Gwen Kwong
Merchandise Manager ( Beauty, Health, Furniture and Textiles)
Summary
Merchandise Manager ( Beauty, Color Cosmetic and Textiles) Over 20 years of merchandising experiences with MNC and APAC suppliers. Sourcing suppliers globally per their R&D ability and factory audit compliance Certified Project Management Institute member (ID-8307571) Collaborating with buyers, vendors, and QA to achieve the company goals Experience in workforce management and staff coaching. Innovative Merchandising Manager offering 20 of experience in leveraging technology and data to manage broad selection of merchandise. Successful in managing inventory to provide detailed data for successful purchasing selections. Proficient in using technology to drive sales with knowledge of e-commerce and online sales techniques.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Merchandise Manager
Hush Home Hong Kong Limited
01.2021 - Current
- Hush Home is a start-up company founded by young couple, selling mattresses, furniture, and bedding in Hong Kong online and offline
- My role is a Merchandise Manager, need to supervise the Technical Developer and Supply Chain Specialist
- Product Category: Mattress fabrics, Babe Mattress, Bedding, Bed Frames, Pillows, Babe Bedding and Baby Crib
- Key Achievement
- Successfully developed first” Foam free” natural Latex mattress in Hong Kong and a baby line even the sourcing activity was restricted by Covid-19
- Job Responsibilities:
- Coordinating with external parties and implementing merchandising strategies according to bedding trends and top management preferences
- Conduct competitors’ study and product review to understand market dynamics and identify opportunities for company
- Driving and coordinating new product development projects, from conceptual ideas to product launch
- Sourcing new suppliers online during pandemic period to replace unfit suppliers
- Support the company to prepare budgets on turnover and margin for each category
- Communicating with the marketing and sales teams any new products in the market, and providing the sales kits to streamline the selling process
- Analysing the sales performance of each category and understand the customer feedbacks
- Providing regular updated trends of each products in global markets and giving the insights to company how to keep pace with the world
- Frame the outlook and colorway of the products for the design team and manage the suppliers to execute the designs to speak with the trends and customer needs
- Oversee Supply Chain Specialist and QA to manage the daily operation in the cost-effective way
- Designed displays to deliver interactive, engaging, and memorable store experiences for shoppers
- Reviewed customer feedback to identify trends and improve product selection
- Collaborated with internal stakeholders to create timely and accurate purchase orders
- Developed and tracked metrics to measure supplier performance and cost savings
- Completed monthly profit and loss performance reports
- Negotiated pricing and terms with vendors to secure best value for company
- Cultivated strong relationships with vendors to maintain and improve levels of customer service
Assistant Merchandise Manager
Li & Fung Sourcing Ltd
07.2017 - 07.2020
- LF sourcing is a buying agent in Hong Kong and established over hundreds of years
- Being a buying agent, we provide the bridges between customers and suppliers, to streamline the merchandising process
- The scope includes arranging buyer meetings, educating suppliers to fulfil buyers ‘sourcing requests, order processing, audit and lab testing follow-up etc
- Product Category: Makeup brushes, Beauty massages, Makeup blenders, Color Cosmetics, Nail polishes, Toiletries, Candles, Toys, home décor and seasonal items
- Key Achievement
- Promoted to Assistant Merchandise Manager from Senior Merchandiser in 2018 because I successfully brought two new account on board, and the turnover jumped from USD80k to USD 4 million
- Job Responsibilities:
- Providing strategies to customers, make sure vendors and customers have win-win business relationship
- Following up client enquiries in 24 hours and improvising different solutions to clients
- Regularly travelling to China, evaluate production lines and showrooms, providing right pricing information and samples with right customer backgrounds to suppliers
- Liaising with suppliers to achieve right price level and on time full shipment
- Updating the worldwide trends for the latest Beauty items & Beauty Accessories
- Managing buying trips, calling out samples and motivating vendors to promote their products
- Training associate in China to work as a full team.
- Analyzed industry trends to develop relevant offerings
- Bult positive relationships with vendors for consistent and reliable supply of products
- Motivated and mentored merchandise team to achieve high performance and job satisfaction
- Negotiated pricing and terms with vendors to secure best value for company
- Scrutinized purchasing data to identify areas for improvement and cost savings
Associate Project Manager
ASQUAN Limited
06.2012 - 07.2017
- Asquan Limited is a trading company located in Hong Kong and established in 2008 with a headquarter located in Belgium which has been operating over 30 years
- The major export markets are Germany, USA & Australia with long-term business cooperation with many German retailers and buying offices such as Tchibo, Rewe, Rossmann, Muller, Aldi
- Product Category: Color Cosmetics, Nail polish, toiletries, Kitchenware, Stationary, Cosmetic bags
- Key Achievements
- Contributing to 30 new cosmetic items within one year for the company own brand successfully
- Job Responsibilities:
- Source and develop cosmetic and beauty products from start to end
- Educate suppliers to follow cosmetic regulations strictly and assure the positive results
- Regularly travelling to China, review the production lines onsite and evaluate their competency so as to provide the right suppliers to customers
- Liaising with suppliers to achieve right price level , payment term and on time full shipment
- Updating the worldwide trends for the latest Beauty items & Beauty Accessories and develop the prototype samples for customers
- Managing buying trips, calling out samples and motivating vendors to promote their products
- Training associate in China to work as a team.
- Maintained tactical control of project budgets and timelines to keep teams on task and achieve schedule targets
- Supported senior managers and department leaders by completing projects and problem resolution under tight budgets and schedule demands
- Updated customers and senior leaders on progress and roadblocks
- Devised and implemented attainable schedules, timelines and milestones for on-track projects
- Mentored and guided staff to enhance performance and exceed customer expectations
- Led team meetings to assess project progress and plan appropriately to meet delivery targets
- Documented project progress to fulfill project requirements and establish traceability
- Tracked project and team member performance closely to quickly intervene in mistakes or delays
- Monitored project progress, identified risks and took corrective action as needed
Merchandiser
KINDFORD Limited
10.2009 - 06.2012
- Kindford Limited is a trading company in Hong Kong, established in 2000
- Their major export market is France with long term business relationships with French retailers and buying offices i.e., Castorama, Brico Depot, Mr
- Bricolage
- Product Category: Bathroom Furniture, Basin, Bathtub, Toilet Bowl, Toilet seat, shower head, shower door, flooring
- Key Achievements:
- Successfully established 120 skus in sanitary ranges and develop four new accounts
- Job Responsibilities:
- In charge of product development, from sourcing suppliers to finish buyer samples (bronze sealed samples) upon receipt of product briefs
- Assuring every product complies EU testing requirements and educating the factory how to prepare right materials before mass production
- Travelling to Mainland China for fairs, buying trips and pre-factory audits
- Processing Sales confirmations and Purchasing orders
- Follow up of ad hoc enquiries and preparing quotations
- Negotiating the best prices and best order volumes with suppliers and buyers
- Managing the suppliers for on-time shipment and in full order quantities
- Arranging QC to inspect the products and checking the inspection reports in timely manner.
- Monitoring the factories to fix the defective points where our QC found during inspection.
- Computed material costs to align with operating budget, practicing economical measures
- Worked with customers to pack items according to specific desires and requirements
Product Manager
OFFICE MAX Inc
09.2008 - 03.2009
- OfficeMax Inc is the Office Stationery Department Chain store in North America which was the 3rd largest chain store in US
- Main market focuses on Canada and USA, and joint ventures with some chain stores in Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and Russia
- Product Category: Stationery and Desk Accessories
- Key Achievement:
- Successfully launched 100 new products for trend cap of Back-to-School program for 2009
- Job Responsibilities:
- Managing 4 mainlander subordinates
- Provide guidelines on how to finish projects to catch up delivery schedules
- Liaise with suppliers and the US buying team daily to achieve milestones in project timeline
- Coordinating with QA department and Logistic department intensively.
- Reviewed sales, customer concerns, and new opportunities to drive business strategy at weekly planning sessions
- Prioritized roadmap in order to achieve product goals and metrics
- Analyzed metrics to measure product performance
- Directed planning and budgeting efforts
- Maintained positive vendor relations to build strong partnerships
- Monitored market trends and competitor performance to update promotional strategies
- Managed product demonstrations and testimonials for performance evaluation
Assistant Merchandiser
DRAGONWIND INTERNATIONAL Limited
07.2005 - 10.2006
- Taiwan Based Trading Company, specialized in Gardening, Home furniture, Sundries, Seasonal items, and Footwear with markets in UK, France, Spain, Germany, Sweden, and Austria
- Product Category: Man Shoes, Woman shoes, Children shoes
- Job Responsibilities:
- Following up shipments, booking inspection and Lab testing for every order
- Processing quotation and Sales confirmation
- Assisting two senior merchandisers when on business trip
- Preparing showroom for buyer visiting
- Established strong vendor relationships to maintain and support business
- Removed damaged, out-of-code, not-in-set and discontinued items from displays
- Monitored inventory levels and kept adequate stock in product displays on sales floor
- Answered customer questions regarding store merchandise, department information, and pricing
- Placed orders for merchandise consistent with quality, quantity and other specification requirements
Assistant Merchandiser
KINGFISHER ASIA HONG KONG Limited
10.2002 - 04.2005
- Buying offices of B&Q UK, Castorama in France, and Hornbach in Germany with categories ranging from Electrical items, Decorative tools, Construction, DIY, Gardening Furniture, and Sanitary items
- Product Category: DIY tools, Window Blinds, Wooden Flooring, Curtain Pole, Roller blinds
- Key achievement:
- Promoted to Assistant Merchandiser from Category Assistant as I supported the DIY team to grow their fullness and got compliment from Headquarter
- Job Responsibilities:
- Following up shipments, booking inspection and Lab testing for every order
- Assisting team when senior merchandiser and merchandiser are on business trip
- General administrative support
- Established strong vendor relationships to maintain and support business
- Removed damaged, out-of-code, not-in-set and discontinued items from displays
- Inspected merchandise for quality and arranged proper display location on floor
- Generated weekly, monthly and quarterly sales reports to highlight milestones and activities
- Established relationships with vendors to secure competitive pricing and discounts
- Sourced new vendors in effort to boost range of products offered in store locations while reducing costs through strategic contract negotiations
- Negotiated contracts with vendors for cost-effective purchasing terms
- Placed orders for merchandise consistent with quality, quantity and other specification requirements
Education
Project Management Professional Certificate (PMP) -
Project Management Institute
Hong Kong 04.2023 - 04.2023
Harvard Manage Mentor Courses -
Harvard Manage Mentor Under Li & Fung
Hong Kong 01.2020 - 07.2020
Passed the SA8000 audit training “TUV Standard Interpretation & Internal Auditor Course”Being Member of Civil Aid Services (CAS) -
TUV
China 03.2001 - 09.2003
Diploma - Media Techniques ( Television And Video Make-Up)
City & Guilds
Hong Kong 02.2002 - 06.2002
BSc (Hon) - Environmental Science And Management
City University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong 01.1999 - 01.2002
Skills
Budgeting
Planning
NegotiationProduct DevelopmentSales AnalysisMS Offices, Vlook up, Pivot Table, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word (including Chinese word processing)
Promotional planning
Retail display setup
Inventory management
Procurement expertise
Reporting knowledge
Profit and loss understanding
Data analysis understanding
Trend Analysis
Account management
Vendor sourcing
Process Development
Contract Negotiation
Strategic planning
Excellent Communication
Merchandising
Self-Motivated
Additional Information
- OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS , Achieved the WSET’s Level 2 Award in Wines in 2016
Timeline
Project Management Professional Certificate (PMP) -
Project Management Institute
04.2023 - 04.2023
Merchandise Manager
Hush Home Hong Kong Limited
01.2021 - Current
Harvard Manage Mentor Courses -
Harvard Manage Mentor Under Li & Fung
01.2020 - 07.2020
Assistant Merchandise Manager
Li & Fung Sourcing Ltd
07.2017 - 07.2020
Associate Project Manager
ASQUAN Limited
06.2012 - 07.2017
Merchandiser
KINDFORD Limited
10.2009 - 06.2012
Product Manager
OFFICE MAX Inc
09.2008 - 03.2009
Assistant Merchandiser
DRAGONWIND INTERNATIONAL Limited
07.2005 - 10.2006
Assistant Merchandiser
KINGFISHER ASIA HONG KONG Limited
10.2002 - 04.2005
Diploma - Media Techniques ( Television And Video Make-Up)
City & Guilds
02.2002 - 06.2002
Passed the SA8000 audit training “TUV Standard Interpretation & Internal Auditor Course”Being Member of Civil Aid Services (CAS) -
TUV
03.2001 - 09.2003
BSc (Hon) - Environmental Science And Management
City University of Hong Kong
01.1999 - 01.2002