A bon vivant I have pursued the road less traveled in my chosen career and my abodes. I grew up sailing around the Mediterranean Islands and Northern Africa for twelve years with my parents. This bohemian way of life allowed me to develop into a masterful communicator speaking five languages, they are in order of fluency English, Italian, Spanish, French and Maltese. Craving congestion, people and artistic inspiration I lived in metropolis cities from London, New York, San Francisco to the place I now call home, Los Angeles.
I studied Foundation of Fine Art at Chelsea Art and Design in London and completed my Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Marketing with honors from AIU London, UK. Since 2000 I have submerged myself in media (new and traditional) this is reflected when I worked for MTV Networks in Ad Sales and Marketing Evolution in Online Marketing Research. At ME I would determine the effectiveness of an Ad spend across all media platforms using A/B testing and weekly sampling through survey writing and cross media optimization for accounts such as WB, Colgate Oxygen UK, VW Jetta ’05, Wal-Mart and Procter & Gamble.
Determined to garner experience in my degree I moved to New York where I worked as a Men’s Personal Shopper for Barneys NY and sub-sequentially I gained entry into the apparel and accessories world working in various capacities for wholesalers in NY and LA such as Language Los Angeles, 1928 Jewelry Company, Grand Apparels Inc, and Bony Levy. I assumed an approach that no job was too big or small and submerged myself in every facet of the wholesale business from online e-commerce development, graphic design, art direction, EDI and data entry, account management, inventory and logistics and pre and post production. No responsibility is considered beneath or above the task at hand and only meeting the deadline matters. These various yet complimentary industries enable me to have a unique and advantageous approach. I am passionate about finding the niche that withstands today’s saturated attention deficit market.
Characteristics Motivator and team player, detail orientated with creative and business acumen. Excellent troubleshooter and communicator, confident public speaker calm and composed. Trustworthy highly ethical and reliable. Professionalism In house photographer and colour correction EDI proficient Advisor / consultant for product driven startups Articulate Writer Versatile in various industries platforms Researcher Accreditation American Intercontinental University, London, UK, Bachelor Of Arts Graduated Honours, 2000 Chelsea Art & Design, London, UK, Incomplete Associate Arts Foundation Fine Arts, 1994 Self-Employed Los Angeles, CA Dog Handler & Trainer 2020-present During the Pandemic I began walking and training dogs I had a plethora of clients and built up a successful customer base that used my services throughout the week. I dealt with behavioral issues such as on-leash aggression and socialization plus learning the basic 7 dog commands. Most of my client’s dogs were working and bully breeds that required a higher level of physical and mental training. I managed all the scheduling, invoicing and marketing that small business startup requires Portofino International Commerce, CA Photographer & Graphic Designer 2019-2020 Designed packaging and artwork using illustrator and photoshop for all products from boxes, hangtags, labels, sleeves and wraps Updated homepage website with bi monthly promotion linked to email blast sent to customers using Constant Contact Maintained an updated artwork calendar and image calendar for incoming samples and completed images formatted for print/web In-house photographer for all product as samples arrive Photographer assistant on all inventory photographed and retouched for 376 page yearly sales catalogue Arranged, organised and reformatted all images for catalogue using Indesign Verified business license and approved new customer wholesale requests Bony Levy Los Angeles, CA Accounts Receivable & Photographer Retoucher 2016-2019 Balanced Weekly Accounts Receivable Maintained a running log of all open and scheduled invoices per net terms Updated Sales Team of previous week’s sales ranking for each territory Photographed product and style shots for website / linesheets / social media Created product style shots as well as model shots Managed extensive image library insuring that all images were optimized for print or web Volar Fashion/ Grand Apparels (HK) LTD Los Angeles, CA Production / Account Manager 2014 –2015 Attended meetings with Just Fab, Forever 21 and Torrid buyers to show the new sample line and discuss any modifications Transcribed new men’s apparel development from Forever 21 Men’s Buyer to our manufacturing team in China Managed new development, production, account management and sales for 3 categories Accessories and Apparel Implemented a company standard procedure to help detail and meticulously document any private label changes Successfully produced a TOP sample that garnered a PO of 5,000 units per colour-way Created graphic flyers, photographed samples, Photoshoped and generated line sheets to be distributed to other showrooms Account Manager on busy e-commerce site No More Rack, uploaded product ID’s, adhed to image specs, troubleshot customer return issues, liaisoned between warehouse and e-tailer, updated inventory per sales Other daily responsibilities ranged from Administrative support, sample logging, shipping DHL International / FedEx Miss Morena Inc Los Angeles, CA Marketing and Logistics Manager 2013 – 2014 Created two WordPress websites for their Latin and US Line establishing social media pages and uploading new content Managed all Human Resources aspects of the US division hiring a sweater designer, partnering with a showroom at the New Mart and hiring an independent sales rep Collaborated with the sales rep on merchandising then photographed, photo shopped and designed all line sheets, graphic work and flyers for tradeshows market wk and online imagery Received Nordstrom PO’s through EDI software Nordstrom confirmed receipt, pack, ship and invoiced successfully Sole decision maker on any trouble shooting issues that arose from vendors and retailers in pre and post production Sold closeout inventory to Ross and DD’s Discount managed all aspects of sale, inventory management and shipping protocol Tyla Rae Los Angeles, CA Logistics and Office Management 2011 – 2013 Created and implemented standardized template forms to be used on all orders and inventory management Liaison between owners, sales reps and vendors on anything related to the pre / post production Followed up on PO making sure that packing slips/invoicing and inquires were addressed in a timely manner Logistically insured all orders were picked packed and shipped according to international and national vendor guidelines for flash sales and retailers. Revamped the website, blog management and daily social media update Photographed product line using recommended in-house photo studio containing 3 point lighting Colour correction and Photoshop work done on all 75 pieces ready to be used for press releases, one sheets Eastwest Clothing Los Angeles, CA Marketing/Graphic Design 2010 – 2011 Catapulted brands onto all social media platforms, wrote two diversely different blogs, created customized FB pages for each line, engaged and updated all social networking sites Photographed collections prior to market wk (every 6 wks), retouched photos and created layout for digital line sheets used by the showrooms and independent sales reps Collaborated development of new e–commerce site, communicated daily with freelance web designer on artistic and website functionality, insured tracking (Google Analytic/Alexa), meta data, links and content uploaded correctly Created creative materials press releases, tradeshows, in-store manuals, profile one sheets, editorial and e-mail blasts 1928 Jewellery Company Burbank, CA Marketing Manager 2009-2009 Managed all day to day activities and projects, oversaw three graphic designers and insured that all marketing objectives were concurrent to the marketing mix, advertising, sales and promotions Organized and built all aspects related to exhibit and trade show participation including exhibit design, floor plan, product display,merchandising, materials, service, logistics and budget Developed and implemented visual merchandising standards for all product lines including displays/display programs training manuals and TOC displays Art directed product photo shoots, print production, and editorial and web content Point Person between sales, suppliers and in house management informing all on markets, conditions and trends Executed direct response mail and e-mail campaigns for existing customer base Built relationships with tastemakers for product placement, fashion shoots and theatrical organizations French Craft Inc Los Angeles, CA Brand Manager 2006-2009 Developed and implemented operations infrastructure focusing on shipping, receiving, inventory and pricing Updated daily e-commerce site and followed through on customer service inquires and web orders Cold called target markets using database tools decision-maker for advertising, promotions and media expenditure Oversaw three Independent Reps ensuring monthly and quarterly sales projections were met Barneys NY & E-Shave New York, NY Account Management 2002-2004 Maintained and styled 300 clients through made to measure and Barneys in-store merchandise updated internal database Pinpointed niche market for E Shave skin care, pitched a grassroots brand awareness campaign in the hospitality market Merchandised and sold to 179 retailers and developed strong client relationships at Barneys NY, Niemen’s and Saks Collaborated with industry specialists at promotional trunk shows to create brand awareness Trade-shows Conceptualized, designed, and created new booths for tradeshows Extract, Spa Expo, The Accessories Show NY and The LA Gift Show, The Women’s Conference and The Stylemax Show Logistically delegated the shipping, packing, processing, storing and merchandising of 5000 giveaway books and chocolates while overseeing the booth set up and tear down for a 30,000 attendee Women’s Conference Event Established new sales leads while writing orders at Project and JCK Las Vegas ProBono Project Sunshine, MTV Movie Awards, VH1 Music Awards, GenArt Fashion Show, Renal Support Network, Dogs without Borders Mechanism Mac OSX, MS Office Suite, Adobe Cloud Photoshop, illustrator, In-Design, Premiere, HTML, EDI, SOS, SPS, SEO, ACT, QuickBooks, Genesys, Navision, Goldmine, WordPress, Photography, 3 point lighting |
