Fergul (Fergie) Kuzucuoglu

An extensively experienced Retail Supply Chain Management and Procurement Leader with a history of driving sourcing activities for international brand names. Highly adept at managing multi-million-dollar supplier and customer relationship strategies and achieving significant cost rationalization and revenue growth. Sophisticated communication skills support effective multi-functional stakeholder collaboration while leading marketing efforts and the creation of value-added supply strategies. Highly focused on bridging the gap between global manufacturers and clients ensuring collaborative success and growth.

VALUE ADDED SKILL SETS

Product Sourcing | Supply Chain Management | Contract Negotiation | Budget Management | Strategic Planning | Cross Cultural Team Leadership | Project Management | Sales Strategy Design | Marketing

  • July 2016 – Present

    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.
  • March 2015 – Present

    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.
  • February 2011 – Present

    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.
  • December 2004 – December 2010

    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
How can we help?

Services cover three key areas: business development, supply chain management and brand development. Contact AFK Strategies Inc for more information.

The book explores the opportunities and challenges of the Turkish e-commerce apparel retail industry in terms of private label products strategy. In the data collection phase of the research, interviews with seven different online companies in Turkey and numerous public reports were used.

In 2015, one of Walmart's suppliers ($300M in annual revenue) turned to us to diversify their product categories and provide funding. After 8 months of in-depth review, three categories with a strategic plan were identified. In 2020, the seller made sales of 45 million dollars for only one product category through Turkey with Walmart.
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EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS

  • Global Master of Business Administration (2014)
    University of Manchester / Manchester Business School | Manchester, UK
  • Bachelor of Science in Textile Engineering (1999)
    University of Ege | Izmir, Turkey
  • Diploma in International Trade and Commerce | University of California at Berkeley | 2001
    Diploma in E-Commerce | University of California at Irvine | 2000
    Member in Good Standing of the Home Fashion Products Association, the Hospitality Industry Network and the American-Turkish Council.