I'm a Merchandising & Buying Director with a solid international professional experience (in Italy, in Paris, France and in New York, US), with a specific knowledge of foreign markets and with also a background in product development, which I gained working for important brands in the "Luxury" and "Alternative to Luxury" segments. For over 20 years I've been supporting Multinationals, SMEs and Start Ups in the Fashion and Luxury goods sector for the development of corporate business, overseeing Collection & Retail Merchandising/Buying and Brand management. I have a strategic vision aimed at optimizing costs, profitability, and image consistency, therefore: • I implement and optimize Merchandising processes, as well as operational and strategic ones. • I rationalize the collection structure, ensuring the maximum efficiency. • I optimize the Buying team, as well as purchasing strategies and processes. • I cooperate with several corporate functions to optimize commercial strategies (Design, Communication, Visual, Operations). • I optimize the sales team performances with an accurate training on the product.
Referring to the Brands and Strategic Partnerships Director I am in charge of managing two brands Zucchi & Bassetti Granfoulard serving as a liason for all cross functionals teams as Design office, Product development, Marketing & Communication, Wholesale and Retail. I coordinate the entire process of collection development from competitor anaylis to “go to market” of the product.
In synergy with the ownership, I supported a number of Entrepreneurial Companies and Start-ups in launching and redefining the brand and Merchandising and Buying activities.
I referred to the GM and I coordinated a 2-resources team (of whom a manager referred directly to me). When a new General Manager entered the company, I was included in a collection reorganization project, overseeing the “Collection & Retail Merchandising” function for all product lines and categories (Ermanno Scervino, Ermanno Firenze, Ermanno Scervino Junior e Lingerie).
I referred to the CEO, I coordinated a 12-resources team (of which 3 Managers referred directly to me). I was included in a corporate reorganization project, where I had the task of creating a new Merchandising and Buying structure for direct store and for ECommerce. I was in charge of “Collection & Retail Merchandising” function for all the product lines and categories for Full Price stores and Outlet (PATRIZIA PEPE, PATRIZIA PEPE Girlwear).
I referred to the owners, I coordinated a 6 - resources team (of which 3 Managers referred directly to me). I was in charge of the WW Retail Merchandising/Buying function for all women’s product categories (RTW, Accessories, handbags, Shoes, Bijoux), of the definition of purchase budget, of the training material and of the visual guidelines.
I referred to the BU Director and I coordinated a 6-people team. I oversaw the Collection Merchandising function, the organization of the sales campaign, the pricing and the briefing documents for the sales team, the purchase budget, and the master order for the worldwide direct stores.
I referred to the Merchandising Director, I coordinated a 3-resources team. I oversaw all the Merchandising activities for the Women’s Collection (in 2002 also for Men’s Collection): collection strategic development (set-up of the structure/collection grid) and identification of new challenges according to sales outcomes and to new trends; planning and management of the sales campaign; definition of the purchase strategy for the DOS stores; cooperation with the communication Office and with the Visual one; relation management with the markets, with the buyers and with the Franchising and Wholesale channels; pricing and product training material development; sales monitoring.
I coordinated a 3-resorces team. I oversaw the Product Merchandising activities (sample creation and production) for the made in Italy Banana Republic collection. I oversaw the Soft Accessories collection. Translation of technical data sheets, costing management with suppliers, follow-up of sample creation and production.
Role of assistant in a New York showroom: I had to manage the Wholesale market for several Italian brands (such as Brunello Cucinelli, Incotex, Agnona, Versace Jeans Couture, Versus, D&G). Activities I conducted: samples reception and showroom organization (display and appointment diary), sales support, orders entry into system, managing relationships with Italian companies about collections arrival and planning, collection training, payment terms, orders delivery and returns.