Bernadette Halfon has over 20 years of experience in the retail and merchandise industry, holding positions as a senior buyer and merchandiser. Her expertise includes analyzing consumer patterns, managing supplier relationships, and product range development, with a proven track record at various leading organizations in South Africa. She possesses strong interpersonal skills, strategic thinking abilities, and a commitment to achieving service excellence and project goals.

1. Bernadette Halfon
Career Synopsis and Objectives
I offer more than 20 years’ experience within the Retail and Merchandise Industry,
pursuing a challenging employment opportunity that promotes and encourages
professional growth, development and leadership within a multi-dimensional,
performance-oriented career as a Senior Buyer and then Merchandiser.
With solid experience in the industry, strong organizational, multi-tasking and time-
management skills and an exemplary career at several leading organizations and
establishments in South Africa, I know I possesses the required skills and knowledge
to be a valuable asset to any organization and contribute meaningfully to the
achievement of company objectives.
Cell:
Email:
Location:
Driver’s License:
Languages:
+27 83 651 2012
bernietmac@hotmail.com
Kloof, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Code 08
English
Afrikaans

2. Transferrable Skills and Core Values
- Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to effectively interact and negotiate successfully with all levels of customers
and management.
- Goal-oriented, displaying a true passion to ensure the attainment of project goals.
- Excellent planning and organizational skills with a strong attention to detail and
follow-up.
- Driven to consistently deliver focused and high quality efforts in order to achieve
objectives.
- Proven commitment to ensure service excellence and an exceptional customer
experience.
- Strategic thinker with a dynamic approach to problem solving and strategy
formulation.
- Ability to be flexible and work analytically in a problem-solving environment.
- Strong supervisory, coaching and project management skills.
- Courage to take risks when required and sense sales potentials of products.
- I am diverse in terms product and responsibility, a buying position extends into a
wide range of skills as the job requires a creative and technical mind, I believe I
have this.
Character Attributes
- Strong negotiation and management ability
- Able to work as part of a team or independently
- Multi-tasking ability
- Diligent and results-oriented
- Assertive and integrity
- Analytical approach and problem-solving ability
- Self-confidence and energetic
- Emotional intelligence and empathetic
- Professionalism and confidence
Formal Education
Senior Certificate – Empangeni High School | South Africa (1987)
Computer Literacy
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Mr Price Redworld
- Powerpoint

3. Professional Career History
Menswear/Boys Buyer – RDC – Style Clothing (Dec 2014 – November 2015)
The Gottlieb Group,
Blue Diamond below,
made a decision to
become a partner with Mr Price as an FOB supplier – this left merchandisers within
the Group almost redundant. We travelled extensively to purchase ranges for both
MrP and Miladys, this was no longer a requirement either. I am a buyer, it’s what I
love to do and am passionate about product, so, the opportunity at RDC presented
itself and I did not hesitate.
Under a new CEO changes were made within the company, I was the last to join, so
the first to leave sadly.
I was responsible for 3 labels within this retailer –
DISSIDENT
Street wear – fashionable jeans, casual shirts, chinos, shorts, tees and golfers
AERON PIERCE
Smart – formal shirts, smart casual shirts, suits
VINCENZA
Formal pants – 2 pleat & flat front formal pants
Responsibilities
- Analyzing consumer buying patterns and predicting future trends
- Regularly reviewing performance indicators – sales & discount levels
- Managing plans with planners for stock levels and maintaining OTB
- Reacting to changes in demand and logistics within the business
- Meeting with suppliers and negotiating terms of orders
- Maintaining relationships with existing suppliers and sourcing new ones for
future product
- working with other departments within the Group to ensure projects are
completed
- participating in promotional activities
- writing reports and forecasting sales
- presenting ranges to senior retails managers
- building of new ranges for each season
- training and mentoring junior staff

4. Senior Mens/Ladies/Boys/Grils Merchandiser
Davinscot / Lucra Importer / The Gottlieb Group Durban South Africa
(May 2009 to December 2014)
DAVINSCOT
A large, well established manufacturer doing local production supplying to retailers
for over 40 years. Specializing in wovens for –
Woolworths / Truworths / Edcon Group
LUCRA
Lucra was a small independent company 100% imported product supplying to Mr
Price and TFG –

5. THE GOTTLIEB GROUP – BLUE DIAMOND
A very large clothing group, Blue Diamond is a division within the Group. I worked
here for 4 years supplying to Mr Price - all divisions, including the shoe division /
PicknPay / Miladys
Responsibilities for all 3 suppliers :
- Extensive travel for range building in SPAIN / USA / UK / AMSTERDAM
- Extensive travel to China – liaising with factories / travelling with buyers to
place programmes / securing production space and costs with many factories all
over China
- Accompanying buyers on visits to manufacturers in China to appreciate the
production processes
- Develop and make presentations of company product and services to above
retailers
- Responding to sales enquiries and concerns
- Ensuring the best service at all times and maintaining good relationships with
buyers
- Monitoring and reporting on sales with management
- Managing supplier relationship and distribution of stock
- Close working relationship with buyers from inception of presentation of
ranges to negotiation of price and delivery
- Monitoring slow sellers with buyers and reacting to good sellers timeously
- Identifying and resolving supply difficulties, taking full responsibility of the
entire process
- Maintaining and developing the customer base
- All sourcing
- Maintaining and building of sales data base
- Managing and mentoring junior staff

6. Buyer
Mr. Price Sport Head Office | Durban| South Africa (April 2004 to May 2009)
Responsible for the following buys - Active Mens Core, Mens Red Surf, Mens &
Boys Statement Tees, Mens Rugby, Mens & Boys Cricket, Compression Gear, Mens
Golf and all areas of boys wear.
Responsibilities
- Creating purchasing and contract policies as well as purchasing procedures for
Company.
- Developing specifications for products, equipment, and substitute materials.
- Responsible for sourcing appropriate suppliers.
- Analyzing the costs, quality and availability of products to determine what will be
the most beneficial for the Company.
- Negotiating to finalize purchasing deals and contract terms with Suppliers.
- Reviewing purchase order claims and contracts and ensuring that they comply
with company policies.
- Responsible for detailed records of products ordered and received.
- Research and analyzing the latest information about markets and delivery
systems to prepare better for future deals.
- Planning product ranges and stock plans in conjunction with buyers.
- Liaising with buyers, analysts, stores, suppliers and distributors.
- Maintaining a comprehensive library of appropriate data.
- Controlling stock levels based on forecasts for the season.
- Analyzing every aspect of bestseller and ensuring that bestsellers reach their full
potential.
- Resolves problems and issues arising from purchase of services and products
with internal and external Suppliers
- Presenting ranges to management for review of forthcoming seasons – working
closely with planners to maintain and achieve OTB
- Analyzing and presenting strat – including figures and analysis of ranges with
samples to management of previous seasons to better understand your buy and
customer

7. Conclusion
My exposure and extensive experience in the retail industry is where my dedication
and commitment to this industry lies.
It is in my make-up, all aspects of retail, manufacturing, supplying and buying – I
follow trends constantly, my scope and abilities is significant.