Louise Watling, Project Manager

Louise Watling

Project Manager

Echo House

Location
United Arab Emirates - Dubai
Education
Bachelor's degree, Marketing with Business Studies
Experience
12 years, 8 months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :12 years, 8 months

Project Manager at Echo House
  • United Kingdom - London
  • April 2017 to March 2019

I joined Echo House who are a print and production design led agency focused in the luxury goods and retail market. My role was to oversee all brand launches from my client Coty’s portfolio, making sure all campaigns were within budget and to scheduled timeframes.
Accountable for:
- Developing a detailed project plan to track my progress for each campaign and to plan ahead my production schedule and budgets per launch and annual marketing calendar.
- Built a strong face to face relationship with the client, always meeting up on a monthly basis to discuss budgets, marketing campaigns, visuals and glorifiers for each new launch according to their brand guidelines and focuses.
- Always asserting myself and organising meetings with in house teams and line managers to discuss project timescales and ensured resource availability and relocation were achieved for a smooth outcome with each launch.
- Liaise with all visual merchandising and in store teams in preparation for the launch of a campaign and also to detail new POSM material in line with regional requirements across all visual team’s territories.
- Created a store database with clear record of all counter, different VM types and visual specifications.
- Coordinating with client’s head office team members to create and maintain comprehensive project documentation in advance of new projects, budgets and new openings to ensure timely availability of needed POSM material in each door.
- Always reviewing individual brand budgets and planning ahead to avoid massive budget overruns with a new launch. - Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with third parties and vendors.

Project Manager at Vision On Design
  • United Kingdom - London
  • April 2016 to February 2017

I joined Vision On Design who are a retail design agency to oversee all aspects of the management, development and delivery of client communication- from customer relationship and strategic development, through to briefing and execution of every project. I collaborated with Dalziel and Pow to oversee the project management, design and production of Missguided first flagship store. Also, project managing and working with in house designers on new visual concepts for Dorothy Perkins windows and in store props. Amongst working on smaller projects and supporting other project managers on all brand replacement projects for high profile brands in the UK and internationally.
Accountable for:
- Working with in house designers on conceptual designs for windows, props and in store installations.
- Responsible for the delivery of designated projects, on time, to specification and to budget. Ensuring deadlines were communicated and met following a defined process.
- To make sure that budgets were managed effectively, maximising opportunities to maintain and improve margin.
- Identified the need for proactive ideas on accounts with thorough research and strategic thinking.
- Effectively oversaw the entire delivery and execution process of the client’s brief to the highest quality.
- Agreeing on critical paths and making sure all milestones are met with an effective timing plan.
- Attending meetings and briefings with the client as requested. To take all relevant dimensions and photographs, agree programme of works and key dates with the client.
- Liaising with suppliers, carriers, couriers and any other associated 3rd parties as required.
- Raising purchase orders and quotes with external suppliers and clients.

Freelance Visual/Operational Support at Burberry
  • United Kingdom - London
  • November 2015 to February 2016

I joined Burberry on a freelance basis to help support the display and operations manager providing support from their head office on a daily basis. Liaising with senior visual management, freelance visual merchandisers and showroom managers ensuring all daily projects were completed on time and to standard.
Accountable for:
- Based in head office providing daily admin support for visual and events team.
- Provided strong organisational skills, strong attention to detail and solid understanding of process throughout a projects lifespan.
- Coordinating with senior VM manager, freelance visual merchandisers and showroom manager making sure head office showroom is set up on time and to standard for global brand buy and event meetings.
- Working closely with external crew members making sure planogram layout of fixtures and mannequins are set up correctly and within time frame.
- Carrying out daily meetings with the visual operations manager and global head of VM making sure all daily tasks are completed.
- Liaising with photographers and showroom team supporting the photo shoots for trend looks and images for visual guidelines
- Setting up areas for events such as promotional launches and fashion shows.

Regional Visual Manager at Sharaf Retail (Forever 21)
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • April 2013 to May 2015

I joined Forever 21 to partner with the Visual Head, based in Head Office and on the Field I was tasked with improving the conceptual thinking and quality of visual output across all of GCC region. My visual experience has lead the company towards new ways of developing store brand development, visual training and importantly for the team to increase their commercial awareness.
Was Accountable for:
- Supporting all sale driven programs by implementing the right visual strategy across the GCC region.
- Followed the monthly calendar making sure all stores are consistent on their visual presentation helping to exceed customer expectations each and every time they visit the store across the GCC region.
- Working closely alongside marketing supporting all POS and window installation throughout new territories and Middle East region. Also helping the team to come with new ideas to enhance the brands recognition i.e. promotions, press releases and events throughout stores.
- Coordinated with marketing managing small to medium sized events, leading all on site production.
- Working closely alongside in-house and external marketing teams to often help style and collect trend pieces for events, including fashion shoots and various press releases.
- Implemented mock shop layouts to create visual presentation guidelines across GCC region on minor changes made to the US directives and seasonal events such as Eid and Ramadan.
- Teaming with projects to identify and amend store designs on new openings throughout ME, UAE, Russia, Australia and South Africa
- Attentive in overseeing contractors whilst on site for refurbishments and new store territories. Experience in expecting and drafting the final punch list and close to detail and budget.
- Showing the team hands on approach to maximise sales and visual impact through optimal arrangement of tables, walls and mannequins while upholding free hand, visual directions and commercial thinking.
- Lead training workshops on visual merchandising throughout a monthly basis and seasonal floor set training workshop 4
times in the year with 80 members attending. Providing them with hands on approach and gaining their knowledge on the
visual standard.
-Provided strong administrative skills whilst in Head Office, updating the diary frequently, booking travel arrangements for teams travelling to other territories. Raising PO invoices and working to budget.
- Work closely with buying, merchandise and planning team to monitor and manage the impact of new lines, best sellers and ageing stock throughout stores.
- Support with hiring, staffing, retention, training and development of talented, responsible of team.
- Collaborate with Visual Head and General Manager to integrate both operational and visual objectives.
- Lead and looked over a team of 40 visual merchandisers across the GCC region.
- Maintained and met budgets for all instore visual displays and installations.
-Placed and tracked orders across all of GCC regions sent from USA and local suppliers.
- Coordinated with logistics, planning, projects, operations and marketing on a daily basis.

Visual Merchandising Manager at Brands
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • June 2012 to April 2013

In 2012 I had joined Brands in order to help evolve their visual merchandising and operations department. Based in head office and on the field I helped put together a new retail strategy, improving the companies departments and their commercial understanding. Liaising very closely with the owner, I was able to build and improve on a new brand identity for the company.
Was accountable for:
- Implemented a new visual merchandising concept throughout Brands stores across the GCC region.
- Designed and implemented seasonal window concepts in preparation for season and promotional launches.
- Managed the development of creative and innovative Visual Merchandising solutions for the company to maximise market share.
- Enhanced the marketing program for Brands by executing a wide variety of details and executions that involved direct mail, SMS, email broadcast campaigns, marketing events, public relations, customer communications, media advertisement, promotions and other marketing plans to help build the companies recognition.
- Planned and managed visual merchandising tasks to minimise expenditure and maximise productivity within the allocated
budget.
- Co-ordinated with store operations, projects in determining specific visual merchandising needs for conceptualisation and
design of visual merchandising solutions such as fixtures, images and point of sales materials.
- Planned and developed the visual merchandising calendar for the company.
- Carried out administrative responsibilities in head office, providing diary management for the owners, raising invoice orders on new products and booking travel arrangements when needed.
- Put together fashion events for existing and new clients/customers. Negotiating and sourcing venues, caterers, music and decorations all to timeframe and budget.
- Managed construction and documentation of in store creatives and window guidelines
- Planned and ensured development of new season and brand update store set ups.
- Worked closely with external contractors to improve on existing and new planogram layouts on stores to improve the interior, branding and spacing requirements. Had experienced inspecting and drafting the final punch list and close out of all their stores to detail, time frame and budget.

Visual Merchandiser at Esprit
  • United Kingdom
  • September 2011 to February 2012

•Implementing the brand visual strategy throughout Oxford Street and other stores around the Greater London Area.
•Dealing with suppliers in order to effectively execute the implementation of in store décor, product display, events, product launching in compliance with the visual merchandising guidelines.
•On a regular basis, liaised with store managers, merchandisers, buyers and the marketing teams. Always keeping them updated with the relevant changes going on throughout the stores.
•Work closely with conversion, analysing sale reports, turnover, value of purchase and active sale. Overall, helping to gather relevant analyst information and creating reports that can work well to achieve commercial sales.
•Dealing with inventory, by handling the flow and placement of merchandise in the store
•Implemented a visual merchandising plan and strategy as per the guidelines that were launched every two weeks.
•Ensured consistency across all visual merchandising planning around the London Area. Supporting the annual time line/critical path planning for new season set up and brand update activity.
•Styling mannequins to season trends, implementing window designs and in store displays.
•Trained staff on a daily basis regarding new campaigns and season trends. Teaching them new ways to merchandise and visualise how the product should inspire the consumer.

Visual Merchandiser at Debenhams
  • United Kingdom
  • August 2008 to September 2011

• Reporting to the Visual Manager, ensuring that Debenhams brand identity and presentation standards in both windows and in store were achieved consistently and creatively. Implementing the designs and plans created by the visual merchandising manager and the creative director.
• Ensured brand integrity was maintained at all times with use of graphics and equipment. Work with Visual manager and in store Merchandisers to decide on layout, implementation of merchandising guidelines and identified creative and visual solutions that are commercial for Debenhams marketplace.
• Monitoring sale and inventory reports in order to help improve new concepts. Overall carrying out research on other competitors, consumer activities and items per an active sale.
• Focused on styling techniques that are in line with today’s current trends.
• Liaising with Head office to help implement in store events. Improving sales and building a bigger consumer profile group. Doing so, conduct research based on lifestyle concepts and trends, as well as store and/or regional attributes.

Administrator at NSPCC
  • United Kingdom
  • March 2008 to August 2008

• Answered calls, take messages and direct calls as appropriate
• Ensured the displays of Society Literature are maintained and up to date by informing the Publications and Information department
• Making sure all databases were kept up to date.
• Helping to deal efficiently with budgets and accounts throughout my team and NSPCC as a whole.
• Helped out on a volunteer basis with In House PR team
• Implementing reports through the monitoring of research and active calls

Account Executive (Work Experience) at VML
  • United Kingdom
  • June 2007 to November 2007

• Identified key decision makers and influences within a business and then engaged them.
• Regularly updated senior managers of progress or area of action.
• Maintained and updated administrative systems accurately.
• Researched clients business strategies, markets, competitive landscape and operating methods
• Developed strong relationships with clients, delivering all their needs.
• Prepared quotations and following up on any quotes given.
• Helped on pitches to current and prospective clients.

Assistant to Marketing Manager (Work Experience) at SC Johnson
  • United Kingdom
  • April 2004 to September 2004

• Liaised closely with design and creative team, via internally or externally helping to cut and implement new and existing ideas. Developed good teamwork and negotiation skills, whilst dealing with general admin office duties.
• Dealt with clients with tact and diplomacy developing good interpersonal skills, helping to provide information with regards to new campaigns that were being implemented within the company.
• Researched, tagged advertisement and company reviews via magazines such as Campaign, Marketing and Marketing weekly.
• Liaised with PR agencies on a day to day basis, ensuring advertising communication was rolled out on time and efficiently
• Helped out on press releases for new brand launches/promotions
• Created reports that measured the performance of how well the brands were doing once launched on to the market.

Junior Editor (Volunteer) at CLAPA
  • United Kingdom
  • May 2003 to August 2003

•Help with organizing the input of the magazine, which included competitions, CLAPA facts, events which the Cleft lip association put together such as summer camps for young adults born with cleft lip and palate.
•Edit and proof read all incoming letters, making sure they are ready for next season’s magazine.
•Provided useful information for young adults about cleft lip and palate.
•Got involved with press releases, building a bigger establishment for the charity.

Education

Bachelor's degree, Marketing with Business Studies
  • at Canterbury Christ Church University
  • May 2007

Modules include: Marketing Principles and Practice, Marketing Analysis, Managing Business information, Foundations of Management, Project Management, Buyer Behaviour, Retail Marketing, Marketing, planning and Strategy, Marketing communications, Business Ethics, Business and Management Behaviour. Overview of the course: Developed high creativity with excellent research and interpretation skills. Understood the scope of tasks undertaken in marketing and the range of different organisational situations in which marketing is applied. Provided an integrated view embracing both theory and practice. Pointed out applications of behaviour science within work organizations for management action.

Specialties & Skills

Organising Planning ahead Mentoring
Design Development
Product Launching
Visual Merchandising
Microsoft Office
Indesign
MS Office
Analyst
Researcher
Reports
Trainer
Planner
Communicator

Social Profiles

Personal Website
Personal Website
louisewatling.co.uk

Languages

English
Expert