VanDawn Williams
New York,NY
Summary
Business-focused creative consultant professionally versed in all aspects of running a successful retail establishment and 10+ years of service experience with exceptional knowledge of business generation, space curation, and visual merchandising. I'm a business centric creative who deeply values self expression, collaboration, and positively impacting both people and organizations.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Brand Consultant
CGI @Computergenerationimagery
NewYork, NY
12.2023 - Current
- Developing brand positioning strategies and messaging to support the launch of new products.
- Analyzing competitive landscape, identified target audiences, and developed marketing plans.
- Collaborating with designer to develop effective designs that align with brand objectives.
- Oversee and developing strategic marketing and promotional plans for new product roll-outs.
- Creating original concepts, art direction, and designs for multimedia projects.
- Developing style guides for visual elements such as branding systems, typography standards, color schemes, photography styles.
- Working with creative teams to design logos, packaging designs, advertisements, digital experiences and more.
- Collaborating with team to forecast based on sales and product profitability.
Buyer
HYPEBEAST (HBXNY)
New York, NY
05.2022 - 01.2024
- Purchased all Contemporary and Designer brands including Junya Watanabe, CDG SHIRT, Diesel, Kidsuper, Mowalola, Y/Project, Anonymous Club, Thom Browne, Luar, ERL, Sky High Farm, Martine Rose, Margiela, Rick Owens, Collina Strada, Hyien Seo, Heliot Emil, Acne Studios, Entire Studios, Eckhaus Latta, CP Company, Anderson Bell
- Liaised with accounting and vendors to minimize and clear up invoice discrepancies
- Represented company professionally when engaging with external and internal stakeholders and members
- Monitored trends to identify untapped market gaps where partnerships would prove crucial
- Researched competitors and sourced new vendors
- Negotiated with selected suppliers to obtain best discounts
- Maintained vendor relationships to improve lead time, cost and quality
- Spearheaded partnerships and possible activation communication with vendors
- Created mood boards by researching current fashion trends and competitor activity.
- Negotiated prices, payment/discount terms and transportation arrangements with suppliers
Men's Buyer
Dover Street Market
NewYork, NY
03.2020 - 05.2022
- Purchased all mens wear brands for Dover Street Market including all mens Comme Des Garçons (Gucci, Balenciaga, Margiela, Marni, Dries, Walter Van Beirendonck, Charles Jeffrey, Rick Owens, Marine Serre, Kiko Kostadinov, Nemeth, Craig Geeen, 3MAN, AIREI, ERL, Tokyo James, RAF Simons, Undercover, Thom Browne, Loewe, Sacai, Charles Jeffrey, John Skeleton, Martine Rose, Kidill, Kenneth Nicholson, Doublet, CDG Homme Plus, Junya Watanabe, Homme, and CDG shirt)
- Analyze previous sell through reports to buy into the proper categories
- Cultivated relationships with new up incoming brands
- Intense research, discovering new brands that could potentially be in store to help improve assortment and spaces
- Collaborated and partnered with LA buyer to be sure we are making the best selections for each coast
- Developed strategic business plan to drive full price sell through
- Coached sales team to build strong customer relations and provide outstanding
- Managed inventory and stock levels in coordination with purchasing and receiving department
- Provided vendors with feedback from each seasons collections- providing customers response in relevance to fit, fabrication, and price point
- Partnered with E-com team to curate the online shop and create strategic plans
- Facilitated designer seminars and events to increase designer sales and product knowledge
- Documented purchasing activities, inventory reports and department records
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to meet customer requirements and market demands
- Worked closely with managers to plan special buys
Floor Manager
Dover Street Market
NewYork, NY
04.2017 - 03.2020
- Developed seasonal visual themes to ensure high sell through and highlight top performing items
- Developed and promoted top talent
- Personal shopper for high VIP clients
- Connected with internal customers daily to understand needs, provide assistance and collect feedback to optimize operations and create stronger assortments
- Lead sales with a focus on customer service and client experience
- Assessed team member performance and developed improvement plans for weak points
- Managed store opening and closing procedures to optimize store readiness and maintain strict financial controls
- Taught junior employees proactive strategies to meet operational and sales goals
Education
Bachelor of Art - Fashion Marketing and Management
The Art Institute of Ohio
01.2016
Skills
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Collaborative Team Player
- Competitive Assessment
- Detail Oriented
- Diplomacy and Tact Instructional Skills
- Interpersonal Skills
- Recruitment and Retention
- Adobe Creative Cloud
- Trend Forecasting
- Open to Buy Management
- Brand Development
- E-commerce Buying
- Strong understanding of business and product needs
- Purchase Orders
- Vendor Partnerships
- Assortment Strategies
- Product Knowledge
- Relationship Building
Timeline
Brand Consultant
CGI @Computergenerationimagery
12.2023 - Current
Buyer
HYPEBEAST (HBXNY)
05.2022 - 01.2024
Men's Buyer
Dover Street Market
03.2020 - 05.2022
Floor Manager
Dover Street Market
04.2017 - 03.2020
Bachelor of Art - Fashion Marketing and Management
The Art Institute of Ohio
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