Personal and executive assistant, HR and event planning multi-faceted role.

 Provided administrative support for 1 Partner [CN] and 4 Directors [GB, AU, CN]. Manage complex and frequently changing travel arrangements, and ensure travel expenses are allocated correctly in their relative in-house or client accounts. Confidential file management Arrange on-boarding induction and training for new hires across the Asia Pacific region. Create expense reports for each charge and obtain relative approval from respective reporting lines. Coordinating cross-office, cross-timezone meetings for both low and high level recruitment purposes and interviews. Schedule internal and external client meetings providing meeting room or venue bookings, video conferencing or conference calling. Coordinate office-wide and external catering events, decorating according to the business event or themed office party purposes. Calculation of timesheets for each charge.

 Responsible for transfer of stock and samples across all channels, wholesale, retail, and e-commerce, whether internal or external. Manage the documentation system of all products and samples as well as the reliability of all such files. Upload available products onto e-commerce online platforms. Direct the flow of samples to various shows and locations across the globe according to the marketing calendar of each season, while keeping shipping costs to a minimum. Work closely with purchasing director to implement a systematic factory packaging manual with UPC barcode system. Ensure availability of product in the duration of the current season and work closely with retail management and marketing in product scheduling and mark-down calendar. Management of overstock of previous seasons and work with the sales and marketing teams to increase sell-through in the overstock market.  Prepare inventory documentation for audit purposes. Oversea the pick and pack, document preparation and shipping process for wholesale orders.

 In charge of the request for quotation (RFQ) process. Prepare data and analysis (categories and product selection, define criteria, import potential), deliver and follow up with China sourcing team. Quote analysis and track savings obtained, review spend reporting and sourcing complaint history. Landed cost calculation and analysis. Facilitate and bridge communications between Canada and China. Obtaining relative information and explaining trends, branding strategies, category strategies, budgets, baselines, forecasts, product specifications, packaging, in-store ready for business dates, while ensuring all deadlines in the process are respected. Evaluate efficiency and effectiveness of current import processes in both Hong Kong and Shanghai offices, determine adjustments and implementation. Analyze various retail reports to determine targets and forecasts for Asia Pacific purchasing. Develop annual calendar for special buys or flyer activity. Manage financial objectives by anticipating requirements; submitting information for budget preparation at headquarters; scheduling and monitoring expenditures; analyzing variances. Identify new import product opportunities by understanding both retail / competitive market and supplier innovations. Manage departmental staff of one, Project Manager.

 Manage a team of buyers, supplier quality engineers, costing engineer and logistics manager. Source and secure stable relationships with vendors of various products, positioning the each vendor in long-term partnerships where all parties are beneficial. Strategically manage a pool of vendors in supply chain, and implement continuous cost-down or alternative sourcing in an array of Asian countries. Work with overseas clients / internal customers with new product creation and development, managing of product life-cycles. Meet with clients at client sites, factories or showroom level, during product development process and production process Analysis of gross profit/margins, and negotiate costs with vendors to meet annual and project-wise financial targets. Analyze options for logistics and container loading for cost savings. Providing direction, and product/QC support to customer service team, in order to satisfy the end customer. Analyze and recover cost from related parties. Time management in an extremely tight production leadtime allowance, and inquiries turn-around in multi-million dollar projects. Products/projects include:  High-end indoor/outdoor furniture Custom hospitality furniture for 4 and 5 star hotels Furniture and door hardware Natural and synthetic stones, fabrics, leathers, and other construction and decorative materials. Ceramic, stainless steel, and glass tiles/mosaics High-end lighting Plumbing accessories, including Lavatories, Faucets, Toilet seats Continuously ensure everyday travel arrangements are made timely and efficiently. Scheduling meetings during travels to meet with China team members and factories. Minimizing travel and accommodation costs involved.

 Formulate and execute sales strategies so as to explore new and existing business opportunities Responsible for product positioning and marketing, inventory strategy, and gross profit/margin management Win/loss analysis, competitive comparisons, utilizing marketing activities to grow customer base, revenue and market share New product creation and development, managing of product life-cycles Provides direction, feedback, and product/QC support to sales team Developing Market-Specific promotional collateral, demonstrations, and product tutorials, as well as creation and maintenance of Sales Tools Lead inventory and costing team to source and procure full product packagesincluding components, packaging, tooling, and sub-contracted manufacturing services Working closely with internal departments and external partners to fix costing targets and implement continuous cost down and alternative sourcing Vendor/Supply chain management, with exposure in global and PRC sourcing. FOB negotiations influenced by volatile metals market to ensure competitiveness.