Julia Filimon
New York City,NY
Summary
- Niche luxury industry professional offering a history of delivering impressive double-digit gains in both market share and revenues by (1) conceptualizing and executing specific trade and shopper marketing strategies, (2) devising innovative merchandising tactics, and (3) crafting and rolling out trade marketing programs specifically geared to support extremely high-quality luxury brands for national multi-door and independent retail partners - all with a meticulous focus on aligning company objectives with market dynamics across several distinct categories. Firm - yet fair - negotiator who builds long-term, trust-based relationships with vendors. Enjoy aiding sales teams in crafting persuasive pitch decks from fresh insights from brand marketing leaders and furnishing compelling materials to support sales endeavors - an action that gained product placement at one of the nation's largest niche retailers. Transparent leader who relishes the opportunity to motivate as many as 15 team members in delivering stellar performance by (1) role-modeling a profound belief in a company's product lines and (2) igniting their passion so they want to do the very best job possible. Relied upon by senior management and the C suite to oversee meticulous adherence to visual standards for in-store events and collaborative activations, notably with such esteemed partners as the NBA and MotoGP. Possess total fluency in Romanian language along with conversational ability in Spanish. Globally recognized for booth design and visual merchandising talents at - for example - the NRA trade show where booth visits improved 40% and prospect leads 20%, which led to a 15% increase in business opportunity conversions from prior years. Areas of Expertise include: Team-Building & Leadership
- Targeted Promotion, Incentive, Event, Display, & Point-Of-Sale (P-O-S) Material Creation Brand Strategizing, Image Refreshing, & Activation Planning
- Cross-Functional Team & Department Collaboration Staff Recruiting, Hiring, Mentoring, & Training
- Co-Op Marketing Strategy Development & Implementation Product Training Crafting & Execution
- Visual Merchandising
- Customer Acquisition & Retention Budget Planning, Management, & Adherence
- Strategic Planning & Program Development
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Trade & Shopper Marketing - North America (U.S. & Canada)
Victorinox - Swiss Army
New York City, NY
01.2017 - Current
- Initially hired as a Director of Visual Merchandising, Store Design, & Training - North America (U.S
- & Canada); promoted in 2022 to (a) retain the Visual Merchandising position and (b) step into this newly-consolidated role based on Company's desire to centralize and streamline all 5 product lines in order to deliver cohesive market messages
- Expanded market reach 30% and boosted revenues 10% by launching a series of trade marketing programs that focused on targeted incentive promotions, displays, and Point-Of-Sale (P-O-S) materials (in current blended role)
- Raised both market visibility and revenues 20% by devising and rolling out a co-op marketing for both National Accounts and Independent sales channels in collaboration with brand marketing leads (in current blended role)
- Completely eliminated across-the-board discount options at such high and low retailers as Bloomingdale's and Macy's by guiding a brand repositioning for watches and travel so they now attain premium standing in the marketplace
- Abolished siloed activity across all 5 product lines - an action that streamlined marketing communications so that global teams now operate in a cohesive manner (in current blended role)
- Effected a 20% reduction in retail visual and display budget expenditures by negotiating favorable terms on fabrication materials (as Director of Visual Merchandising, Store Design, & Training)
- Saved 60% on travel and entertainment costs by rebuilding Visual Merchandising Dept
- And onboarding 7 field team members, each accountable for strategic locations (as Director of Visual Merchandising, Store Design, & Training).
Head of Visual Merchandising & Training
Tissot Swatch Group
Weehawken, NJ
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Selected from hundreds of competitive applicants for this newly-created role at a time when Company was in the process of signing a multi-billion dollar contract with the NBA
- Tasked with updating all of Company's display concepts
- Exceeded performance forecast targets as much as 40%, having opened Company's first-ever brand store in the U.S
- On Fifth Avenue
- This initiative was so successful that it prompted 3 additional store openings in the World Trade Center, Times Square, and Wall Street, respectfully
- Inspired sales associates to spot - and act upon - up-selling opportunities, having breathed life into a progressive training program that educated sales associates on brand characteristics, features, and benefits.
Regional Visual & Display Manager (oversaw North America)
French Connection
New York City, NY
01.2011 - 01.2014
Area Visual & Display Manager
All Saints
Miami, FL
01.2010 - 01.2011
Visual & Display Manager
French Connection
Miami, FL
01.2006 - 01.2010
Education
AS in Fashion Merchandising -
Miami International University of Art & Design
Miami, FLBA in Liberal Arts -
Babes-Boylai University
Cluj-Napoca, Romania Certification in Adobe Suite -
Fashion Institute of Technology
New York City, NYSkills
- Team-Building
- Leadership
- Targeted Promotion
- Incentive
- Event
- Display
- Point-Of-Sale (P-O-S) Material Creation
- Brand Strategizing
- Image Refreshing
- Activation Planning
- Cross-Functional Team
- Department Collaboration
- Staff Recruiting
- Hiring
- Mentoring
- Training
- Co-Op Marketing Strategy Development
- Implementation
- Product Training Crafting
- Execution
- Visual Merchandising
- Customer Acquisition
- Retention
- Budget Planning
- Management
- Adherence
- Strategic Planning
- Program Development
Timeline
Director of Trade & Shopper Marketing - North America (U.S. & Canada)
Victorinox - Swiss Army
01.2017 - Current
Head of Visual Merchandising & Training
Tissot Swatch Group
01.2014 - 01.2016
Regional Visual & Display Manager (oversaw North America)
French Connection
01.2011 - 01.2014
Area Visual & Display Manager
All Saints
01.2010 - 01.2011
Visual & Display Manager
French Connection
01.2006 - 01.2010
AS in Fashion Merchandising -
Miami International University of Art & Design
BA in Liberal Arts -
Babes-Boylai University
Certification in Adobe Suite -
Fashion Institute of Technology
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