Steven Costales Naidoo 3 Cam Rd, Stratford, London E15 2SL

Cell: 074 2638 6000 • stevenaidoo82@gmail.com • Skype: Stev082 https://za.linkedin.com/in/scn82

Personal statement

My ambition is to create a successful career within the Retail and Marketing sector of this industry and to grow and add to the experience I already have in these fields. My strengths include loyalty, patience, determination and I give my all to my work. I have well developed interpersonal skills through interacting with a range of people from clients, buyers and suppliers through to Repro houses, manufacturers and even professional sponsored athletes and sporting teams. I consider myself a team player with a very positive attitude to life and the job I take on. I am able to adapt well to new environments and people and work very well within groups. Given the opportunity I am sure that I will be an asset to your company.

Achievements

• Winner of the professional design for the Converse All Stars “Trace your lace” Competition 2008

(R25 000 prize money) • Freelance designing (Black Sheep Design) • Hoboism Apparel - Clothing label • Designing SA Hockey & Free State Stars FC official kit • Parkrun SA apparel design

Employment History

Menswear Fitness Trainee Buyer Mr Price Group – MRP Sport (Oct 2015 – Feb 2016) Duties and Responsibilities: This role required me working hand in hand with the Senior Buyers, Planners, Suppliers, Manufacturers, QA and Marketing.

• Managing the orders, fits, PP samples and deliveries • Looking at trends and range building (overseas samples/brands) • Designing assortments • Staying in touch with competitors (Local and abroad) • Weekly current trade and reporting • Working with direct import and local manufacturers • Managing the product for Marketing and Online

E-Commerce Online Merchant

Mr Price Group – MRP Sport (Jul 2014 – Oct 2015) Duties and Responsibilities: Managing the whole of the Outdoor lifestyle for MRP Sport Online. All gender apparel, Equipment, Footwear and Accessories. This required me working hand in hand with the Merchants, Marketing, Studio, Web integrator, Stores and customers.

• Managing deliveries, orders and samples. • Web QA products for online (Checking all correct info and attributes are present before passing) • Back end enriching (Product enrichment, Category and Taxonomy enrichment and Marketing

integration) • Handling deployment and resolving conflicts • Use appropriate analysis/reporting tools to create accurate reporting to the department level.

(What’s selling, what’s not, Marketing items and Daily sales) • Research other retail sites frequently to keep up-to-date on new ideas, promotions and changes in

product assortments. • Manage weekly promos and markdowns. • Daily site browse and walk through taxonomy.

Sport Marketing - Team Sponsorship Co-ordinator / Senior Graphic Designer Mr Price Group – MRP Apparel / MRP Sport (Aug 2011 – Jul 2014) Duties and Responsibilities: This role had me managing two roles as senior marketing designer and sponsorship co-ordinator. It had me dealing directly with professional athletes and teams as well as designing and creating all creative elements.

• Design (Apparel & Sport Technical Kit design, Conceptualisation of all Campaigns, Events, Print and Digital).

• Sourcing and Manufacturing. • Dealing with suppliers and manufacturers, overseeing orders from design to manufacturing and

finally logistics. • Management of photo shoots and events involving our sponsored teams and athletes. • Overseeing sponsorship contracts and managing budgets for SA Hockey and Free State Stars F.C. • Portfolio consisted of the following - Sharks rugby, SA Hockey, Free State Stars F.C, Mr Price Pro,

Mr Price cycling club, Maxed Elite athletic team. • Being the direct point of contact to the teams for all their needs and requirements. • Looked after all social media design work and maintenance of material on FB and Website. • Updated weekly reports, stories and other material to our website. • Handling corporate branding and design. • Worked on the Mr Price Pro event from 2010-2013. Creating the campaign, designs, artwork and all

event merchandise. This also involved sourcing, buying and on site event management during the event.

• Head up all creative elements, designs and campaigns for events and sponsorships.

- Sharks Rugby team - Red surfing team - Red Yamaha & Supermoto - Red BMX and Mountain bike teams - School rugby - Athletics team - Individual Professional athletes - Free State Stars F.C - SA Men’s Hockey

Menswear Designer Mr Price Group – MRP Sport

(Jan 2009 – Aug 2011) Duties and Responsibilities: This role had me taking care of all design work for the outdoor menswear department, along with any Additional design elements and trend presentations.

• Research of trends, styles and designs to fit our brand. • Origination of cads and all graphics. • Working hand in hand with the buyer on assortments and styles. • Working on detailed tech packs/data sheets for suppliers. • Dealing with suppliers and manufactures. • Presenting assortments in reviews • Being able to multitask and work to under pressure and deadlines with great attention to detail.

Graphic Designer Mr Price Group – MRP Sport (July 2007 – Jan 2009) Duties and Responsibilities: This role had me designing all artwork and elements for sporting products, packaging, accessories, footwear and menswear graphic tees.

• Research of trends for product and packaging design. • Searching trends and ideas that will work with our target market and product. • Origination of artwork and graphics. • Working with multiple buyers and manufacturers. • Working hand in hand with Sport Marketing in designing product and equipment for sponsored

athletes. • I have gained a lot of experience in the clothing and trending side of the industry. • Deadlines range from days to weeks, each department or product has its own flow of production

from start • to finish, so have to work at a high level of accuracy and have to be flexible and able to multitask

and jump from job to job when needed. Head DTP Operator / Graphic Designer Lithotech Sales – Repro House (Jan 2005 – July 2007) Duties and Responsibilities:

• Dealing with the origination, layout and design through to alterations and print ready phase of making the Posies and Negs.

• Working with many different kinds of jobs ranging from small artwork and layouts of forms to large company profiles, magazines, booklets, posters and labels.

• Involved with all the different aspects of the industry from start to finish. • Being the only designer I had a great deal of responsibility in regards to prioritizing jobs and seeing

they make the deadlines and keeping track of all jobs done from start to finish. • Worked hand in hand with the 16 Reps, Clients through to the manufacturing and factory workers. • Dealing with daily deadlines at a very high level of accuracy, which means dealing with a lot of

pressure and overtime. • I have gained a great deal of the Repro knowledge and have grown as a Designer.

Junior DTP / Graphic Designer Massmart – (Marketing/Advertising Department) (Jul 2002 – Apr 2004)

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Marketing/Advertising department • Layout of all Game and Dion adverts in our weekly leaflets and other adverts and magazines. • Design work for special headlines, artwork and seasonal features. • Assisting and dealing with suppliers and buyers of products advertised. • Assisting with photo shoots. • Worked on images to ensure they were up to standard for advertising and printing use. • Worked with weekly deadlines at a high level of accuracy. • I gained great experience in the Retail and Marketing sector and loved working in a studio

atmosphere.

Jnr Occupational Hygiene Assistant (Part Time) Apex Environmental (Jul 2001 – Apr 2002) Duties and Responsibilities:

• Checking working environments to ensure the health and safety of employees was kept. • Dealt with different measurements of physical and chemical stress factor in the work place such as

lighting, noise and pollution. • Worked in all types of environments and dealt with many different people. • Learnt to use and read the machinery required to take readings and measurements. • Gained knowledge of the Health and Safety sector.

Education

Keyline – Digital Design College (Durban) CS5 Creative Suit (3 Month - Part Time) (2011)

• Illustrator CS5 • InDesign CS5 • Photoshop CS5 • Bridge CS5 • Acrobat Pro

Vega Moon – The brand Communications School (Durban) Web Design Diploma (Part Time) (2005)

• Flash • Dreamweaver • Script Writing / HTML

Hirt & Carter – Creation Lab (Durban) Graphic Design Diploma (2002)

Developed layout, design and creative skills. We also learnt how the repro industry operates and how the two go had in hand. Created own portfolio and learnt required programs such as:

• Quark 4.1 • Freehand 10 / MX • Photoshop 6 / 7 / CS2 • Indesign 1.5 • Illustrator CS2

Kloof High School (1996 – 2000)

Passed grade 12 with a Matric certificate. Subjects: English, Afrikaans, History, Mathematics, Business Economics and Technical Drawing.

Hobbies & Interests

• Design and creativity • Fashion/Trend • Sports (Surfing, Skate, Cycling, Running) • Music • Photography • Traveling

Additional Computing Skills

• P.C and MAC knowledge and experience. • Excel • Word • Power Point • Adobe CS5 and CS6 Suit

Languages

• English • Spanish • Afrikaans

References

References are available upon request.