Chemelle Fortune

I am a Visual Merchandising Specialist who is passionate about creating engaging and customer-focused retail experiences. I have experience in developing clear merchandising guidelines and delivering strong in-store activations that bring brand ideas to life. I work closely with global brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Puma, making sure their standards are correctly implemented while keeping strong and consistent visual storytelling in stores.

I support store teams through hands-on help, training, and regular feedback, while also identifying ways to improve visual standards and performance. I enjoy combining creativity with a practical, solutions-focused approach, and I take pride in creating consistent, on-brand store environments that improve the customer experience and support business growth.

Brand VM Specialist - Totalsports - Head office

(2024-01)

• Create visual merchandising guidelines to help stores deliver consistent, on-brand displays.
• Support store implementation by sourcing VM materials and fixtures, assisting with roll-outs, and providing hands-on training and guidance to store teams during launches.
• Bring the visual merchandising strategy to life by turning concepts and brand direction into engaging in-store presentations.
• Work closely with external brands such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, and other partners to ensure their brand standards are correctly interpreted and applied in-store.
• Review and improve in-store execution by visiting stores, identifying opportunities, and supporting teams to improve visual standards and performance.
• Provide creative and visual direction, ensuring seasonal campaigns, product stories, and brand partnerships are clearly communicated on the shop floor.

Regional Visual Manager - Totalsports - Field/Head office

(2018-01 - 2023-12)

• Manage and host seasonal housing workshops across region.
• Ensure promotions are implemented according to instructions.
• Manage and implement new store openings according to current seasonal layouts.
• Prepare new store opening layouts and planning.
• Coach and train in-store visual merchandisers and store staff.
• Facilitate marketing material deliveries and audits.
• Consolidate promotional feedback for National VM manager and Operations manager.

In-store Visual Merchandiser - Totalsports - Canal Walk, Cavendish

(2014-08 - 2017-12)

• Execute window and in-store promotions.
• Ensure vm basics and standards are adhered to.
• Ensure seasonal layouts and focuses are adhered to.
• Manage and delegate daily replenishments.
• Preventing stock loss.
• Delegate daily vm tasks.

In-store visual merchandiser - Forever New - Canal Walk

(2014-05 - 2014-08)

• Executing bi-weekly and monthly vm changes and layouts on sales floor and windows.
• Floor plans on power-point presentation planning.
• Daily replenishments.
• Ensuring basics and standards are adhered to.

Financial Advisor trainee - Metropolitan

(2013-07 - 2014-04)

• Field promotional activations.
• New client advising and sign-ups.
• Capturing contracts.
• Daily lead contacting for new business

Store Visual Manager - Edgars - Cape Gate

(2013-04 - 2013-06)

• Execute and manage window and in-store promotions.
• Manage and delegating to in-store visual merchandisers.
• Manage and delegate department layout changes.
• Ensure store standards and basics are adhered to.

Department Manager - Cotton On - Canal Walk & Tygervalley

(2012-06 - 2013-03)

• Execute and manage monthly and bi-weekly vm changes and layouts.
• Manage department budgets.
• Control stock losses and stock adjustments.
• Delegate and manage department daily action plans.
• Manage store opening and closings as well as cash-ups and banking.

Floor Manager & Floor Supervisor - Totalsports - Canal Walk & Promenade

(2006-05 - 2012-05)

• Operating point of sale.
• Assisting customers on sales floor.
• Daily replenishments of departments.
• Opening and closing of store on a daily basis.
• Stock counts and controlling stock losses.
• Daily administration.
• Receiving and sending stock.
• Managing staff.

Sales Assistant - Sportscene & Totalsports - Town Centre & Airport

(2004-12 - 2006-04)

• Operating point of sale.
• Assisting customers.
• Daily replenishments of department.
• Stock counting and preventing stock losses.

Bcom - Marketing Management - UNISA (2021 - 2027)

Higher Certificate - Marketing - IMM Graduate School (2019 - 2022)

Matric - Spine Road Secondary (2006)