Lora Meni

Multifaceted role at R.M.Williams, responsible for maximising the profitability of the retail and wholesale marketplace across ANZ and International markets.

Strategically managed the property portfolio and supervised store development and construction to optimise ROI and enhanced customer experience.

Key Achievements:

• Leveraged best-in-class software and collaborated with global location intelligence and planning teams, and landlords to identify high-potential locations for new stores, conducted in-depth market analysis and evaluation of existing property portfolio for optimisation and growth opportunities.
• Offered strategic property analysis and crafted business cases and feasibilities, presented to C-suite leadership and board members, securing approvals and capital funding.
• Facilitated the onboarding of a new architectural firm, suppliers, and shopfitters to deliver a premium new store design concept. This initiative led to the creation of three flagship stores in Sydney, Adelaide, and Perth, a cutting-edge customer service facility, a wholesale showroom, and seven additional projects encompassing new stores, relocations, and refurbishments (ranging from 131-460mw).
• Formulated a 5-year ANZ network optimisation strategy.
• Managed entire process for design documentation and fit-out projects, expedited project turnaround, and standardised shopfitter and vendor contracts to ensure consistent high quality while managing internal risk and safety controls.

Autonomous role representing Turner Bros. Furnishings, while working on a remote resort development in the Maldives. I led the delivery and installation of high-end window furnishings during the construction of the luxury Ritz Carlton and Patina Resorts.

Key Achievements:

• Successfully managed a multinational team of up to 12 skilled tradespeople, establishing a remote workshop to fabricate and assemble window furnishings for 200+ villas and common areas.
• Coordinated complex international logistics, ensuring timely delivery of materials and adherence to stringent quality and design standards.
• Collaborated closely with architects, mechanical and electrical engineers to integrate window treatments seamlessly into the overall construction schedule.
• Prepared detailed project reports, work method statements, and risk assessments. These updates kept Project Directors and stakeholders informed of our progress, with projects delivered on time and within budget, exceeding client expectations.

This role allowed me to utilise my extensive experience in project management, team leadership and collaboration to contribute significantly to the success of two luxury resort development projects.

Head of department role, driving property development, store design, and enhancing the overall store experience across an extensive network of over 150 stores.

Reported directly to the GM Omni-Channel, responsible for the entire lifecycle of property and store development, from site selection to management of capital budgets, store design, space planning, fit-out, facilities management, procurement of fixtures and fittings and visual merchandising.

Key Achievements:

• Successfully delivered 34 retail projects across various store formats, including Sheridan Studios, Main Channel Boutique Stores, Outlets, and Concessions, with store sizes up to 750m2.
• Fostered team growth by providing guidance and training to two direct reports.
• Collaborated with peers across Hanes Group to streamline processes and costs related to repairs and maintenance, resulting in substantial savings of $200k during FY2018-19.
• Redesigned Sheridan’s Outlet stores to improve store presentation, enhance visual merchandising flexibility, and optimize stock capacity, transforming customer experience. This initiative led to significant cost savings of $400k in build capital costs through the offshore procurement of fixtures.
• Nominated by senior leadership to join Lean ‘Continuous Improvement’ team, to lead a supply chain project aimed at optimising merchandise delivery to stores.
• Established in-house photographic studio for the marketing team, leveraging the unique environment a heritage building.

Head of Department role, overseeing the store design and construction of over 650 stores across Australia and New Zealand for brands like OPSM and Sunglass Hut, reporting directly to the Property Director.

Key Achievements:

• Led a team of project managers, coordinators, and designers in a $20 million store network revitalization program, overseeing the planning and execution of 170 new store openings and refurbishments, injecting fresh energy into the customer experience.
• Developed and implemented rigorous brand guidelines across all physical retail channels to ensure a consistent and premium customer experience. This included the development of the flagship Sunglass Hut store on Bourke Street, Melbourne, which served as a benchmark for luxury and style.
• Worked closely with 35 luxury brands such as Chanel, Prada, Bvlgari and Tiffany & Co. to ensure consistent and high-quality product displays in-store, requiring meticulous attention to detail in delivering high-end finishes and adhering to specific brand design requirements.
• Fostered strong collaborations with Luxottica’s international project and design teams, enabling the seamless integration of global best practices with local market needs in terms of store design, procurement, and fit-out.

Project Manager within the Real Estate Development team, overseeing large-scale retail transformation projects while maintaining operating store environments.

Key Achievements:

1. Managed an $18 million transformation of the DJs Miranda refurbishment (12,590m2 over 2 floors)

• Coordinated full demolition, landlord base build, structural works, and installation of high-quality materials, finishes and furnishings.
• Managed the end-to-end Construction Management process, engaging Tier 1 builders and trades.
• Collaborated with consultants across Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire (MEPF) and Structural Engineering disciplines, upgrading MEPF services for energy efficiency and compliance.
• Oversaw amenities upgrades, escalator installations, and lift upgrades.
• Ensured concession design submissions complied with David Jones brand guidelines.
• Scheduled shopfitter installations across all departments (e.g. apparel, beauty, footwear, homewares)
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams (Store Ops, IT, Risk, Facilities, VM, Merchandising).
• Obtained relevant certifications (CDC and OC) in alignment with BCA standards.

2. Managed a $12 million redevelopment of the David Jones Macarthur store (7,152m² over 3 floors).

• Managed similar responsibilities to the Miranda project, ensuring quality and adherence to program.

3. Managed a $5 million Brand Installation Relay Project involving brand installations and relocations across 10 David Jones stores in NSW over an 8-month period.

• Brands included Country Road, Witchery, Mimco, Seed, Sportscraft, Saba, Nine West, and PRL.
• Reviewed and approved brand design submissions.
• Coordinated brand’s joinery and fixture installations and associated knock-on and build works.

Client Relationship manager, fostering strong relationships across five brands - Katies, Millers, City Chic, Autograph, and Crossroads. I collaborated closely with General Managers, Heads of Retail, and Visual Merchandising Managers to successfully deliver new stores, store upgrades, and visual merchandising initiatives.

Key Achievements:

• Managed the design documentation and approval process with major landlords (over 30 plans).
• Oversaw procurement, logistics, and distribution of visual merchandising fixtures and fittings.
• Coordinated with internal and external project managers and shopfitters to ensure seamless project execution. This involved managing timelines, resources, and deliverables to ensure projects were completed on time and within budget.

Responsible for driving revenue growth, brand awareness, and market share through strategic planning and execution of VHA’s marketing, visual merchandising, and customer experience strategy.

Key Achievements:

• Led a team of 5 direct reports and a field force merchandising team across 187 retail/partner stores.
• Oversaw an $11.5 million operations budget.
• Served as the marketing representative lead on VHA’s Retail Transformation Project, upgrading 250 stores, resulting in significant sales increases (15-30%) and higher customer traffic (38%).
• Introduced an online Visual Merchandising planogram tool in collaboration with RBM Technologies (Boston, USA), involving system integration, data entry, testing, and training of store teams.
• Collaborated on new store design, optimising layout, merchandising hardware, and brand aesthetic.
• Implemented new product launches in partnership with the Go-to-market team.
• Produced promotional material and window graphics for in-store activations for the entire retail network.
• Developed and implemented visual displays, fixtures, and fittings, ensuring consistent brand representation. This involved overseeing prototyping, material testing, procurement, and delivery to stores.
• Recognized with several awards for my leadership and collaboration in evolving the retail channel; planning and execution of Samsung’s Tablet launch; and contribution to VHA’s Retail Transformation Project.

Project Manager at Bunnings in New Zealand, responsible for the delivery of new store fit-outs, store refurbishments, and category rollouts across the country. The stores varied in size from 3,000m² to 8,000m², and the budgets for these projects went up to $5 million.

Key Achievements:

• Successfully managed the completion of 2 new stores and 3 store refurbishments, along with multiple category rollouts. This involved tender management and engaging with suppliers and trade contractors.
• Handled finance administration, progress reporting, and ensured compliance and safety leadership of work and trade practices in line with relevant legislation and standards.
• Worked closely with cross-functional teams, including Bunnings’ retail operations, IT, and merchandising teams.

Visual Merchandising Manager role for Telstra’s marketing department, shaping customer experience through strategic visual merchandising and communications. My team and I designed floor plan layouts and planograms and set standards for in-store displays across Telstra’s 178 company-owned and licensed stores.

Key Achievements:

• Collaborated with vendors like Samsung to create impactful product launches and window displays, enhancing brand visibility and boosting customer engagement.
• Launched visual merchandising (VM) training programs, equipping store teams, Regional Managers, and Licensees with skills needed to excel in visual merchandising standards.
• Managed the procurement and delivery of fixtures and fittings, marketing collateral, and graphics installations, resulting in substantial cost savings of approx. $300k across 20 stores.
• National Store Opening coordinator, rolling out 50 licensed stores in one year, and 20 store refurbishments.
• Represented Telstra globally, leading a sales and service team of 50 staff at the Sydney 2000 Olympics & Paralympics Main Press Centre. Mission was to support the international accredited press in delivering their stories.