Farbod Barsum
Beverly Hills
Summary
Seasoned Director with a proven record of delivering innovative solutions and achieving organizational goals. Motivational leader and problem-solver with advanced supervisory, team building and customer service skills. Experience stepping into roles and quickly making positive changes to drive company success. Focused on using training, monitoring and morale-building techniques to maximize employee engagement and performance.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Global Flagship Boutique Director
POMELLATO
Beverly Hills
08.2022 - Current
- Consistently increased business by 10-15% annually, following an initial increase of 30% in the first year.
- Sought opportunities to participate in external events and brand sponsorships to introduce new clients to our network, who transacted.
- Led a newly built team to yield their own individual highest-value transactions, break KPI records for the store, and restructure their approach to CRM using Salesforce with personal touch-base methods.
- The development of new VICs will yield the first-ever High Jewelry sale in the Rodeo location, followed by the largest single transaction in Pomellato US history via High Jewelry.
- Developed new VICs, resulting in the first High Jewelry sale at the Rodeo location.
- Facilitated largest single transaction in Pomellato US history via High Jewelry.
General Manager
BEN BRIDGE JEWELER
Temecula
03.2021 - 07.2022
- Rebuilt entire sales team, coaching and training new and existing hires to deliver luxury sales experiences.
- Achieved 40% increase over sales plan in first year while meeting all target KPIs.
- Established specialist roles for each sales associate, enhancing trust with corporate buying office to expand purchase plan.
- Revamped merchandising standards to elevated model, gaining recognition across the company.
Salon Manager
DAVID WEBB JEWELS
Beverly Hills
03.2019 - 01.2021
- Cultivated personal client portfolio of national and international clients, facilitating six-figure transactions.
- Achieved 30% increase in average annual sales during first year.
- Converted leads and re-engaged lapsed clients to drive renewed interest and sales through team strategy.
- Implemented outreach plan during quarantine lockdown, resulting in over $1 million in remote sales within six months.
- Pitched, designed, and supervised boutique remodel leveraging architecture and operations management expertise.
- Conducted local research to evaluate new advertising platforms, providing final recommendations for marketing initiatives in New York.
Store Director
KLEIN EPSTEIN PARKER Made to Measure
West Hollywood
09.2017 - 03.2019
- Promotion from initial position of General Manger of Made to Measure menswear boutique
- Oversaw all day-to-day operations of flagship boutique, hiring and training of all new sales associates and training new boutique managers on made to measure process, POS systems, and client outreach techniques
- Review and edit of all measurement processes, tailoring techniques
- Implemented in-house tailoring shop within shop to increase efficiency and outside service revenue
- Increase sales team efficiency by streamlining the measurement and fabric/material selection process, which lead to increase in conversion and units per transaction
General Manager, Designer
FARBOD BARSUM Boutique
Beverly Hills
09.2011 - 04.2017
- General Manager and accessory designer of largest boutique/collection of couture exotic skin handbags and accessories in the US.
- Complete A to Z corporate management and company’s identity development as listed below:
- Materials sourcing and production management, Advertising creative and photoshoot management of all digital and print advertising, website concept development, employee and sales training, visual merchandising, design and construction management of the boutique(s), wholesale vendor account management, package design, sales, budget, P &L reports, inventory management.
- Developed a brand that was marketed and targeted to Ultra High Net Worth ie. Royalty, Celebrities, and Socialites. Price point of day bags/executive pieces $10K-$75K ; price point of evening collection $4K-$10K
- Architectural design and interior design of the boutique as well as managing construction permit processing and city architectural review board presentation.
General Manager
GIORGIO ARMANI
Camarillo
05.2010 - 08.2011
- Achieved $3 million annual store volume by consistently exceeding monthly sales goals.
- Hired and trained 12 regular and 4 seasonal staff to enhance operational efficiency.
- Oversaw inventory management, merchandising, window displays, and shipping and receiving processes.
- Managed scheduling, HR correspondence, and compliance audits to ensure regulatory adherence.
- Conducted loss prevention training to minimize shrinkage and improve security measures.
- Reviewed financial statements and sales reports for productivity analysis and goal assessment.
- Compiled weekly sales reports to track performance trends and inform decision-making.
Assistant Manager
BIJAN
Beverly Hills
01.2009 - 02.2010
- Co-management of “World’s Most Expensive (by appointment) Boutique” in areas of showroom and window merchandising, stockroom reorganization and maintenance, fabric and material library, inventory, boutique maintenance, assistance during appointments, and staff management and training.
- Traveled with the designer (Bijan) and co-managed external private client appointments. Set up trunk show atmosphere merchandised using the Bijan boutique standards
- Traveled internationally on behalf of the company to meet with client and present final alterations
- Extensive etiquette and formal presentation training with respect to providing service to royalty, diplomats, and celebrity clients.
- Traveled with designer Bijan to co-manage exclusive private client appointments.
- Established trunk show atmosphere adhering to Bijan boutique standards, elevating client experience.
- Represented company internationally, presenting final alterations to clients with professionalism.
- Received extensive training in etiquette and formal presentation for service to royalty and celebrities.
Women’s ARMANI Collezioni Specialist
NEIMAN MARCUS
San Francisco
01.2003 - 01.2005
- Drove sales growth from $800K to $1.3M annually through strategic fiscal planning and strong sales targets.
- Developed budgets and sales plans for Neiman’s bi-annual buying trips to NYC Armani showroom.
- Coordinated multi-season trunk shows to enhance product visibility and customer engagement.
Women’s Missoni Specialist
NORDSTROMS
San Francisco
01.2002 - 01.2003
- Achieved outstanding performance as product specialist and sales associate for Missoni, consistently meeting and exceeding all sales objectives.
- Collaborated with team members to maintain high visual standards.
- Provided feedback to management on customer preferences and trends.
Education
Accredited Jewelry Professional (AJP) -
Gemological Institute of America
Carlsbad, CA01.2022
Master of Architecture - Arts and Design
New School of Architecture and Design
San Diego, CA01.2008
Associate of Arts - Fashion Design
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
San Francisco, CA01.2003
Bachelor of Arts - History of Art
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA01.2002
Skills
- Salesforce CRM
- Luxury sales strategies
- Inventory management
- Visual merchandising
- High-value transactions
- Client acquisition
- Business growth
- Market analysis
- Networking skills
- Performance evaluation
- Leadership skills
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Farsi
Professional
French
Professional
Timeline
Global Flagship Boutique Director
POMELLATO
08.2022 - Current
General Manager
BEN BRIDGE JEWELER
03.2021 - 07.2022
Salon Manager
DAVID WEBB JEWELS
03.2019 - 01.2021
Store Director
KLEIN EPSTEIN PARKER Made to Measure
09.2017 - 03.2019
General Manager, Designer
FARBOD BARSUM Boutique
09.2011 - 04.2017
General Manager
GIORGIO ARMANI
05.2010 - 08.2011
Assistant Manager
BIJAN
01.2009 - 02.2010
Women’s ARMANI Collezioni Specialist
NEIMAN MARCUS
01.2003 - 01.2005
Women’s Missoni Specialist
NORDSTROMS
01.2002 - 01.2003
Accredited Jewelry Professional (AJP) -
Gemological Institute of America
Master of Architecture - Arts and Design
New School of Architecture and Design
Associate of Arts - Fashion Design
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
Bachelor of Arts - History of Art
University of California, Berkeley