ABOUT

Curriculum vitae

SARA J. GHAFFARI
Sara.J.Ghaffari@gmail.com :: 1.510.725.5476 :: linkedin.com/in/sara-ghaffari

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

HH GLOBAL @ GOOGLE 2018 - 2024
Product Specialist, San Francisco, CA 2022 - 2024

Product knowledge expert on set for Google Devices & Services Marketing photo shoots, ensuring all devices are being captured in keeping with design intent.

Partners with Industrial Designers & Marketing teams to understand key selling points and design direction for all products.
Leads merchandise procurement, preparation, and flow of samples from pre-production to post-production for multiple shoots across multiple countries.
Owns projected and actualized budgets for all marketing samples.
Works directly with vendors to order samples and monitor arrival dates.
Created extensive tools for tracking inventory, scheduling, and logistics monitoring, pre- and post-production.
Communicates product styling direction and intent directly to photographers, stylists, models, and set designers.
Product Stylist on set keeping devices in pristine condition to ensure high-quality visual content.

Photo Stylist, Mountain View, CA 2018 - 2022
In-house stylist for Google Devices & Services Photo Studio, styling images for e-mail & print ads, product packaging, social, billboards, Store.Google.com, retail fixtures, pop-up shops, press releases, and keynote presentations watched by millions globally.

Styles wide range of imagery centered around Google hardline goods. Includes interior design, prop and on-figure styling, set design, laydown and lifestyle styling.
Sources props and wardrobe for each shoot, often creating the visual aesthetic for the shoot.
Works with cross functional partners to create and adhere to shoot budgets.

APPLE, AUDI, BIRDIES SLIPPERS, MODCLOTH 2017 - 2018
Freelance Fashion & Prop Stylist, San Francisco, CA 2017 - 2018
Lead Stylist on set, responsible for selecting and procuring all apparel, accessories, and select props for shoots. Creates and styles all outfits across Men’s & Women’s for individual and groups of models. Have styled on-figure still shots and video, as well as product laydowns.

GAP INC. 2000 - 2016 BANANA REPUBLIC FACTORY STORE (BRFS), San Francisco, CA 2010 - 2016
Global Head of Styling & Visual Merchandising Manager
Lead stylist for multi-national brand, worked to create a seamless and cohesive customer experience through styling. Selected and styled all Men’s and Women’s on-figure and mannequin looks, totaling around 250 outfits per season. Combined Key Item Drivers (large buys) with fashion pieces to support commercial plan and marketing strategies and drive sales. Images from photo shoots leveraged across all customer-facing platforms including e-commerce site, print ads, direct mail,
e-mail, in-store marketing, window posters, and social media. Collaborated with heads of Design and Marketing on styling and art direction of seasonal photo shoots and was responsible for all on-set styling and outfit/product change decisions.

Implemented company’s 360-degree customer experience by integrating online, in-store, and e-mail stories through styling, leading to highly successful product launches and store promotions.
Directly impacted increase in Units Per Transaction (UPTs) and sell-through by strategic selection of product highlighted on mannequins and in marketing.
Served as integral part of bananarepublicfactory.com launch, with first fiscal year sales exceeding forecasted expectations.
Worked with online team to create online-specific stories, balancing
e-commerce priorities and messages with in-store marketing needs.
Lead monthly presentations to President of Banana Republic, BRFS Vice President, and Heads of Office.
Solely responsible for all Women’s (and previously Men’s) in-store Visual Merchandising; direction implemented across all stores in North America, Europe, and Japan (~150 stores).
Created all looks for window and in-store mannequins (~190/season) appealing to Men’s, Women’s, and Petites customers.
Managed team’s Studio Assistant and Graphic Designer.

BANANA REPUBLIC FACTORY STORE (BRFS), San Francisco, CA 2006 – 2010
Merchandise Assistant (MA)
Owned Assistant Merchant responsibilities for BRFS Men’s Suiting Department; 6% ($10m) total annual retail of Men’s Division. Developed strategies driving significant Ret$, GM$ and GM% comps for four consecutive seasons. Supported merchandising teams with sample management, implementing price changes, and completing purchase orders.

Partnered with Inventory Management (planning and distribution) to create business and marketing strategies for Men’s Suiting Department; launched new fits, created strategic store distribution plans and increased ticket prices to boost GM$.
Selected all fabrics and trims for each suit; worked with tech (tailoring) teams to improve as well as create new fits.

BANANA REPUBLIC, Emeryville / Mission Viejo, CA 2005 – 2006
Visual Specialist
Sole member of Visual Merchandising Team, responsible for implementing all window and in-store displays for two stores.

Communicated merchandising opportunities and priorities to managers and VMM.
Created and adapted displays to meet unique store layout and customer needs

ADDITIONAL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

22 DWELLINGS (prev. Grace Interiors), Alameda, CA
Home Staging

PAUL SMITH, London, England
Women’s Apparel Intern

BANANA REPUBLIC & GAP / GAP KIDS / BABY GAP / GAP BODY
Oakland / Belmont Shore / Costa Mesa, CA
Sales Associate, Visual Team

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Family and Consumer Sciences: Fashion Merchandising, Dean’s List, California State University Long Beach, CA, 2001-2006

University of London, Bloomsbury, Spring 2004

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Curriculum vitae