Sacha Ballestra

My name is Sacha and I am Dutch national.
I am currently living on the island of Mallorca and working as Retail Manager at national level for a company that has licenses to sell different brands in Spain. I am responsible for all shops on the mainland and the islands at retail, human resources and merchandising level.
I speak four languages, Dutch at native level, English at bilingual level, Spanish and German at medium level.
I have extensive experience in the world of Retail both in luxury fashion, accessories and footwear, with more than 20 years working in different European markets.
I am considered a very pro-active and enthusiastic manager with experience in own shop, multi-brand, outlet and airport. I like to get down to work and get people excited about a project with me.
I am very analytical, pragmatic and I set goals to achieve and help the company to improve results. My work is based on the customer, the accurate interpretation of KPIs and keeping the team always well informed and trained on the product for the sale.
I have done several buys at your Hugo Boss Holland offices to cover the needs for our stores at Schiphol Airport for Lagardere Travel Retail (before called Gerzon) we were the largest account for Hugo Boss in Holland.
I am very interested in your offer and would like to be considered as a potential candidate.
Best regards, Sacha Ballestra

08/2017 - Present
RETAIL ALBION 1879 | Madrid, España COUNTRY MANAGER
• Responsible for 5 own stores and 4 outlets in Spain with a sales team of 70 people
• Analyzing store and team results to improve them.
• In charge of hiring new staff for the stores teams, salary increases
• Overviewing store ́s schedules
• Daily contact with HR, Finance, IT and Stockroom managers
• Restructuring and positioning the Fashion Brands and Merchandising by using
different marketing tools.
• Responsible for maximizing sale results and achieving set targets VM supervision

05/2014 - 06/2017
SPECSAVERS | Amsterdam, Netherlands RETAIL OPTICAL CONSULTANT
• Followed an intensive 7 month training course in order to be part of a partnership together with an optician to run one of the standalone sores in Amsterdam.
• Management of business & organisation of marketing campaigns to increase revenue
• Negotiate new laboratory for the smooth running of the business, sales analysis KPI’s,
increasing conversion.
• Personnel issues, motivating the team with incentives in order to create the right
atmosphere for increasing sales, in 2015 our profot has increased a 22% mark and the first have in 2016, 15%

01/2013 - 04/2014
KAREN MILLEN | Amsterdam, Netherlands AREA MANAGER
• Responsible for own stores and one Bijenkorf shop in shop, with a sales team of 30 people
• Negotiate new concessions/spaces in Bijenkorf centres, Organising events, promotions, incentives, catwalks and window shops, to increase sales
• Sales analysis for Dutch market
• In charge of hiring new members of the team, and salary increases
• Merchandise delivery planning and in charge of VM supervision
• Responsible for organising Customer Services Trainings for the sales teams
12/2008 - 09/2013

LAGARDÈRE TRAVEL RETAIL | Schiphol , Netherlands COMMERCIAL MANAGER
• Responsible for 11 stores and 7 shop in shops concepts
• Develop relationships with clients to establish new contacts
• Create a plan for business growth, identifying areas of the organization that can be expanded and developed
• Purchasing with our buyers the different season collections
• Restructuring and positioning the Fashion Brands
• Merchandising by using different marketing tools and SAP.

1/2003 - 12/2008
LAGARDÈRE TRAVEL RETAIL | Schiphol, Netherlands TEAM MANAGER
• Responsible for a sales team of approximately 40 staff
• Responsible for maximizing sale results and achieving set budgets
• Supervising, coordinating, delegating and controlling sales activities, responsible for
the high performance of the sales team
• Visual Merchandising according to commerciality and company policy
• Responsible for all personnel issues
• Analyzing store and team results, improving them through daily contact with our
Buyers and Sales Manager
• Keeping the team informed on company policy issues and general information
05/2001 - 12/2002
PAUW MANNEN | Amsterdam, Netherlands MANAGER
• Set up a new store. Build up a clientele, increasing the number up to 275 clients
• Advising customers and keeping high service standards in tailor-made fashion and
responsible for turnover which was considerably increased by 15%
01/1998 - 04/2001
DE FIRMA BROEKMAN | Haarlem, Netherlands MANAGER
• Responsible for buying the complete store collection
• Turnover with an increase of 20%
• Responsible for Visual Merchandising
• Market spotting for new trends
01/1993 - 12/1997
AMERICA TODAY | Amsterdam, Netherlands MANAGER
• Supervising a sales team of 7 staff
• Budget controller, keeping work hours records. Managing stock levels,

EDUCATION
1997
Nima A | Amsterdam Marketing and Management
1995
MBO, DETEX Universidad Ondernemerscollege Amsterdam.
1992
Middelbare Hotel School Amsterdam