Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Locations
Languages
Timeline
Generic
Ekaterina Ottens

Ekaterina Ottens

Brussels

Summary

As an Assistant Store Manager and Customer Experience Ambassador at Hermès, I lead a team of 10 sales associates in delivering exceptional service and quality to a diverse and international clientele. With over eleven years of experience in the luxury goods and jewelry industry, I have developed a deep knowledge and passion for high-end products, ranging from women's ready-to-wear and silk to perfumes and leather goods. I have a proven track record of coaching and developing my team, individually but also through implementing effective trainings. I am managing both purchase and sales in multiple departments, where my team has achieved exceptional growth, surpassing objectives and establishing loyal customers. Additionally, I have a master's degree in biotechnology and speak four languages, which gives me a unique perspective and an edge in communicating with customers and colleagues inside the company from different backgrounds and sectors.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience

Work History

Assistant Store Manager and Customer Experience Ambassador

Hermès
11.2015 - Current
  • Direct management of 10 sales associates (incl
  • Objective setting, KPIs etc): Continuous coaching of team members: product knowledge, sales techniques but also cultural trainings allowing for a better communication with a diverse- and international clientele
  • Successfully developed trainings: Selling Ceremony, Client Experience/Journey
  • Local Customer Experience Ambassador for Hermes Brussels Store
  • Responsible for both purchase and sales in the following departments: Women's RTW, Women's shoes, Women's silk, Fashion Accessories, Perfumes & Beauty, Jewellery & Watches
  • Monthly reporting for store- and regional commercial management
  • Handling customer claims
  • Accomplishments: CRM & Clienteling: Developed an extensive clienteling action plan, clean client database
  • Cross Department Sales' & 'Additional Sales' KPI of the entire team improved significantly
  • Mystery shopper' results improved in the team
  • 50% improvement vs
  • Target in inventory management.

Responsible for Fashion Accessories Department

Hermès
04.2013 - 10.2015
  • Main tasks: Sales, Purchase, Inventory, Stock Management, Merchandising, Management of customer data base consisting of more than 10 000 contacts, B2B Sales during bi-annual Hermès trade show event after Paris fashion week
  • Accomplishments: Exceptional growth in sales (120% vs
  • LY) in fashion accessories dept
  • Development & implementation of an improved merchandising system for the department helping demonstrably to boost sell-through of exhibited products
  • B2B Sales: sales results above target.

Sales Associate

Hermès Benelux - Nordics S.A.
10.2012 - 04.2013
  • Main tasks: Development of high-potential Russian & CIS customer base
  • Helping in merchandising
  • Various trainings to gain a deep knowledge on the product portfolio
  • Accomplishments: Exceptional sales results: after one year in top 3 sales people out of 18
  • Establishing first successful, regular customers from Russia & CIS.

Event Manager, Co-founder

SolarPV.TV
08.2009 - 10.2012
  • Main tasks: Development of SolarPV.TV's network in other countries
  • Coordination of SolarPV.TV's international departments
  • Supervision of media partnerships with leading trade shows and industry media
  • Event management (presence of SolarPV.TV at major solar PV events, organisation of conferences, business meetings and networking events)
  • Preparation and execution of interviews and reports at major solar PV events worldwide
  • Development coordination of SolarPV.TV virtual 3D studio and website
  • Responsibility for staff
  • Accomplishments: Established SolarPV.TV network in USA, France, Russia, Ukraine and Italy
  • Secured media partnerships with leading Solar portals and events organisers (Solarexpo, Italy; Intersolar Europe, Germany and Intersolar US, USA; Salon des Energies Renouvelables, France)
  • Produced dozens of PV reports and hundreds of interviews with industry executives, experts and decision makers, including an interview with Hollywood star Patrick Dempsey, viewed in over 180 countries
  • Helped create and grow SolarPV.TV News weekly, now viewed by over 50,000 industry professionals and stakeholders.

Event Manager, Co-founder

Solar PV Consulting
10.2008 - 10.2012
  • Main tasks: Planning, preparation, organisation of events
  • Development of Solar PV Events website
  • Accomplishments: Organisation of Solar Balkans 2011, Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Organisation of 'Rising Opportunities - Russian Bulgarian Solar Business Forum' 2010, Golden Sands, Bulgaria
  • Preparation of the Rising Opportunities - 1st Conference on Solar PV in NMS and CIS in the scope of Intersolar Europe conferences (coordinating speakers, website management, assistance in the live video transmission of the conference).

Internship

SolarPower Europe
08.2006 - 09.2006
  • Main tasks: Assistance in booth organisation (21st EU PVSEC, Dresden, Germany), welcoming EPIA members
  • Assistance in registration procedures at PVMED, Athens, Greece
  • Archive organisation.

Internship

SEMI
09.2005 - 09.2005
  • Main tasks: Registration of the guests at SEMI expo and conference
  • Interpreter
  • Assistance in guests accommodation.

Education

Master's Degree - ecological faculty - biotechnology

Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology of Russia
Moscow, Russia
01.2007

Skills

  • Sales Trainings
  • Teamwork
  • Team Motivation
  • Team Management
  • Leadership
  • Sales Management
  • Business Development
  • Business Strategy
  • Commercial Management
  • International Business

Locations

Brussels Metropolitan Area

Languages

English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
French
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Russian
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Polish
Upper intermediate (B2)

Timeline

Assistant Store Manager and Customer Experience Ambassador

Hermès
11.2015 - Current

Responsible for Fashion Accessories Department

Hermès
04.2013 - 10.2015

Sales Associate

Hermès Benelux - Nordics S.A.
10.2012 - 04.2013

Event Manager, Co-founder

SolarPV.TV
08.2009 - 10.2012

Event Manager, Co-founder

Solar PV Consulting
10.2008 - 10.2012

Internship

SolarPower Europe
08.2006 - 09.2006

Internship

SEMI
09.2005 - 09.2005

Master's Degree - ecological faculty - biotechnology

Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology of Russia
Ekaterina Ottens