Visual Merchandising Manager

Pat Hernandez
604 Harmony Lane
Pleasantville, CA 94588
(925) 555-1234

VISUAL MERCHANDISING SPECIALIST

Innovative, high-energy Visual Merchandising Manager, leveraging highly successful 7-year New York retail/fashion background driving multi-state store sales through visual presentation and image control. Selected to assist in 6 new-store openings, now in company’s top 10 (out of 37 stores). Solid experience leading teams and delivering visual merchandising workshops. Expertise in trends and fashion forecasting.

HIGHLIGHT OF ATTRIBUTES:
· Communication & Training
· Creative Problem Solving
· Coordination & Planning
· Cost Containment
· Fashion Forecasting
· New-Store Openings
· Strong Sense of Style
· Detail-Oriented
· Team Leadership
· Innovation and Change

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

WINDSOR FASHIONS (headquartered in Vernon, CA)
1999 to Present
Assistant Visual Director, working from East coast (2001 to Present)
In-store Visual Merchandiser, Jersey Gardens, NJ (1999 to 2000)
Rapidly promoted to Assistant Visual Director of contemporary women’s apparel company with 37 stores nationwide. Accountable for stores’ overall look and driving store sales in addition to managing in-store visual merchandising for all 7 East Coast stores with combined annual sales volume of $7+ million. Report directly to the Visual Director.
Co-develop and implement company merchandising guidelines and window presentations meeting company’s visual and safety standards, and instruct staff to apply concepts. Coordinate fixture placement, repairs, removal, and transfer. Recruit, hire, and direct in-store Visual Merchandisers, and evaluate personal assistant. Pay weekly store visits to troubleshoot and direct staff on maintaining visual integrity.

SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
· Played key role in expanding territory by assisting in new-store openings: 3 Connecticut stores (Jun and Oct 2000, Feb 2001), Toledo, OH (Nov 2002), and Lakeside, MI (Apr 2003). Researched potential malls and built successful merchandising teams, facilitating streamlined store openings.
· Design new, eye-catching merchandising schemes twice annually, handle store remerchandising every 3 weeks, and direct company-wide shipments 3 times a week, effectively multi-tasking and managing time.
· Co-created successful quarterly visual merchandising workshop for new-hires, District Visual Managers, and 28 Store Managers, helping them implement company merchandising guidelines, maintain visual presentation standards, and continuously improve allover store look.

ADDED VALUE:
· Demonstrated strong ability to forecast and identify fashion trends – travel to Europe 2-3 times annually to stay abreast. Save company $15,000 annually by applying fashion forecasting skills in-house, generating better results than with previously used external forecasting service.
· Assume additional responsibility as Assistant Buyer for Outerwear. Effectively update Buyers on fashion trends.
· Big-picture oriented while paying attention to detail; bottom-line focused as shown through consistently safeguarding company’s image by inspecting new merchandise, intercepting faulty or potential problem-items before being placed on the floor, and facilitating receipt of credit upon item return.

CRABTREE & EVELYN, New York, NY
1996 to 1999
Sales Director (promoted from Sales Associate)
Handled store merchandising, pulled window concepts, performed daily store opening and closing, and stimulated sales using creative display and marketing techniques.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), New York, NY
Certificate Program – Image Consulting (certificate expected March 2004)
Representative courses: Fashion Events Planning, Fabrication, Fashion Speak, and Fashion Forecasting

Parsons School of Design, New York, NY – between 1996 and 1999
Completed coursework: Graphic Design, Furniture Design, Drafting, Sewing, Patternmaking, and Draping

Art Center School of Design, New York, NY – 2003
Prada Environmental Design (in conjunction with Fondazione Prada).
Qualified to take store design course with Gregory Beck (AIA), based on merchandising background. Selected as 1 of 6 students to present store changes proposal to team of Prada executives and architects at Soho’s Prada store reception. Focus on making retail space look like public space.

SPECIAL SKILLS & LEADERSHIP

Languages: Fluent in oral and written Spanish, with basic understanding of French.
Computer skills: Mac and PC platform; Word, Excel, Outlook; Photoshop; QuarkXPress; Internet research.
Community leadership: Sephardic Community Center (1990 to 1998)
Held variety of cultural and fashion-related leadership positions at teen youth organization providing high school students with cultural and after-school programs. Managed fundraising, sponsor recruitment, orchestrated large productions, directed meetings, and selected committees. Positions held: President of TNT, Direction of Fashion Show, Producer (Fiddler on the Roof), and Assistant Producer (Once Upon a Mattress).

Ilona Vanderwoude - ilona@CareerBranches.com - http://www.CareerBranches.com