Mark Chong

o Deliver forward-looking trading insights and performance reports to guide pricing, promotions, product mix, markdown strategy and seasonal planning. Analyse customer behaviour, product performance and market trends to identify opportunities and risks o Lead trade forecasts, budgets and forward plans in partnership with Trade and Finance. Monitor performance against budget and recommend corrective actions to achieve revenue and profit targets o Align inventory levels with trading and promotional plans, reduce excess stock and improve stock turn, particularly as the store network evolves o Provide store-level reporting and analysis to support performance reviews, allocation decisions, clearance execution and channel specific pricing and promotional strategies (digital vs physical) o Work closely with Trading, Marketing, Retail, Operations and Finance teams and support senior leadership with reporting and planning input. o Enhance data tools, processes and reporting capabilities while fostering a more insight-led performance driven culture o Contribute to broader retail initiatives across other Ngahuia brands supporting cross brand

o Collects and interprets data, turns it into information suggesting ways to improve the business, thus affecting business decisions o Assists with actions on strengths, weaknesses, threats & opportunities by planning sales activities, reductions and online/store action in close collaboration with the e-commerce, store and marketing departments o Work closely with Merchandising leadership to facilitate tactical and strategic projects o Improve department performance through analysis and support of new initiatives o Provide reporting and analytical support to all areas of the business o Develop deep knowledge of company databases to become the department’s power user for data queries and data mining o Develop analytical tools to assist in operational reviews and measurements o Responsible for retail planning ensuring that the relevant ranges are available in store and to keep recalls to a minimum. Working closely with the distribution centre to manage any stock flow exceptions. o Coach and develop other planning team members to ensure relevant skills and knowledge is present within the wider team.

* Strategic Input: Reporting to Executives on current performance, making recommendations on future decision making. * Developing planning and analytical tools in business planning processes * Key contact across diverse range of functions within the business, Marketing, Operations, DC and buying * Responsible for preparing the company monthly sales forecast * Multi-channel planning for Online, Catalogues and Bricks & Mortar * Monitoring and analyzing sales and profit objectives * Financial and sales reporting * Overseeing product selection and management of promotions * Identifying and monitoring promotional opportunities

Providing overall leadership to the merchandise planning team ensuring that the planning function is operating and fully functioning to deliver on Ezibuy's business needs and a sustainable future.

Responsible for achieving all personal KPI's and managing the departments planning KPI's by ensuring the development, implementation and control of all elements of Merchandise planning. * The interpretation of the strategy, building of the merchandise plan and range plan, trading the brands in season, controlling stock flow and post seasonal analysis. To contribute to the building of the Multi-Channel, brand and country strategy * Setting, maintaining and managing seasonal department budgets * Support the range planning/range building processes to ensure the commercial integrity of the range and investment in stock satisfies our business requirements * Trade in-season to optimize sell-through, ensure that in-season reorders and markdowns are completed in a timely manner and that markdowns and promotions maximize profit * Controlling stock and purchases in a timely and accurate manner in line with OTB constraints * Manage planning KPI's for buyerships and planners within the department * Building and maintaining strong supportive cross functional working relationships within Ezibuy and with relevant external business partners * Championing our Ezibuy values * Lead and support the departments planning team members in the pursuit of their objectives and KPI's * Management of the day to day staff requirements within the planning department * Developing trade and purchase budgets and plans * Ensuring product assortments supports our business objectives and key attributes maximize the assortments appeal and commercial integrity * Developing pre-season range plans prior to the commencement of the buying season and follow up with range builds as per planning process * Managing sales, purchases and inventory together with buyers within Open-to-Buy constraints * Ensuring the planning process supports the multi-channel offer * Adhering to best practice for retail store planning and ensuring store ranging and allocations are well planned and managed

Managing the planning function for more than 50 international brands ensuring end to end management from strategy through to range planning alongside in season stock/markdown management and catalogues. Multi-channel planning for online, catalogues and brick and mortar. Cross functional contact across diverse range of functions within the business marketing, operations, DC and buying. Managing and mentoring a team of 8 direct reports

Edgars is a national department store, which is part of the Edcon Group, serving middle and upper families of Southern Africa with value priced essentials, bona fide national and international brands and appropriate fashion. It aims to be the retail service leader in clothing, footwear, textiles, accessories and cosmetics with 186 stores and over 5000 employees.

The LA Group's main focus is the supply of corporate clothing for both the local and international markets and the wholesale distribution of branded clothing and footwear. The groups business divisions include Carter Harris on the corporate clothing and Skye Products on the branded clothing and footwear. Brands include Converse, Dickies, Brentwood, Cutrite, Mille, Samson, Getto Star, Canary Island. Polo and Oxygen.

Makro is a Wholesale/Retailer with three trading divisions, Food, Liquor & General Merchandise. These divisions operate under one roof (a Warehouse Environment). Makro has 19 stores in South Africa. General Merchandise has a number of business units - Office, Hi Tech, Multimedia, Housewares, DIY, Outdoor, Appliances, Sports, Clothing, Footwear, Jewellery, & Toys. There are approximately 36000 line options.

Jet is a discount clothing and footwear retailer which is part of the Edcon group catering to the needs of lower and middle income families in Southern Africa. It is a company that was created to serve a huge and important market: the people of Africa who want a choice of good quality, affordable fashion. Today, Jet has 347 stores across Southern Africa, all of which stock a range of quality labels for the entire family. Jet's "good for Life"​ clothing - it's good to live in, play in, live in and relax in - earned Jet the title of the number one retail brand (in terms of awareness, trust and confidence levels) according to the 2004 Markinor/Sunday Times survey.