Creative and Strategic Business Development Professional with a 15-year track record in elevating the luxury fashion and interior design sectors. Recognized for strategic decision-making, strong analytical skills, and business acumen. Seeking to leverage my entrepreneurial spirit, collaborative skills, and process oriented mindset.
Gert Voorjans is an interior architectural company, designing exclusive interiors for private and corporate clients such as Dries Van Noten, Shangri La Hotels, Sir M. Jagger, The Lane Crawford Joyce Group. _Led over 10 high-end interior architectural design projects with budgets averaging 2M, steering cross-functional teams, aligning with strategic and operational goals. _Optimized end-to-end sales workflow, merging financial planning with analytics to improve operational efficiency and P&L clarity. _Orchestrated the production and digital marketing campaigns of an exclusive "Collectibles" auction and book release, overseeing diverse stakeholders and driving the successful sale of +90% of the art, antiques & collectibles. _Led global trademark registration and the negotiation of new licensing agreements, supporting the strategic expansion of brand reach and protecting intellectual property on an international scale. _Negotiated & closed a +1M€ design contract with Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts for the complete interior design of their 5* Hotel in Hangzhou, China. _Developed and implemented a rebranding and marketing strategy that refreshed the brand's image and elevated client engagement. Resulting in a 30% boost in website traffic, a 70% growth in Instagram followers. _Acted as the principal liaison for media relations, for prestigious publications such as AD Magazine, Vogue, and Tatler enhancing the brand's image and fostering strategic partnerships.
VAN THIEL & CO. is an international furniture designer and sourcing company for a select group of retailers in the U.S. and around the world. _Managed all direct +200 retail & project clients for EMEA & APAC regions, and increased revenue on average with 20%. _Organized trade fairs in Paris, France; Las Vegas & High Point, USA for the Van Thiel & Co. brand, and its licensee Ralph Lauren Home. _Collaborated with department stores; such as Al Tayer Insignia and independent retailers for shop-in-shop concepts. _Consolidated & analysed the all regionals sales of a collection comprising over 500 SKUs, evaluating their commercial viability while maintaining creative integrity and market appeal & presented reports to stakeholders. _Upheld the licensor Ralph Lauren Home’s distribution & brand guidelines to ensure their brand's image is consistent across all B2B & POS channels. _Supported the US distributor Four Hands in defining the assortment for the US market by sharing worldwide sales & distribution knowledge _Co-Integrated key account Restoration Hardware's EDI system with company's ERP, streamlining client orders of +10M€, production, logistics and invoicing.
_Business Strategy Consultancy for STUDIO M a design studio with clients such as Dries van Noten, Chanel, Axel Vervoordt, Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton _Co-Produced the book "Dancer" by Wim Vanlessen, former Principal Dancer with The Royal Ballet Flanders _Acted as Event Producer & Project Manager for marketing events for clients such as: City of Antwerp, Patek Philippe, and LES HOMMES
_Co-launched the start-up of the Wholesale Business in collaboration with the Creative Director and the investor, assuming a key role in defining and executing the Go-To-Market and Branding & Marketing Strategy, resulting in a +1M€ revenue/year in 3 years. _Led wholesale trade fair initiatives and cultivated direct sales with multi-brand outlets _Coordinated the manufacturing & product sourcing activities in Asia. _Implemented and Managed ERP / CRM systems for +700 SKUs, +150 clients, +300 orders/year. _Connected the ERP/CRM system with a B2B ecommerce website ensuring seamless integration of order entry, invoicing, and payment collection, resulting in 80% order sell-through per sales campaign. _In coordination with the Creative Director co-developed the collection from 50 to 250 unique SKU's.
Holding company with a boutique hotel, museum café & event venue. In my role as the owner's right-hand, I undertook a wide range of responsibilities that encompassed the overall daily management of the business. Implemented marketing campaigns, including the successful launch of social media channels and a website, with the strategic objective of driving hotel bookings and event quotation requests.
Created by Belgian fashion designers Tom Notte and Bart Vandebosch, LES HOMMES is a modern menswear brand. _Collaborated with the Sales Manager to develop and execute the global wholesale sales strategy. _Assisted the Creative Directors in creating marketing assets such as look books, photo shoots & brand books. _Coordinated the showroom, including managing staff, organizing appointments with buyers, managing fashion show invites and seating plan, and ensuring the showroom is presentable at all times. _Processed all orders, including credit and debit control, factoring, distribution and ensuring timely after sales service.
I have had the privilege of collaborating with Bart Leirs on several projects, and each experience has reinforced my admiration for his multiple talents and work ethic. Bart was instrumental in encouraging me to launch Studio M, offering invaluable advice on financial planning, business strategy, and commercial operations. His insights were not only a testament to his knowledge but also to his genuine dedication to fostering success in others. Our professional relationship flourished through various collaborations, where Bart's expertise in business strategy consistently shone through. His commitment to success was evident in every task he undertook, always aiming to elevate the project's quality and outcomes. One instance that stands out was our joint work on a rebranding project for GERT VOORJANS. Bart's role as Manager was pivotal in this project. His creative insights and planning were crucial in redefining the brand's image. His ability to manage projects, lead teams effectively, and deliver innovative solutions underlined his skills in project management and co-creative direction. Bart's contributions went beyond just professionalism; his blend of creativity, strategic thinking, and leadership profoundly impacted our project's success. His influence has been a significant catalyst in my professional journey, and I am confident that he will continue to inspire and succeed in all his future endeavours.