AFK INC

• Hoboken, NJ | President
•     Acting as agent and consultant for US and overseas companies; guiding clients through expansion and international trade efforts with a particular attention to branding and Supply Chain creation and optimization. Key achievements to date include:
•     Representing the interests and activities of the Turkish Exporters’ Association, Turkish Trade Center and Bursa Chamber of Commerce.
•     Supporting US and European based retailers successfully in driving revenue growth through streamlining upstream supply chain activities.
•     Sustaining collaborative relationship building between China and South Asia based manufacturers and global clients.

VICTORIA CLASSICS (VCNY)

• North Bergen, NJ 
•      A home textile industry leader headquartered in the US with sales and management offices throughout China and India. Primary accountabilities supporting comprehensive business development include:

• Business Development Consultant for Turkey | April 2017 - Present
•     Exploration of Turkish based textile industry.
  Conducting market planning activities around expanding product line and offerings.
  Development of strategic partnerships with Turkish manufactures and suppliers.

• eCommerce Category Director | March 2015 – March 2017
      Developing and executing strategic development of merchandising categories including leading buying and sourcing activities for new lines including throws/blanket, utility bedding and area rugs.
•     Launching of new home textile product categories during October 2015 NY Market week successfully achieving sales of $ 4 million within 18 months.
•     Coordinating enhanced supplier, pricing and merchandising strategies, optimizing the China, India and Turkey supply chains.
•     Supporting Internet sales team to drive annual merchandising plans for new lines.
  Developing and executing print and online marketing initiatives with marketing team.

JYSK LAGERINN HOME PURCHASE www.jysk.com

• Shanghai, China / Hoboken, NJ
•     The global sourcing division of international Danish chain of sleeping and living product stores where I contribute to ongoing sourcing activities, strategic buying initiatives and growth plans.

• Sales Manager | Hoboken, NJ | March 2015 - Present
     Guide upstream supply chain activities supporting over 2500 global stores, conducing onsite liaison throughout Europe and China. (agent role for some factories of sleeping& living)

• Category Manager | Shanghai, China | February 2011 – February 2015
      Developed and executed strategic buying and sourcing plans for bathroom, bedroom and household textiles categories with a $180 Million retail sales value.
  Saved 15% acquisition cost savings out of $ 20 million high profile purchased products from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China.
•     Decreased purchasing costs by 17% of $ 2.5 million high profile textile products leading to a 40% sales increase across retail outlets.
•     Rationalized supplier base from 152 to 56 over 1.5 years period which resulted in better price negotiations, better delivery performance and also less staff.
•    Improved on time delivery and decreased inventories in stores from 36 weeks to 20 weeks through optimizing supply agreements.

• Range Leader | Shanghai, China | February 2011 – February 2015
      Reported to the CEO, liaised with senior management to create and promote new profitable product categories overseeing a $72 Million sourcing budget.
•     Developed category merchandising strategies and business plans for the whole group.
  Spearheaded a marketing strategy to include print of bi-weekly catalogs, photo shoots and brochures.

NEXT SOURCING

• Turkey, Hong Kong and China | Senior Merchandiser
•    Managed over 40 team merchandising, planning, quality and logistics professionals and a budget $65 million leading women, men, kids, home furnishings and soft lines sourcing across Turkey, China, Europe and North Africa.
•     Reduced supply costs by 15% of the cost by buying high end fabrics from Italy, shipping them to China/Vietnam for cutting and manufacturing.
•     Relocated $18 Million business activities from a low cost countries Turkey / Morocco / Romania to a lower cost countries including, India and China, over a 12 month period.
•     Developed supply chain improvements resulting in 8% margin increase of $66 Million over 3 years.
•     Increased sales within two years from $7.5 Million to $28 Million by across the Women and Men woven apparel lines.
  Selected Prior and Complementary Experience
  Saint Peter’s University | New Jersey, NJ |
• International Management Lecturer | 2017
  H&M AB Turkey Liaison Office | Izmir, Turkey | Merchandiser Assistant | 2003 – 2004
  Sanko Group Turkey | Gaziantep, Turkey | Chief of Sales | 1999 - 2003