commerce portfolios across the MENA, SEA, Europe and America • Formulate the business strategy to expand the business globally • Delivered sales from $500k to $8m in four years • Manage the P&L of the international department business centre • Build analytical models to support the strategy • Negotiating different business models, from joint ventures, franchising, distribution and wholesaling • To work closely with commercial functions, to develop ranges, pricing strategies, and in-depth market research • strategize on assortments that support sales and margin goals • Analyzing current market trends and assortment performance in order to maximize Time Out and Franchisees profitability • Monitoring inventory including purchase orders and liable inventory • Provide feedback to Directors on the clients’ annual and seasonal buy plans, the performance against plan or target, and compliance with required minimums or products • Develop robust relationships with Franchisees in order to leverage planning strengths Show less



Tesco Stores CR, a.s. & Tesco Stores SR

• Senior Category Buying Manager

  • Nov 2008 - Dec 2010

  Total remit 11 department stores over 2 countries Czech Republic & Slovakia, operating and managing retail activates for Women, Menswear, Sportswear, Lingerie, Kids, Accessories, Footwear, Toys and Beauty, • Led the commercial, operations and marketing activities related to the brands of the department stores, including Fashion, Accessories, Beauty – Dior, Chanel, Diesel, G-star, Adidas, Aldo and own brand F&F plus many more • Part of the leadership team to redesign new format for Tesco’s department stores • Handling portfolio, P&L and budget of 11 department stores, with total retail turnover of $16m • Directed 9 regional departments and supervised 26 staff members • Secured exclusivity for 30 international brands in Czech & Slovakia • Launched 150 international brands within the department store chain • Building and maintaining strong relationships with brands and ensuring all parties are succeeding • To work as part of the business leadership team to deliver joint business targets Show less



M.H.Alshaya

• Brand Merchandise Manager

  • Aug 2006 - Sep 2008

  Responsible for the GCC area including Kuwait, KSA, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Lebanon & Jordan, Reporting to the Brand Director - Accountable for generating a sales performance of £17m per annum for 2008 and £22m for 2009 Develop an annual business plan to reflect brand positioning, negotiate key aspects of the planned delivery with the brand, maximize turnover by ensuring accurate, timely and commercial sales planning and reforecast for both existing and new stores. Ensuring that the brand delivers business plan profit through delivery of volume and cash margin, maintain brand profitability by management of full price and markdown sales, intake margins, levels of markdown activity and terminal stock. Planning and maximizing the sales and profit contribution of the brand in addition to timely management of OTB, stock allocation and replenishment, terminal stock management and retail price architecture. Opened 3 stores during the period all of which exceed there set targets. All aspects of merchandising in plan ordering, allocation and subsequent replenishment based on receipt and distribution of merchandise, building stock for trading periods and mitigating terminal stocks. Establish and maintain professional relationships with the franchise partner. Managing, inspiring, motivating and training a team of 11 employees. Frequent overseas business trips to ensure that the brand’s stores maximize sales potential, brands standards are represented in all major business-wide initiates and systems. Show less



Littlewoods Shop Direct Group

• Merchandiser

  • Sep 1998 - Jul 2006

  Fashion department – reporting to Head of Merchandise and Merchandise Director Understand the strategic development of the business area. Interpret and develop departmental Key Performance Indicators to maximise profit. Management of department supplier base. Increased margin +3%, though supplier chain management in 2005 Have the ability to construct the optimum range to meet the customer needs. In-Season management – Constantly review department opportunities and risks whilst managing the key profit drivers. Develop, understand and interpret complex forecast systems and have the ability to react accordingly. Implement best practices. Propose promotional activity. Supplier visits, UK and overseas. Manage, train and motivate a team of 5 Merchandisers. Show less



JD Williams

• United States
• Professional Training and Coaching
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Assistant Merchandiser

  • Jul 1993 - Aug 1998

  Dresses / Outerwear department – reporting to Merchandiser and Merchandise Director All aspects of forecasting, calculating figures and sales. Purchasing and order stocks within constraints of the current budget. Ensuring suppliers comply with their contractual obligations. Training and monitoring Assistant Merchandisers. Dresses / Outerwear department – reporting to Merchandiser and Merchandise Director All aspects of forecasting, calculating figures and sales. Purchasing and order stocks within constraints of the current budget. Ensuring suppliers comply with their contractual obligations. Training and monitoring Assistant Merchandisers.