Ali Bahnoo
Summary
With over 10 years of industry experience, specializing in visual merchandising and store design, I have successfully collaborated with leaders in retail, construction, and beauty fields. I have contributed design work for renowned brands during my career path. My commitment to work quality and impeccable eye for design are my greatest strengths. Recognized for my natural sense of style and flair for aesthetically pleasing designs and attention to detail. My technical abilities include expertise with adobe creative suite, technical drawings, and trade marketing as evidenced by my portfolio work. Additionally, I excel as a leader among peers and an asset to any group environment. With a strong background in concept and strategy development for large advertising campaigns, I am skilled in managing campaigns while collaborating effectively with team members.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Project Manager
MAD Display
New York, New York
09.2024 - Current
- Directed multitasking teams in successfully completing complex design projects on time and within budget.
- Facilitated in-store presentation walk-throughs with key stakeholders, aligning negotiation, materials, prototyping, and store operations.
- Spearheaded creative brainstorming sessions with internal team and higher managers, cultivating an environment of innovation and collaboration.
- Lead design team meetings and issued action items between clients and vendors.
- Oversaw mentorship and development of installers, improving team capabilities on-site.
- Identified and implemented cost-effective technical solutions to enhance project efficiency.
- Mentored junior designers, providing guidance on design principles, techniques, and best practices to enhance their skill set.
- Boosted client satisfaction 25-35% by delivering tailored retail consulting design services and identifying improvement areas for clients including Bergdorf Goodman, The Webster Margiela, Christian Louboutin, MCM, Maxmara, Jil Sander, Longchamp, and Boss.
Project Manager
Toys R Us
Toronto, Ontario
03.2023 - 07.2024
- Explores and monitors evolving/developing concepts, trends in retail design and other related industries that focus on physical expression of brand strategy, design-centered customer satisfaction and sales improvement, and maintains knowledge of best practices.
- Ensure timely and accurate reporting and management of reports to support in business analysis and review by store, category, items, and additional criteria.
- Organize, prioritize and manage Junior members and free-lancers, ensure these are reflected in the design, answering any specific store planning and merchandising raised.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams: Work closely with the Retail, Operations, Education, and Marketing teams, to ensure that visual merchandising strategies are aligned with promotional activities, sales goals, and store layouts.
- Monitor sample collection, send out samples and keep up-to-date inventory.
- Own multiple facets of the market preparation process including but not limited to market binder, best seller and opportunity analysis, etc.
- Organize meetings and meet with contractors/consultants to review scope of contract and impact of alternatives in reducing time and costs.
- Manage all project financial objectives ensuring any project that deviates from its original scope, critical path and/or allocated
Global Visual Merchandising Manager
Nudestix
Toronto, Ontario
11.2019 - 10.2022
- Global Visual Merchandising Manager for a global beauty brand, in over 56 countries and more than 10 retailers. Reporting daily to the Founders of the company.
- Developed instructional materials and communicated with brand managers to streamline installation processes for store-level field members.
- Forecasted yearly budget, stock and testers as per the retail assortments and regional needs.
- Reviewed and approved vendor quotes and purchase orders, tracking logistics to ensure timely delivery of materials to site.
- Managed team of 3 cross-functional for design, distribution, production and visual to make sure the progress goes as per the planned timeline to achieve the in-store date and targeted sales plan.Created full concept and mood boards for new campaigns for digital and print-based artwork and visuals.
- Follow up with vendors for site inspection of materials and equipment or new prototypes and make team decisions to move forward.
- Implemented project management timelines for all POS with each retailer worldwide and 3rd party agencies/vendors.
- Analyzed customer behavior to shape display strategies and enhance product placement effectiveness.
- Contributed internally with e-comm, sales and marketing teams on a monthly/quarterly basis to share selling data to increase the profitability between 20% to 40% by assortment rotation, sku count recommendation, and translations in terms of communications and descriptions including prices for each new launch/updates.
- Managed logistics operations to ensure timely product delivery.
Retail Merchandising Manager
Amorepacific
Dubai, UAE
01.2018 - 08.2019
- Designing all the visuals and graphics that are required according to the campaign with the region needs and coordinating weekly with HQ in Seoul.
- Manage and in charge of all operation and logistics steps for new and existing stores for all merchandising and promotional materials.
- Helped locally to recreate all display to the regional need in terms of translations and currencies to make it aligned with the brand's standards.
- Follow up with the suppliers making sure the timeline for the production, materials and shipping to meet the due date.
- Coordinated promotional events to boost brand visibility and customer interaction.
- Created reports summarizing sales results by category, style, product line, store, region.
- In charge for forecasting the grids per store and whichever needs update according to the budget and performance.
Senior Merchandising Architect
Make Up For Ever, LVMH
Dubai, Dubai
07.2013 - 06.2017
- Developed detailed architectural plans using AutoCAD and Revit software (boutiques, counters, studios) layout and all related drawings with HQ in Paris to make sure from design, production and installation as planned with the guidelines of regional retailers.
- Managed planograms and visuals/artworks for all types of pos and the product displays as per the merchandising guidelines to the regional assortments as per marketing calendar.
- Design and implant in many local activation and window animation with different retailers and boutiques with marketing team.
- In charge for all maintenance that required on the spot, also work permit and approvals between retails, HQ and internal team.
Project Manager
MADI Int'l
Dubai, Dubai
06.2012 - 07.2013
- Developed project plans outlining tasks and timelines for team members to keep everyone updated.
- Worked with Salon furniture and linked sales to name a few (Gamma & Bross, Fendi Casa, Karim Rashid, Marcel Wanders).
- Supervised for Spas, Saloons, Beauty Clinics and Nail bars during the construction also developed products display and artworks for such as (Wella, Sebastian, Essie, Thalgo).
- Prepared cost estimates for projects of varying sizes.
Project Coordinator
Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
Dubai, Dubai
11.2011 - 05.2012
- Coordinated for Fixture Furniture & Equipment's, selected materials, colours, finishes and finding local suppliers.
- Supervised Interior design of 2 Towers each 30 floors with contractors, project managers and co-workers.
- Managed communication channels between various teams involved in the execution of complex projects.
- Created and maintained project documentation to drive transparency with stakeholders.
Education
Associate of Science - Retail Management
Ryerson University
Toronto04-2021
Bachelor of Arts - Interior Design
American University in Dubai
Dubai, UAE04-2010
Skills
- Project management
- Stakeholder management
- Risk management
- Cost estimation
- Strategic planning
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Visual Merchandising
- Logistics coordination
- Vendor negotiation
- Leverage AI for business growth
- Marketing expertise
- Campaign development expertise
- Brand development
- Proficiency in design software (Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsofe Office, SketchUp, Autocad, Rhino and Revit)
- PM Software (Asana, Slack, Mondaycom)
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Arabic
Native/ Bilingual
Timeline
Senior Project Manager
MAD Display
09.2024 - Current
Project Manager
Toys R Us
03.2023 - 07.2024
Global Visual Merchandising Manager
Nudestix
11.2019 - 10.2022
Retail Merchandising Manager
Amorepacific
01.2018 - 08.2019
Senior Merchandising Architect
Make Up For Ever, LVMH
07.2013 - 06.2017
Project Manager
MADI Int'l
06.2012 - 07.2013
Project Coordinator
Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
11.2011 - 05.2012
Associate of Science - Retail Management
Ryerson University
Bachelor of Arts - Interior Design
American University in Dubai