Hozefa Vohra

Accomplished and performance-driven professional with 25+ years of experience in fields of interior design, project management, merchandising, and luxury retail. Proven track record of spearheading and delivering all hard merchandising and animation projects under budget and on time. Repeated success in establishing and maintaining premium brand image across the region. Skilled in developing and executing strategic, best-in-class solutions across all retail partners. Versatile leader with remarkable efficiency in building, leading, and training teams.

Merchandising Director in Dubai, UAE

Regional Merchandising Manager in Dubai, UAE

Head of Merchandising in Dubai, UAE

Merchandising Manager, Guerlain UK Limited – London, UK                            2020 to Present

Plan, execute, and spearhead all hard merchandising and animation projects under budget and on time. Manage and improve brand image throughout the brick-&-mortar distribution in UK and Ireland. Establish and implement best-in-class solutions across all retail partners to achieve designated business targets. Monitor and maintain business activities in compliance with brand guidelines. Ensure effective management of new counter, podium, and window builds from concept to completion. Determine and forecast all necessary POSM for new counters, existing counters, and promotional sites. Enable successful project related inspections by visiting stores and suppliers. Provide effective leadership and training to area managers and beauty consultants on VM guidelines for continuous process and performance improvement; provide merchandising support to all UK teams.

• Steered and completed a pending flagship project; evaluated and upgraded project management process.
• Decreased operational costs by 10% by developing and facilitating detailed database of all counters for effective visuals and POSM allocation.

Regional Merchandising Manager, Guerlain Orient DMCC - Dubai, UAE             2003 to 2020

Devised and implemented strategic brand’s merchandising plan in 11 countries of the Middle East region. Ensured effective implementation of on-counter soft merchandising. Established and administered counters, boutiques, animations, and mall podiums aligned with the latest architectural look. Prepared and controlled Capex and Opex budgets with a focus on cost reduction. Led and trained new brand managers, sales supervisors, merchandisers, and suppliers to improve brand position within the potential markets. Developed and guided a strong team of retail architect and visual merchandiser. Organised over 200 business trips in the Middle-East region to train and monitor local merchandising team.

• Adapted architectural bible to build 200+ permanent counters, backwalls & gondolas at a budget of $12M+.
• Managed the 1st stand-alone boutique project of the region in Riyadh-KSA from design to completion.
• Designed and built 1000+ animations, mall podiums, in-store activations, and brand events across ME region.
• Improved POSM consumption by 15% year-on-year and decreased operating expenses.
• Streamlined soft merchandising activities across 11 countries of the Middle-East region by formulating leading-edge merchandising strategy.

Additional Experience

Chief Interior Designer/Project Co-ordinator, Elegant Industries LLC – Dubai, UAE / 2001 - 2003

Chief Interior Designer, Al-Ansari Steel & Woodworks LLC – Muscat, Oman / 2000 - 2001

Interior Designer & Site Supervisor, Al-Nofaie Furniture LLC – Jeddah - Saudi Arabia / 1997 - 1999

Interior Designer & Site Supervisor, ‘Search’ Architects – Mumbai, India / 1996 - 1997

Assistant Interior Designer, The Bombay Store – Mumbai, India / 1994 - 1995

Diploma in Interior Design and Decoration

Rachana Sansad - Mumbai University