Ahmed Farrag

Luxury Retail Director
40 years oldOperations DirectorCome from Canada Living in Overseas
Language: Arabic, French, English
Mandarin: simple communication

Experienced Luxurious Retail Director and Head of Operations with a proven track record of successfully opening and managing new stores, achieving growth objectives, and implementing category management strategies. Adept at reducing costs and improving efficiency while providing exceptional customer service and building lasting relationships. Skilled in setting strategic goals, managing budgets, and developing teams to meet and exceed performance targets. Possesses exceptional communication skills and sharp business acumen honed through years of managing high-end retail brands and 5-star hotels. Dynamic and results-driven, passionate about driving success through strategic planning, marketing, sales, and exceptional customer service. Demonstrated expertise in leading teams of over 500 employees and directing projects exceeding $100M. Ideal for leadership positions in the luxurious retail industry.

Retail Director
Holt Renfrew
Sep 2021 - Now(3 years)

Sales and Revenue Growth: • Increased annual sales by 20% through the development and execution of brand objectives, resulting in $5 million in revenue and improved customer satisfaction ratings. • Applied OKR principles to optimize action plans, achieving a 15% increase in store traffic and receiving the top-ranking award among all Holt Renfrew stores in Canada for 2021 and 2022, resulting in $2 million in additional sales for each year. • Created and executed promotional calendars with a focus on seasonal tactics and marketing campaigns, leading to a 25% increase in customer engagement and reviews through online and social media channels, resulting in $1 million in additional sales. • Conceptualized and executed an agile pricing strategy tailored for varied levels of sales channels like B2B, B2C, B2E, DEEL, and different SKU levels of KVIs, FMIs, & SMIs, resulting in a 5% increase in sales and improved customer satisfaction ratings, which added $2 million in revenue. ♦ Alexander McQueen ♦ Armani ♦ Brunello Cuccinelli ♦ Channel ♦ Gucci ♦ Givenchy ♦ Prada ♦ Tom Ford ♦ Versace ♦ Luis Vuitton ♦ Dolce & Gabbana ♦ Valentino ♦ Burberry ♦ Christian Dior ♦ Hugo Boss Page 2 | 5 Operational Efficiency and Cost Savings: • Led development of business plan, goals and objectives, budgets, and commercial targets • Monitored sales performance and stock levels to achieve healthy stock and DOH levels, resulting in a 10% increase in employee productivity and a 5% improvement in overall store efficiency, which saved the company $500,000 in operational costs. • Directed day-to-day operations, leading managers and staff to ensure customer satisfaction, resulting in a 10% decrease in turnover and a 20% reduction in costs, which saved the company $750,000 in labour costs. Holt Renfrew was recognized with the 6 Stars award for best companies to work for in Canada in 2022. • Implemented a rolling-forecast model to secure product supply and availability, resulting in a 15% reduction in product costs and an increase in profit margins by $1.5 million. • Managed brand budgets, identifying areas of cost savings and waste reduction, resulting in a 10% reduction in employee turnover and a 15% increase in in-stock rates, which saved the company $1 million in operational costs. Team Management and Development: • Built and trained a strong team, resulting in a 10% increase in staff productivity and a 5% increase in overall store efficiency, which added $500,000 in revenue. • Optimized human resources functions such as recruitment, hiring, training, motivation, and coaching, which saved the company $500,000 in labour costs. • Led a team of store managers to increase sales by 10% monthly for every brand through the implementation of customer-focused initiatives, resulting in $3 million in additional sales. Customer Centricity and Innovation: • Analysed industry trends and customer preferences to create a customer-centric company culture, resulting in improved operations, which added $1 million in revenue. • Upgraded the customer database and communication systems using new tech, improving marketing plan efficiency and sales techniques, which added $1.5 million in revenue. • Successfully implemented new technologies to streamline operations and improve in-store experience (ISE), which saved the company $1 million in operational costs. • Implemented inventory optimization strategies, resulting in a 10% reduction in waste and a 20% increase in in-stock rates, which saved the company $750,000 in operational costs. Management of Online Store and Delivery System: • Managed online store operations, including social media and online marketing, resulting in a 30% increase in online sales and improved customer satisfaction ratings. • Developed and implemented an efficient logistics and delivery system, resulting in a 25% increase in on-time delivery and a 20% reduction in delivery costs, which saved the company $1 million in operational costs. Business Upscale and HR2 Development: • Successfully developed and executed a complete business plan for opening HR2 in downtown Montreal, resulting in a 50% increase in revenue and improved brand awareness in the region. • Conceptualized and executed a comprehensive marketing campaign, including social media and advertisement with YouTubers and influencers, resulting in a 35% increase in foot traffic and a 15% increase in sales.

Head Of operations
Ritz Carlton Hotel
Jan 2018 - Sep 2021(4 years)

Played a key role in applying and managing the operational plan for the Ritz Carlton hotel by following and applying the hotel operations handbook. ● Exceeded 2019 goal of 56.9% by achieving a guest satisfaction score of 51.8%, elevating guest loyalty and repeat business. Page 3 | 5 ● Collaborated with the hotel's group and transient revenue strategy, conducting funnel reviews to align actions with hotel goals, resulting in increased revenue and an optimized sales process. ● Oversaw the hotel's site-inspection process and implemented effective training programs for new sales team members, ensuring high-quality performance. ● Conceptualized, organized, and executed large-scale seasonal events, resulting in elevated customer satisfaction and significant repeat business. ● Kept the entire team updated on hotel products, services, pricing, and policies, ensuring that everyone was informed and aligned with the hotel's vision. ● Managed financial responsibilities and executed budget adherence, resulting in maximized revenue. ● Provided bi-weekly reports to the head office and waited for feedback, ensuring that all stakeholders were informed and involved in the decision-making process. ● Took on additional responsibilities such as overseeing sourcing activities and launching the Viking spa, contributing to the hotel's overall success. Overall, my success as Head of Operations at the Ritz Carlton hotel led to my promotion to Store Director at Holt Renfrew.

General Manager
Arctic Co-op
Mar 2014 - Jan 2018(4 years)

Retail Operations: • Directed retail operations, achieving a 62% increase in annual revenue and boosting customer satisfaction ratings by 25%. • Successfully relaunched stores, resulting in a 40% increase in foot traffic and a 20% increase in sales within the first month. Marketing: • Developed and implemented a new marketing strategy that increased sales by 20% and store traffic by 38%, leading to a 35% increase in customer interaction with our activities. • Managed all aspects of a successful PR campaign, resulting in a 25% increase in brand awareness and a 15% increase in customer loyalty. • Logistics and Quality Control: • Coordinated logistics and quality control for 6 businesses, achieving an E/R ratio of 75% and reducing employment turnover by 15%. • Streamlined inventory management system, reducing inventory waste by 30% and improving order fulfilment accuracy by 25%. Financial and Strategic Planning: • Created and executed new strategic and financial plans, resulting in a 50% increase in profitability and a 35% increase in sales revenue. • Improved cash flow by implementing cost-cutting measures, reducing expenses by 20% while maintaining high customer satisfaction ratings. Personnel Management: • Administered personnel regarding production, merchandising, quality/cost control, labor management, and employee training, resulting in a 15% increase in productivity and a 20% decrease in labor costs. ♦ Grocery Store ♦ Houseware and Furniture ♦ Bell Mobility Store. ♦ The source (Radio shake) ♦ General Merchandising Store ♦ Gaming and toys store ♦ Blue-ray and DVD rental outlet ♦ Small and big appliances store ♦ Hunting and fishing accessories ♦ Fashion and jewellery store ♦ Kitchenware Store ♦ Booster juice Kiosk Page 4 | 5 • Developed and implemented comprehensive employee training program, resulting in a 40% increase in employee retention rates and a 25% increase in employee satisfaction ratings. • Best Company to work for award. • Contribution Appreciation (City of Iqaluit) Vendor Management: • Successfully negotiated new contracts and signed agreements with vendors for new business operations with RadioShack and Bell Mobility, resulting in a 20% increase in profit margins and a 30% increase in inventory turnover. • Developed and maintained strong relationships with key vendors, resulting in a 25% increase in supplier reliability and a 15% decrease in lead time for product delivery. Public Relation: • Planned and executed yearly community events, such as a summer BBQ and outdoor garage sales, that increased customer engagement by 35% and generated a positive buzz about the company. • Coordinated an Easter egg colouring competition and Halloween decoration contest that boosted store traffic by 38% and resulted in increased sales. • Developed and implemented a successful PR campaign that increased customer interaction with company activities and products.

Reginal Manager
H&M canada
May 2010 - Feb 2014(4 years)

Led multiple H&M retail outlets across Montreal, driving an average 12% increase in sales and contributing to top performance for 3 consecutive years. • Implemented effective HR strategies, resulting in a 17% reduction in employee turnover and 32% increase in customer satisfaction. • Developed and executed comprehensive strategic plans, resulting in increased productivity and 14% sales growth. • Streamlined inventory management and reduced payroll expenses by 5%, resulting in cost savings of $200K annually. • Collaborated with branch managers to establish targeted plans, budgets, and reporting systems, generating an average 20% increase in foot traffic and sales revenue. • Conducted business-mapping analysis, identifying opportunities for expansion and managing spending and financing systems for profitability and operational efficiency. • Award of Best Region in Canada (H&M) • Thank you and Excellence award for Managing Maritime Sector (H&M)

Uqam University
, Business Science
Apr 2016 - Jul 2017(a year)

Business science

University of New Brunswick
, Business and Administration
Sep 2002 - May 2006(4 years)

Major Marketing Honor in Human resources Management

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