Isabella Ambrosini

Monki (H+M Division Alshaya) - Store Manager/Acting Area and Visual Manager
UAE, June 2019- Present

• I took on a completely new brand set up and launched it across the UAE and opened 2 stores in Abu Dhabi and the flagship later on in Mall of the Emirates, Dubai.

• Led a team of 20 across 2 stores in Abu Dhabi

• With a lack of any structure, I was privileged enough to work as the acting area manager, taking care of the operational side of the business as well as taking on all the visual merchandising management.

• Launching a new brand meant that I very quickly grew further understanding and skills of product management and mapping across the region as I worked closely with the merchandisers.

• I grew constant use of initiative and critical thinking which compelled
business ideas and opportunities for the brand in terms of PR, marketing, promotions, visual aesthetics and layouts.

• Completed the digital catalogue for Monki KSA and UAE during lockdown before setting and driving sales.

• Above all, bringing a huge energy into the stores and translating passion for the brand onto the team was the most rewarding of all. Seeing my staff enjoy their work whilst developing them for the next stages of their careers was an extremely important part of my leadership and building a brand culture.

Hugo Boss- Store Manager
Dubai Mall, Aug 2017- May 2019

• After a year at the company, I opened the new Hugo store in Dubai Mall, a new part of the company launching for the first time in the Middle East

• My store hit every single KPI target since opening Hugo, often finishing 20% above, including UPT and ATV. January 2019 saw a new record set of 2mAED for Hugo globally, which was a fantastic achievement considering the size of the store.

• I developed key understanding of different markets for the company’s different brands and particularly with Hugo, worked with the buyers in Germany to help future predictions

• After going from a team of 50 at Hollister before working at Boss, I quickly learnt how to manage effectively, the different dynamic of a team of 6 with 5 different nationalities

• Above all, Hugo quickly became an incredibly fast paced environment, in constant need to supply and meet the new customer demands and demographics. It taught me how to think on my feet, become resourceful and work very closely with my team to provide ultimate support for them in order to still reach our goals.

Assistant Manager: Abercrombie and Fitch/Hollister Co.
Southampton, UK June 2016 - June 2017

• After 6 years already at the company I decided to complete the Manager In Training Program, giving me an entry level understanding of retail operations and people management

• Managed a team of 50 (ages 17-24 years) with 4 other managers. Keeping my team motivated, energized and ensuring my passion for the brand translated to them was a key strategy for achieving the daily targets.

• Recruitment and training were both large aspects of this role

• Grasped an understanding of achieving high quality brand aesthetic as well as having a commercial mindset when merchandising.

• I was given the responsibility of providing weekly feedback reports on products, (then a new feature of the company), where I would communicate sales opportunities and trends in customer demands. I also gave weekly competitor insight into pricing, fabrics and designs

Design and Buying Intern: Ted Baker
Camden, London UK, June 2015 (3 week placement with 3 month module)

I was chosen by the company as the winner of a competition between students in first year and received an invitation to complete a three week internship working with the design and buying team. The director of womenswear at Ted Baker asked if they could use one of my prints for their S/S16 collection. ‘Floral Swirl’ was successfully sold internationally at Ted stores as well as retailers throughout the world including Selfridges. During my internship, I gained a wide range of skills. These included an understanding of the buying process; the critical pathway, meeting with suppliers, fabric sourcing and sorting, administration work, trend research, using WGSN, design and CADS, creating and presenting trend boards for trimming detail, fabric, mood and clothing. I also designed options for Ted’s 21st anniversary scarf print as well as a capsule collection covering all areas of design for womenswear.