Caroline Best
Carlisle,UK
Summary
A highly skilled and results-driven professional with a robust background in production control, business development, and account management across textiles and fashion industry from high street brand to luxury brands. As a Market Development Manager, I successfully negotiated and secured significant deals, including:
- Boohoo: GBP 80k
- Lacoste: EUR 120k
- Promod: EUR 50k
- ASOS: Secured a project for 2025
- High-end Luxury Brands: Opened doors to key brands, including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Celine, Chloé, and Balmain, which had previously been difficult to penetrate.
With a proven ability to drive revenue growth and expand the client base, I have a strong track record of fostering relationships with key accounts and negotiating deals that align with strategic business goals. Fluent in French, I have effectively communicated with international clients, including high-profile accounts such as Chanel. My expertise spans sourcing, contract negotiation, project management, and collaborating closely with all internal teams to ensure the flawless execution of agreements. I am committed to delivering impactful results and contributing to the success and growth of the business.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work history
Market Development Manager
ALVANON UK Ltd
London, UK
02.2021 - 02.2025
- Managed customer accounts across France and the UK, including past, present, and potential clients, with a focus on increasing turnover and expanding the customer base in the regions
- Provided weekly, monthly, and quarterly sales reports, analysing data to track performance and identify growth opportunities
- Responsible for business development and identifying new opportunities within the regions
- Created and followed up on all Purchase Agreements and alerts for the region, ensuring timely and accurate actions
- Entered and tracked all relevant information for the region into Pipedrive to ensure smooth sales processes
- Qualified and attended to all new European inquiries from the website
- Managed incoming inquiries from existing clients, including orders, re-orders, and account management for all existing clients within Europe
- Created and followed up on Purchases Agreements and Invoices, ensuring all details were captured and processed efficiently
- Coordinated closely with internal teams to ensure smooth handling of inquiries and orders - Hong Kong and US offices
- Managed brand supplier inquiries
- Handled standard inquiries, including academic requests
- Responsible for monthly order recordings in the system to track and report order progress
- Strong focus on sustainability by introducing and promoting the use of 3D avatars and the MyAlva app to brands, driving forward eco-friendly initiatives and reducing the need for physical samples and returns
- Engaged in direct client-facing interactions, delivering presentations and providing comprehensive product explanations to clients for both physical mannequins and 3D avatars
- Handled client demo trials to showcase features and benefits of mannequins and avatars
- Answered incoming calls, providing timely assistance and information to clients and suppliers
- Performed ad-hoc office duties as needed to support team operations
- Provided holiday cover for the General Manager and Executive Director for Europe, ensuring business continuity during team absences
Customer Service Coordinator
ALVANON UK Ltd
London, UK
01.2019 - 02.2021
- Managed and directed all incoming calls and efficiently greeted and assisted Studio visitors, ensuring a seamless experience by organizing mannequin selections and providing refreshments
- Coordinated with suppliers, sending signed order sheets, issuing invoices, and overseeing the ordering process from Hong Kong
- Maintained daily communication with offices in Hong Kong and the US, as well as overseas suppliers, via phone, email, and Skype
- Managed and directed online chat inquiries to the appropriate departments, ensuring that client demo requests were efficiently processed and scheduled
- Organized mannequin demo sessions with clients, ensuring that signed terms were in place for the demo period
- Managed the process of collection, return, and inspection of demo mannequins
- Conducted bi-annual stock checks at the warehouse located at Heathrow, ensuring inventory accuracy
- Raised invoices and purchase orders, handling up to 15 per day
- Provided holiday cover for sales support by creating contracts from templates and ensuring the internal distribution of signed contracts
- Served as the liaison between the Hong Kong Shipping Department and clients for the delivery of mannequins made in China, ensuring proper shipping documentation and smooth logistics
- Performed ad hoc post office runs as needed, supporting the team with essential tasks
Production Coordinator
CAROLINE CHARLES
London, UK
07.2018 - 12.2018
- Supported the Production Director in coordinating all aspects of production
- Managed seasonal product codes, cost sheets, bill of materials, invoices and stock control
- Ordered bulk fabric and trims for each season, ensuring availability for production
- Liaised daily with factories in Dubai and the UK to maintain smooth production process
- Sourced fabrics, trims and other products to meet design specifications and quality standards
- Calculated garment costings, ensuring profitability while maintaining quality
- Booked and allocated stock to each shop, coordinating inventory distribution efficiently
Production Administrator
FLUXE LTD
London, UK
02.2018 - 05.2018
- Supported the Director
- Audited cost sheets and interacting with supplier to negotiate prices
- Coordinated with designers, pattern cutters and factories to meet deadlines and maintain production standards
- Managed and logged production orders to ensure smooth operations
Production Administrator
LINTON TWEEDS
Carlisle, UK
05.2017 - 12.2017
- Sourced and negotiated for quality materials at competitive prices
- Liaised with national and international suppliers and high-profile French accounts like Chanel
- Developed and maintained strong relationship with suppliers for a long-term partnership
- Monitored production orders and delivered detailed weekly reports to support timely completion of projects
- Approved supplier invoices while ensuring accuracy and maintaining financial accountability
- Coordinated with suppliers for timely delivery of raw materials.
- Assisted in budget preparation, controlling costs and keeping expenses within the set limit.
Assistant Production Controller
LINTON TWEEDS
Carlisle, UK
04.2016 - 05.2017
- Supported the Production Director and Managing Director with reports and analysis to improve communication with priority client - Chanel
- Responsible for managing inventory transactions and addressing material shortages, backlogs, or other potential schedule interruptions that could impact the production schedule
- Tracked and liaised with suppliers to ensure all delivery dates were maintained
- Improved production schedules by streamlining processes between the production office, designers and weaving shed
Office Administrator
HERMES
Carlisle, UK
10.2015 - 03.2016
- Main point of contact with clients - ensuring timely responses and updates on delivery status
- Managed non-delivered and damaged goods, ensuring full traceability of orders
Assistant Manager
SAFARI LODGE HOTEL KILIMA
Narok, Kenya
08.2013 - 11.2013
- Liaised with Lodge Manager daily
- Managed staff to effectively assist, train, develop, motivate and monitor their activities
- Completed weekly rotas for the team and always maintained correct staffing level
- Provided market research to support the sales, pricing and introduction of new services and packages
- Prepared and monitored office budget
- Kept updated records of office expenses and costs
- First point of contact with guests
- Provided a welcoming lodge environment for customers with a high standard of service
- Resolved and handled guest complaints and specific requests
- Monitored standards throughout the lodge through verification and analysis of guest satisfaction systems
- Maintained the smooth operation of the Lodge facilities and services
- Accountable for all relevant product delivery and stock management
Education
International GCSEs -
International School Peponi
Foundation in Business Studies -
Taylor's University
Skills
- Sales Reporting & Analytics
- Client Account Management
- Supplier & Logistics Management
- B2B Communication
- B2C Communication
- Project Management & Coordination
- CRM Systems: Pipedrive, Netsuite, Booqable, TMS, ASL, Sage
- Microsoft products (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
Languages
English
Fluent
French
Fluent
Affiliations
- Log Cabin Building
- Climbing
- Horse Riding
Timeline
Market Development Manager
ALVANON UK Ltd
02.2021 - 02.2025
Customer Service Coordinator
ALVANON UK Ltd
01.2019 - 02.2021
Production Coordinator
CAROLINE CHARLES
07.2018 - 12.2018
Production Administrator
FLUXE LTD
02.2018 - 05.2018
Production Administrator
LINTON TWEEDS
05.2017 - 12.2017
Assistant Production Controller
LINTON TWEEDS
04.2016 - 05.2017
Office Administrator
HERMES
10.2015 - 03.2016
Assistant Manager
SAFARI LODGE HOTEL KILIMA
08.2013 - 11.2013
International GCSEs -
International School Peponi
Foundation in Business Studies -
Taylor's University
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