Siyabonga Tolashe
Visual Merchandise Specialist
Johannesburg,GP
Summary
Effective merchandising professional bringing demonstrated success in leveraging visual display prowess to express brand vision. Over 3 years of fashion industry experience. Quick-learning and creative with aptitude for surmounting challenges.
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Visual Merchandise Specialist
The Foschini Group
Johannesburg, Johannesburg North
05.2022 - Current
- Created look and feel of visual merchandising publications to better target specific audiences.
- Improved field teams' sales by coaching on merchandising techniques.
- Communicated visual merchandising information and standards via in-store training and regular meetings.
- Helped stores adapt spaces to accommodate merchandise within spatial constraints and inventory storage availability.
- Wrote merchandising guidelines for new product launch kits to keep teams on same page and effective.
- Innovated and simplified planograms and merchandising strategies to improve processes and results.
- Oversaw visual merchandising for new store openings and store collateral change-outs.
- Partnered with sales representatives and managers to coordinate delivery and merchandising schedule.
- Presented store update suggestions and layouts to management and stakeholders.
- Organized store merchandise racks by size, style and color.
- Developed merchandising strategy to efficiently move overstock.
- Monitored and replenished display inventory and restructured according to available stock.
- Managed aesthetically pleasing displays to showcase company products and increase sales.
- Supervised team of up to 10 merchandising employees and monitored adherence to company standards.
- Educated staff about coordinating clothing racks and related displays to boost effectiveness of promotions.
- Enhanced overall store appearance by applying careful consideration to product and display locations.
- Restructured company merchandising standards to increase customer traffic and product exposure.
- Promoted seasonal products and trends to move stock and prepare for incoming inventory.
- Organized and tracked departmental receipt flow for new and reordered merchandise.
- Received and processed stock into inventory management system.
Floor Supervisor
The Foschini Group
Johannesburg , Johannesburg North
03.2020 - 05.2022
- Established objectives to offer team members clear roadmap to help company achieve overall goals.
- Recruited and retained top talent, with focus on completing timely performance evaluations, providing positive feedback and rewarding superior performance.
- Reduced employee turnover with hands-on leadership and coaching.
- Created employee schedules to align coverage with forecasted demands.
- Met with management to discuss work plans and develop enhancements and strategies to achieve operational objectives.
- Strengthened merchandising and promotional strategies to drive customer engagement and boost sales.
- Trained team members in successful strategies to meet operational and sales targets.
- Held team meetings to gain feedback, provide updates and set policies.
- Oversaw employee performance, corrected problems and increased efficiency to maintain productivity targets.
- Used weekly financial data to analyze company growth and optimize operational strategies.
- Coached employees and trained on methods for handling various aspects of sales, complicated issues and difficult customers.
- Offered hands-on assistance to customers, assessing needs and maintaining current knowledge of consumer preferences.
Sales Associate
The Foschini Group
Johannesburg , Johannesburg North
11.2018 - 02.2019
- Engaged with customers to build rapport and loyalty.
- Helped customers locate products and checked store system for merchandise at other sites.
- Prepared merchandise for sales floor by pricing or tagging.
- Solved customer challenges by offering relevant products and services.
- Maintained calm demeanor and professionally managed issues in busy, high-stress situations.
- Accurately processed POS transactions, returning coin, currency, payment cards and receipts to customers.
- Enhanced product presentation and promotional material displays, working alongside retail representatives.
- Organized racks and shelves to maintain store visual appeal, engage customers and promote specific merchandise.
- Grew sales and boosted profits, applying proactive management strategies and enhancing sales training.
- Trained and developed new hires in company processes, product knowledge, customer service and selling techniques.
- Supervised changing rooms, rehanging unwanted merchandise and supporting loss prevention initiatives.
- Provided positive first impressions to welcome existing, new and potential customers.
- Increased sales by offering advice on purchases and promoting additional products.
- Greeted customers, offered assistance in finding requested items and carried merchandise to checkout line.
- Educated clients on current promotional offerings and products using persuasive selling tactics.
- Maintained records related to sales, returns and inventory availability.
Education
Diploma - Human Resources Management
Boston City Campus & Business College
Johannesburg - Braamfontein 02.2016 - 10.2019
Skills
Corporate visual standards
undefinedTimeline
Visual Merchandise Specialist
The Foschini Group
05.2022 - Current
Floor Supervisor
The Foschini Group
03.2020 - 05.2022
Sales Associate
The Foschini Group
11.2018 - 02.2019
Diploma - Human Resources Management
Boston City Campus & Business College
02.2016 - 10.2019
Similar Profiles
Romena Nicole AbrahamsRomena Nicole Abrahams
Cybersecurity Intern - Security Operations Center (SOC) at The Foschini GroupCybersecurity Intern - Security Operations Center (SOC) at The Foschini Group
Vuyelwa JamesVuyelwa James
Sales Representative at The Foschini GroupSales Representative at The Foschini Group
Anathi MginyanaAnathi Mginyana
Procurement support consultant at The Foschini GroupProcurement support consultant at The Foschini Group