Manager/Merchandiser
Zoom Footwear
Cape Town Area, South Africa
• Focus on trouble shooting and problem solving in all areas of the critical path• Worked ahead on contracts with suppliers to fine tune and reach measurable results and targets.• Regularly review footwear quality standards, ensuring that these standards are documented and communicated internally and externally• Perform regular supplier audits, evaluate supplier base and inform all required departments.• Train, coach and develop employees on an on going basis.• Motivate and generate respect for teams to generate results• Developing good interpersonal relationships with customers and effectively managing customer expectation.• Understand different brand awareness of market trends and competitors.• Ensure positive customer feedback and satisfaction with all departments.• Supervise returned merchandise, evaluate and visit distribution centres to analyse goods in thepipeline, do reports and liaise with suppliers, quality and buying department to find a satisfactory solution going forward.• Range of products included footwear, handbags, jewellery, scarves, beanies, watches, and all character products.• Initiate tasks and projects and see them through to completion.• Identifying profit opportunities alongside the management team• Manage merchandise quantities for five Factory shops and maximise sales• Purchasing of ladies clothing for two stores and manage the full run• Manage Factory shop staff, duty rosters, cash ups and cash collections.• Source good locations for Factory outlets, opened 3 stand-alone stores and 4 rented spaces. Super- vise stock aging and stock takes• Manage wholesale stock to select customers as not to damage reputation with current merchandise customers.• Instrumental in brand development in lower price range for factory shops• Manage stock, location and staff for all public sales held annually.• Computer packages used: Dynamics, Crystal Reports, Ms Word, Excel