CRISTINA ABIKIAN
Montreal,Canada
Summary
A passionate and creative designer with a strong focus on product development, currently working within the luxury jewelry industry. Known for an ability to work effectively under pressure, I thrive in fast-paced environments while delivering high-quality designs. With extensive experience managing teams of coordinators and designers, I excel in leading collaborative efforts, ensuring smooth workflows, and bringing innovative concepts to life. Committed to excellence, I blend creativity with strategic thinking to drive successful design outcomes.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Manager
Birks Group Inc.
09.2020 - Current
- Develop new design concepts for Bijoux Birks including bridal, fine jewelry, watches and giftware and share these concepts with designers through a detailed design brief
- Initiate and propose new unsolicited concepts based on emerging market trends & branding
- Convey design concepts to the design committee as well as various internal teams
- Work closely with Product Development to create technical designs that are then forwarded to the vendors for sampling
- Participate in the sample development of designs from prototyping to final approved pre-production sample
- Work closely with PD team to ensure the time-to-market is respected
- Track changes on trends in international luxury, fashion, jewelry and timepieces
- Maintain up to date reviews of jewellery style and design trends: competition analysis, style and trend books, evolution of manufacturing techniques, etc
- Create mood boards as part of the product development process
- Attend biannual line reviews to gain better understanding of the business and both performing and non performing styles (which aids in development of new designs)
- Identify fashion trends and observe the activities of competitors to identify new opportunities
- In addition, maintain a consistent dialogue with the retail stores to identify customer product preferences
- Establish pricing strategy that follows target markup and guidelines and apply appropriately to buying decisions
- Monitor external pricing trends at competitors
- Collaborate with Marketing team to ensure cohesive vision of product strategies
- Work with E-commerce team to ensure proper product representation on website
- Support visual team in providing store presentation guidance
- Participate in the development of product knowledge and training tools for sales teams
- Help sales teams develop abilities in highlighting the added value of products in comparison with the competition
- Identify and communicate training needs to enable staff to achieve financial goals and develop skills and competencies
Manager
Birks Group Inc.
04.2017 - 09.2020
- Manage brand portfolio, including building and maintaining fine jewelry collections
- Identify and implement new business opportunities to optimize portfolio growth
- Implement the Go-To-Market calendar
- Collaborate with the Product Development team (including Designer) to launch new collection projects
- Collaborate with the Planning team on new launches, pricing strategies, and product assortment
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with other departments and better understand business needs
Assistant Manager
Birks Group Inc.
10.2016 - 04.2017
- Assist Director to manage brand portfolio and identify new business opportunities to optimize category growth
- Collaborate with the Marketing team to build launch documents and provide support with Birks Fine Jewelry related needs
- Conduct in-store visits and build relationships with sales staff
- Provide support to sales professionals with Birks Fine Jewelry related issues
- Responsible for Birks Fine Jewelry product knowledge
- Handle vendor negotiations for damaged jewelry and Return to Vendor (RTV)
- Responsible for Purchase Order and SKU creation and maintenance
- Responsible for price changes and markdowns
- Responsible for reviewing invoices
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with other departments including Product Development, Planning, Wholesale, and Ecommerce
Merchandiser
Bentley Leathers Inc.
07.2014 - 05.2015
- Create and modify purchase orders and PPK label forms with AS400 and SAP
- Monitor minimum order quantities and pricing on all purchased items
- Compile weekly reports: best sellers, sales updates, comparable sales, etc
- Update and manage manual Open-To-Buy
- Responsible for SKU creation and maintenance
- Photograph new merchandise and upload them on picture sheets and presentations
- Research features of new products
- Enter all markdowns into the system and product listings to be sent to stores
- Prepare, verify and update weekly outstanding PO reports
- Track all incoming approval samples (domestic and imports)
- Contact suppliers for samples, returns, and expected delivery dates
Education
Bachelor of Arts & Science -
Concordia University
Montréal, QuébecD.E.C. - Fashion Marketing
Lasalle College
Montréal, QuébecSkills
- Product Development
- Collection & Assortment Building
- Merchandising
- Branding
- Creative Thinking
- Problem Solving
- Trend Research & Forecasting
- Teamwork & Project Management
LANGUAGES
English
Native or Bilingual
French
Full Professional
Armenian
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Senior Manager
Birks Group Inc.
09.2020 - Current
Manager
Birks Group Inc.
04.2017 - 09.2020
Assistant Manager
Birks Group Inc.
10.2016 - 04.2017
Merchandiser
Bentley Leathers Inc.
07.2014 - 05.2015
D.E.C. - Fashion Marketing
Lasalle College
Bachelor of Arts & Science -
Concordia University
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