Experience

Forever New

• South Africa
• Retail
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Buyer / Designer

  • Jun 2023 - Present



Matas

• Product Merchandiser - footwear and bags

  • Dec 2018 - Oct 2022

  Range building for Truworths exclusively, across ladies, men’s and kids footwear.

• Product Merchandiser

  • Dec 2018 - Oct 2022



Truworths

• South Africa
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• FOOTWEAR AND BAG BUYER (Mens | Ladies)

  • Feb 2012 - Dec 2018

  I came into Truworths as a Ladieswear Speciality Footwear and Handbag buyer. In November 2015, the business needed me in menswear and I moved divisions, joining the Menswear Footwear Team. Here I bought PU and leather based merchandise, footwear (predominantly) and then bags and wallets. I came into Truworths as a Ladieswear Speciality Footwear and Handbag buyer. In November 2015, the business needed me in menswear and I moved divisions, joining the Menswear Footwear Team. Here I bought PU and leather based merchandise, footwear (predominantly) and then bags and wallets.



Shoe Hq

• United States
• Retail
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Merchandise Manager Footwear

  • Nov 2009 - Feb 2012

  Responsible for sourcing/ range building and trend analysis of all the footwear and handbags for the 25 store mini chain across ladies and menswear. Flew to China to up to 6 times per year to write orders and fill containers. Responsible for QA and fittings. Designed and produced in-store marketing material, styled shoots and handled the brands aesthetic components, including the launch of their loyalty card. Responsible for sourcing/ range building and trend analysis of all the footwear and handbags for the 25 store mini chain across ladies and menswear. Flew to China to up to 6 times per year to write orders and fill containers. Responsible for QA and fittings. Designed and produced in-store marketing material, styled shoots and handled the brands aesthetic components, including the launch of their loyalty card.



Jordan Shoes

• Parow, Cape Town

• Ladies Footwear Designer

  • Nov 2006 - Nov 2009

  My job function was to range build the ladies wear chain stores and wholesale ranges for the Bronx brand. This involved trend analysis, sourcing, range building and key account management/ sales. Our key accounts were Truworths, Foschini and Woolworths. We manufactured locally (in the Jordan Factory), as well as out of China. We travelled extensively to Europe for trend analysis and at least 4 times a year to a China. I was lucky enough to have been exposed to fantastic international brands, where we selected off the ranges for South Africa, like Keds and Steve Madden. I worked with the likes of Rob Jordan (Former CEO) and George Breeze (Former QA/ Technical Director) who taught me the technical aspects of footwear, while having onsite access to a large footwear factory, currently still manufacturing for international brands. Show less



Global Warming

• Muizenberg, Cape Town

• Key Accounts Manager Footwear | Ladies | Mens | Kids

  • Feb 2006 - Nov 2009

  Responsible for predominantly the sales aspects of our key accounts, price negotiation, critical path and range/ product managment. My job was also to feed/ steer our designers to get our ranges in line with what the various chain stores were requiring from pricing/ styling and timing. I would travel with the designers to China to ensure that product was executed in line with our market needs. Key accounts I managed were as follows: Truworths (both men's and ladies),Foschini (ladies and kids), Markham, Sportscene, Exact, Donna Claire, Luella, Mr Price, Edgars and Shoe HQ. Show less



RNA Trading

• Salt River, Cape Town

• Trainee Footwear Merchandiser

  • Jan 2005 - Feb 2006

  A small footwear importer, originally responsible for bringing the Havianas brand into South Africa. I was hired as the MD's assistant and trainee merchandiser. Some of my responsibilities were to negotiate prices, key account liason (at the time they were doing large amounts of business for Mr Price and Sportsmans Warehouse). Due to my lack of relevant tertiary education or any other relevant experience, I was hired on the premise that if I was worth paying at the end of the first month, I would be... and I was. I never looked back, I knew that Footwear was what I needed to be involved with. Unfortunately the company was liquidated, but not before I managed to gain some invaluable experience and be exposed to the launch of the Havianas brand in South Africa. Show less