Samar Abdul Karim
DOB: 15/01/1972
Nationality: Lebanese | Marital Status: Single
00971-50 2255706 –Dxb
|Email: samak72@hotmail.com
CAREER SUMMARY:
I have acquired hands-on professional multi-functional experience in Generic Management, Business
Development, Sales and Marketing/Communication, and Customer Service with organizations that are
proven to be best in their industries; thus familiarizing myself with best practices in several business models.
I have acquired hands-on the insight to understand the great potential for a business or brand that can be
realized by achieving and sustaining competitive advantage through applying best practices, process
integration and delivering superb service to internal and external entities alike.
Skills:
Sales and Marketing skills, excellent communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
A motivated, analytical reliable team player thinker, pragmatic and goal oriented professional, with a passion
to achieve sales goals. Open to change new ideas and enjoy taking the initiative to improve work processes
and business results. Good leadership and team building capabilities, able to structure tasks, manage time
effectively, coaching and delegation with clarity to encourage and help team members to achieve goals.
Education:
B A in Communication Arts from LAU, Beirut Lebanon
1991- 1995.
Languages and Computer Skills:
Fluent in French, Arabic, English
Computer skills: Word - Excel - Power Point
Work Experience:
Chalhoub Group
Department Marketing Manager-Retail Gifts Allied (Jan 2009 to Date)
18 RETAIL STORES (40 LUXURIOUS BRANDS)
Prepare & Sales and marketing plan. Defining objectives, target market & segmentation. Monitor Key
Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as conversion rate, sales per customer/transaction, average spent, and
use this data to highlight areas for improvement. Ensuring execution of marketing plans and major launches.
Identifying ideas for promotion campaigns and recommending improvements or changes, maintaining
appropriate communication with different business partners within the region.
Expand the retail network and set goal for expansion. Prepare yearly Communication plan with coordination
with our Advertising Agency/events/trade shows.
Stores/Brands Merchandising
Understand and maintain a detailed knowledge of the brands merchandising guidelines .
Dealing with our suppliers, yearly Merchandising plan for every brand. Review and report non-selling items,
slow & fast moving lines , non movers , damages and aging items and draw an action plan .
Customer Service-Loyalty Program
Monitor and ensure adherence of customer service standards with our VIP customers
Develop system to measure customer satisfaction, by delivering exceptional customer service
Communicate appropriately with customers including proactive greeting and acknowledgment, promotions,
and events. Deal with customer queries and complaints effectively
Buying /Purchasing
Rapidly expand and grow our retail business.
Integrate analysis and merchandising instinct into a cohesive category strategy
Recognize and recommend opportunities to improve the customer shopping experience.
Plan and select product that meets our customer and market profiles and needs.
Building and maintaining relationships with Principals and negotiating on price.
Make budget, plan and develop collections in cooperation with design department.
Source for material, production sites and agents. Place and control sample collection
Department Management
Coach Marketing team within the department
Training on the brand, customer service, Sales incentive program, sales techniques.
Oversee deployment and drive motivation levels of the team members
Monitor the achievement of the department’s goals, objectives and programs, and ensure tracking and
reporting Time Management after any promotion activity and monitor sales for every brand with
coordination with our suppliers
CPI- OK Magazine (April 2004- Dec 2008)
Sales and Marketing Director
Planning & implementing brand promotion budget, yearly activities and events. Identifying premiums,
working out communication strategy, developing customer base profile / Event Concepts and convert them
into large properties for enhancing image & increasing saliency and developing new revenue stream for the
brand. Negotiating new opportunities on joint ventures, sponsorships, for creating branding awareness.
Managing and negotiating the deals with the retail outlets distribution deals with the Hotels, Restaurants,
supermarkets, Spa and events and make sure we get the max visibility.
Create a good relation with the Media industries.
Showtime (January 2000 – March 2004)
Marketing and Event Manager
Prepare annual plan with our distributors in UAE market. Make sure they are following the brand’s
guidelines .Prepare the join promotion activities and marketing supports, promotions - Negotiating yearly
sales deals.
Developing a memorable customer experience throughout customer lifecycle contact points
Creating, producing and managing all marketing initiatives including viral, guerrilla, and direct.
Maintaining a regular CRM calendar customer communication calendar periods to influence positive
customer behavior and great service. Developing acquisition-based integrated campaign to support the sales
teams in challenging markets .Consistently measuring and reporting ROI on all customers marketing spend.
Organize events with shopping malls, suppliers, and BTL activities.
Nestle Food Service (November 1995 – December 1999)
Sales and Brand executive
Establish and develop the Food Service business of culinary products, Launch Coffee products and
Confectionery/culinary division.
Develop a channel action plan which identifies objectives in the area & set down the strategies to achieve.
Increase Brand name recognition/special events.
Market research, competitive analysis, pricing, Recommend Sales and communication strategy to increase our
sales revenues , manage and supervise Technician team, and plan weekly visits to client’s data base and make
sure to have a great service in the market.
Target distribution to potential Hotels and Coffee shops and increase our portfolio.
Negotiating on the product placement, visibility, merchandising for corporate accounts.
Work with Research companies on market ,product and consumer’s analysis.
Work on BTL activities to push for brand’s awareness and be the leader in the market.
Conduct weekly market visit reports and highlight areas to strengthen our brand.
Work on new opportunities to associate our brand to push for sale.
Organize trade shows, food service and Horeca industry. Set up plan for events from concept to execution.
Work with Hotels F&B section, women association groups, and humanitarian organizations on organizing
food tasting receptions and functions with coordination with Head office Nestle Cooking division to
promote our products ,all supported with PR /communication plan from magazines, weeklies, radios and
TV Shows.