michelle Hooson

Wholesalers of Vintage / Retro clothing

I have been involved since the inception of this organisation in Oct 2008 helping it with every aspect of product development, marketing and promotion. I have undertaken market research studies, focus group evaluations, the building of its website, Search Engine Optimisation activities, packing design, photo shoots and more recently with its expansion into the USA/Middle East.

Managing the content and communication on multiple social media programs, raising company profiles through developing targeted, comprehensive promotional marketing campaigns and strategies; using various Web 2.0/Social Media programs as platforms to promote products, services and brands to existing and potential consumers (B2C), increasing brand visibility, membership and traffic. Managing content and communication on multiple social media programs, measuring the overall impact of Social Media activities; using quantitative monitoring tools such as goggle analytics and other key performance indicators. Monitoring online conversations and responding accordingly.

Organising exhibits and corporate events within a set budget. This includes the running of the exhibition and seminar programme. For example, the Hotel Olympia event at London’s Excel Centre in Feb 2008 and in March 2010; plan and carry out various market research projects in order to determine new target segments for Nobel's existing portfolio of products and presenting all findings in PowerPoint to the Managing and Commercial Directors; support poroduct management and marketing to ensure company products and services are offered with appropriate, competitive terms and conditions; plan/carry out/support local marketing activities to agreed budgets and timescales, and integrate personal sales efforts with other organized marketing activities, e.g, product launches, promotions, advertising, exhibitions and telemarketing; maintaining and developing existing and new customers through planned individual account support and liaison with internal order-processing staff; liaising and attending meetings with other company functions necessary to perform duties and aid business and organisational development; serving as the point of contact for customers on contractual matters. Act as contractual “middleman” between company employees and customers, ensuring timely review and approval / reconciliation of variations; acting as a lynch pin between field sales and installation engineers, ensuring contract information is maintained and the scheduling of installation and contractual information is managed efficiently.

Developing comprehensive online marketing startergies, using various social media platforms to increase; visibility, awareness, membership and traffic across the Stylisa brand; managing the content and communication on multiple social media programs, inlcuding blogging, posting, commenting, and generally staying well connected with the broader social media world; measuring the ROI and overall impact of Social Media activities using quantitative monitoring tools such as goggle analytics and other key performance indicators. Monitoring online conversations and responding accordingly. Other responsibilities include; attending events, representing clients, for example attending the Clothes Show Awards, Earls Court, London to represent Babor Cosmetics who had been nominated for two awards.

Salutions Ltd hired the Elimago team of Stylist’s, creative directors and photographers to produce images for the covers of their three high quality, glossy, lifestyle magazines (Hale & Bowdon, Didsbury Magazine Bonus Sapor) which are distributed on a monthly basis in and around Cheshire. I was responsible for; creating hair and make up moods boards for six female and one male model, putting together creative and unique fashion outfits, combining outfits and accessories that compliment each individual wearer, in line with 1940’s theme. Organising the studio location, refreshments and shooting schedule, ensuring the shoot is on schedule through out; arranging meetings with the sponsor (House of Fraser) to discuss the shoot and to organise the borrowing of garments and accessories; selecting and collecting all garment, shoes and accessories from store and delivering to shoot; dressing models and assisting with creative direction; packing and returning borrowed outfits, shoes and accessories assisting the magazine editor with photo selecting and editing; collecting and distributing copies of the published magazines to the sponsor, models and all parties involved in the shoot.

Organising and assisting the MD with the production of Corporate Events, Conferences, Weddings, Birthday Parties, etc, from conception through to completion, on time and to budget.

Apogaeum was a new APR that had plans to open 9 stores nationally but due to the credit crunch/recession the chain was liquidated in Oct 2008 after opening its first store in Feb 2008. My role as a freelance marketer was to help in the creation of the company’s business plan and work very closely with both a consultant employed by Apple to assist us and deliver the companies marketing and promotional campaigns.

Managing and providing ongoing supervision to the help desk team, ensuring all aspects of the help desk ran smoothly and efficiently at all times; responsible for selecting new help desk staff, training new staff and devising individual training plans and monitoring their ongoing progress and development; liaising with both internal and external customer requirements and resolving any associated queries; dealing with all customer complaints and responding constructively both verbally and in written form; scheduling and planning the working week for a team of 32 operatives, ensuring the schedule is at full capacity at all times; attending regular sales meetings with various clients and potential new clients negotiating terms and conditions of contractual agreements, i.e. price points, labour rates etc.