Project Manager and Visual Merchandiser
Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics - Mena
Total years of experience :14 years, 9 Months
Initially joined the MENA business from the UK as Assistant Project Manager and promoted to the current position due to exceptional performance.
Reporting to the Company Director and leading a team of 6, responsible for leading, project managing and implementing the visual merchandising strategy of Lush in the MENA region, including new shop/outlet openings, relocation's and refurbishments in line with corporate global brand guidelines. Also accountable for the day-to-day management and supervision of the team.
Key Responsibilities & Accomplishments:
• Successfully Led, managed and project managed the team to deliver key projects relating to store openings and merchandising throughout the MENA Region on schedule, on time and on budget; notable highlights include:
o Lush’s pioneering green fit out shop in the MENA region.
o 24 fit-out projects in the MENA region 7M retail market including expansion into a new market for Lush in Bahrain.
o Expansion and refurbishment of the new Lush head offices in Dubai and Jeddah.
o Acting in an advisory capacity for Lush’s franchise partners for 8 store openings in Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Kuwait and KSA.
• Reduced the time frames for shop fit outs through effective and proactive project management of all fit outs.
• Overhauled and streamlined merchandising quantities in MENA stores.
• Boosted mystery shopper scores through the creation of VM (Visual Merchandising) training sessions, online learning tools and frequent shop visits.
• Won internal recognition through achieving 5-Star and 4-Star accreditation's from Majd Al Futtaim Malls for ‘Green Sustainable Fit out’ standards.
Reported to the Property Team Project Manager and working within a team of 3, responsible for collaborating with the Project Management Team to update and re brand the Lush portfolio of 102 retail stores throughout the UK and Ireland in line with the Capex budget. Also accountable for undertaking Ska (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) assessments for the outlets.
Key Responsibilities & Accomplishments:
• Collaborated with the Design Teams to increase and adopt green standards and processes for all outlet fit outs.
• Successfully assessed outlets across the UK and 1 in Nuremburg (Germany) resulting in the awarding of ‘Gold’ or ‘Silver’ Ska Green Accreditation status.
• Cooperated with the project Team to successfully complete key projects including opening of 6 Lush Spas and over 80 refits, relocation's, and new store openings across the UK.
• Spearheaded the initiative to implement environmental best practices across all outlet fit outs and to ensure consistency of application of the practices by project managers and designers through the creating and facilitating of training workshops to align new environmental standards with key brand guidelines.
• Managed the Capex budget for approximately 25/30 tweaks/remodels per annum.
Reported to the Company Director, responsible for creating conceptual designs, architectural drawings and space planning for global High Street brands including Lush, Burberry, Levi’s, Coast, Oasis, and Space NK.
My degree was graded on a three point mark. I received a 2:1 just under a first class honors. In my time at university I learnt all the skills required for Interior design such as Auto CAD, Photoshop, 3D Max, free hand drawings and sketching skills, detailed hand drawn skills. building technology and model making.