Caroline Thomson
West Pennant Hills,NSW
Summary
Effective merchandising professional bringing demonstrated success in leveraging visual display to express brand vision and maximum return on space. Over 20 years of retail industry experience. Quick-learning and creative with aptitude for surmounting challenges.
Creative Visual Merchandiser with expertise in overstock management and retail sales campaigns. Contributes unwavering work ethic and commitment to quality. Known for customer-focused initiatives and knowledgeable about latest trends.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Visual Merchandiser
Bambis Imports
04.2023 - Current
- Managing stock presentation for the Salt and Pepper brand in Myer stores across NSW
- Building relationships with Myer store teams to worl cohesively in prioritising promotional lines and product launches.
- Collaborating with store teams to optimise space within the pad and ensure ticketing is current and correct.
- Creating visual displays to highlight new and featured products, while consolidating ranges to improve customer shopability
- Monitoring store traffic and customer engagement to determine display effectiveness.
- Understanding the Myer promotional strategy and adapting merch guidelines to align with end of season/stocktake sales
- Reducing stock loss by implementing effective security measures within displays, ensuring high-value items were prominently yet securely showcased, or located close to the registers.
- Working alongside National Merchandising Manager, Shopfitting and IT to set up two new stand alone Salt and Pepper stores (Rhodes and Hurstville)
- Training and mentoring new staff
Office Manager
KW Real Estate
10.2021 - 11.2022
- Production of marketing material for open homes, in store window and TV display
- Production of weekly brochure displaying open homes for sale and rent
- Communicated effectively with owners, residents, and on-site associates.
- Streamlined rent collection processes, reducing late payments and improving overall revenue generation.
- Administered operations to handle needs of more than 300 tenants across 200 properties.
- Enhanced tenant satisfaction by promptly addressing concerns and resolving issues in a timely manner.
- Building relationships with local trades to negotiate best service deals for landlords
- Managing day to day office duties and supporting directors of the business.
- Preparing documentation for NCAT hearings
Space Optimisation Specialist
Woolworths Supermarkets
12.2019 - 12.2020
- Managing transition of categories into new engine
- Managing multiple stakeholders to ensure category reviews landed on time
- Analysing category insights to influence strategy and decisions throughout range review process
- Understanding capability of Planogram Generator and building action lists to deliver improved operating efficiencies for store, better on shelf availability for customers and optimised return for business
- Evaluation and improvement of processes covering both systems and people
- Managing multiple workflows and prioritising to ensure deadlines are met
- Influencing internal stakeholders to deliver required information in time, in order to meet deadlines.
Diversity & Inclusion Working Group
Woolworths Supermarkets
07.2017 - 07.2020
- Co-ordinating communication and events team including regular meetings, planning and execution of key events, presenting back to the total team at the monthly update
- Presenting to the leadership team at the sponsorship and enablement meetings
- Analysing survey data
- Evaluating feedback and driving initiatives as a result
- Eg Vacation Care
- Collaborating with fellow team leads.
Micro Space Planner (Impulse Food)
Woolworths Supermarkets
02.2019 - 11.2019
- Working closely with Category Manager throughout range review process
- Analysing insights to make strategic recommendations
- Managing deleted lines through monitoring SOH and flagging high risk lines with ACM so promotions can be loaded
- Negotiating with suppliers to improve operational efficiency for our stores – eg
- Merchandising products in SFP
- Managing multiple deadlines in line with CDS as well as additional projects
- Eg Simpler for stores
- Working with Customer First Ranging team to trial new concepts and layouts including post trial analysis to make recommendations on national roll out
- Change management - transitioning from SMART to JDA
- Process improvement – identifying opportunities for improvement as we continue to evolve through new systems and processes
- Building relationships with multiple stakeholders, internal and external, across various levels.
Assistant Category Manager (Secondment)
Woolworths Supermarkets
07.2018 - 01.2019
- Managing promotional program for the category
- Analysing insights and promotional performance to make strategic recommendations
- Supplier negotiations to ensure effective promotional program, first to market and margin accretive promotional funding
- Working closely with category manager on range review
- Managing exit of deleted lines and promotional launch of new lines
- Managing multiple deadlines and reprioritising accordingly
- Negotiating with peers to ensure space is secured in brochure
- Working end to end with multiple teams to deliver sales results through promotional planning
- Weekly meetings with forecasting and replenishment teams to ensure adequate stock availability
- Negotiating and claiming co-op for marketing activity
- Forecasting.
Micro Space Planner (Longlife Food)
Woolworths Supermarkets
11.2016 - 07.2018
- Working closely with Category Manager throughout range review process
- Analysing insights to make strategic recommendations
- Managing deleted lines through monitoring SOH and flagging high risk lines with ACM so promotions can be loaded
- Negotiating with suppliers to improve operational efficiency for our stores – eg
- Merchandising products in SFP
- Managing multiple deadlines in line with CDS as well as additional projects
- Eg Simpler for stores
- Working with Customer First Ranging team to trial new concepts and layouts including post trial analysis to make recommendations on national roll out
- Change management - transitioning from SMART to JDA
- Process improvement – identifying opportunities for improvement as we continue to evolve through new systems and processes
- Building relationships with multiple stakeholders, internal and external, across various levels.
Maternity Leave
Woolworths Group - Masters
12.2015 - 09.2016
Assistant Buyer
Woolworths Group - Masters
01.2014 - 12.2015
- Sales / GP / Inventory and marketing management
- Scan deal maintenance
- Product sourcing – local and import
- New Product Development
- Macro and micro space management
- Promotional and event planning and execution
- Multi-channel marketing
- Artwork and promotional design
- Competitor and market trend analysis
- Reporting presentation and analysis of Category KPI’s
- Data integrity (6000 sku’s)
- Store support
- Relationship and rapport building with internal and external stakeholders
- Product recalls/withdrawals/return to show – liaising with QA and store ops.
Marketing Co-ordinator
Woolworths Group - Masters
06.2012 - 05.2013
- Coordinating production of fortnightly catalogues
- Building relationships with external stakeholders, creative agency, photography studio
- Brief external agency on catalogue requirements, art direction and layout, and liaising through entire catalogue process to final sign off
- Brief external agency on photography requirements, co-ordinate and attend photo shoots
- Liaising with internal stakeholders, design studio, buying department, online
- Guiding in house studio with catalogue development and production
- Working closely with buying department to ensure all content is thorough, accurate and signed off in a timely manner
- Copy writing for project themes
- High attention to detail ‘final eyes’ before print
- Post production check and analysis.
Product and Marketing Manager – Homewares / Bedding
Domayne
11.2010 - 06.2012
- Provide category direction and support to 17 franchised stores
- Work closely with head of Visual Merchandising to ensure product ranges are selected in line with seasonal trends
- Manage purchasing budget
- Inventory management and reduction
- Brief and manage photography of products for advertising
- Monthly and seasonal catalogues to showcase product range
- Manage and execute corporate sales events across all main media channels
- Online campaign management
- Weekly EDM’s to database from concept to sign off
- Liaising with publishers to produce external magazine supplements
- Write creative briefs for catalogue and press advertising
- Write scripts for TV advertising
- Thorough proofing of multiple campaigns simultaneously, including catalogue, press, magazine, online, TV
- Reporting and analysis
- Delivering presentations to franchisees – 35+ people.
Product and Marketing Co-ordinator – White Goods & Small Appliances / Bedding
Domayne
07.2007 - 10.2010
- Assist product and marketing manager
- Range selection, allocation and order processing
- Store support and communication
- Co-ordinate advertising campaigns – catalogue, press, TV, radio, online
- Action price changes and new model updates
- Co-ordinate steering committee meetings
- Attend annual conference.
Visual Merchandiser
Domayne
04.2005 - 06.2007
- Visual merchandising across furniture, bedding and homewares
- Maintain a fresh and sophisticated look to reflect the brand and current season style trends
- Strategic merchandising to drive sales
- Liaise with franchisees on individual store requirements
- Worked both individually and in groups for store revamps.
Store sales and operations
Domayne
09.2003 - 04.2005
- Customer Service
- Sales
- Merchandising
- Store operations.
Education
Bachelor of Business Marketing -
University of Western Sydney
Parramatta CampusDiploma Visual Merchandising -
Ultimo Tafe
HSC -
Northholm Grammar
Skills
- Team player
- Marketing prowess
- Business acumen
- Vendor Management
- Marketing Strategy Development
- Analytical Problem Solving
- Exceptional interpersonal skills
- Relationships specialist
- Creative thinker
- Adaptable to change
Accomplishments
- Attending 2017 Women in Retail and FMCG Leadership Summit
- Achieved record breaking promotional sales results, through planning and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders - Supplier, Replenishment, Merchandise Manager, State Trading Managers, Marketing Team
- Presenting analysis and proposals to leadership team in Woolworths Group to gain endorsment for initiatives supporting Diversity and Inclusion.
Including:
- Launch of Vacation Care for Woolworths Support Office
- Project management of the production of two videos
1. Equal Opportunity - this video was launched on International Women’s Day 2018 and is now used as part of Inclusive Leadership training within Woolworths.
2. Flexible Working - Launched on Flexible working Day 2018 resulting in acceptance, understanding, and ultimately, our ability to successfully into a hybrid workplace
References
Provided on request
Timeline
Visual Merchandiser
Bambis Imports
04.2023 - Current
Office Manager
KW Real Estate
10.2021 - 11.2022
Space Optimisation Specialist
Woolworths Supermarkets
12.2019 - 12.2020
Micro Space Planner (Impulse Food)
Woolworths Supermarkets
02.2019 - 11.2019
Assistant Category Manager (Secondment)
Woolworths Supermarkets
07.2018 - 01.2019
Diversity & Inclusion Working Group
Woolworths Supermarkets
07.2017 - 07.2020
Micro Space Planner (Longlife Food)
Woolworths Supermarkets
11.2016 - 07.2018
Maternity Leave
Woolworths Group - Masters
12.2015 - 09.2016
Assistant Buyer
Woolworths Group - Masters
01.2014 - 12.2015
Marketing Co-ordinator
Woolworths Group - Masters
06.2012 - 05.2013
Product and Marketing Manager – Homewares / Bedding
Domayne
11.2010 - 06.2012
Product and Marketing Co-ordinator – White Goods & Small Appliances / Bedding
Domayne
07.2007 - 10.2010
Visual Merchandiser
Domayne
04.2005 - 06.2007
Store sales and operations
Domayne
09.2003 - 04.2005
Bachelor of Business Marketing -
University of Western Sydney
Diploma Visual Merchandising -
Ultimo Tafe
HSC -
Northholm Grammar
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