Open To Work
KATE DOWMAN
Christchurch,NZ
Summary
Performance-driven sales professional with over 20 years of experience in fashion, retail management, and client relationship development. Skilled in showcasing branded collections through storytelling, visual merchandising, and personalised client engagement to strengthen loyalty and drive sales. Seeking to combine extensive sales expertise with client-focused strategies in a fashion account management role, amplifying brand presence and delivering standout sales performance.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Sales Consultant -
Qestral Corporation
Burlington Village & Banbury Park Village, Christchurch
03.2022 - 10.2025
- Delivered personalized consultations and property viewings by managing daily sales leads and client inquiries, building trust and boosting conversion rates.
- Oversaw diverse residential sales portfolio of homes valued from $890K to $2.2M+, aiding Banbury Park's rapid growth within Qestral group in under three years.
- Facilitated construction site visits by coordinating efforts among various departments and external partners for efficient resident handovers.
- Partnered with village sales teams and senior leadership to implement strategic sales initiatives, achieving collective revenue goals consistently across Qestral group.
Store Manager -
Flo & Frankie
Merivale
11.2018 - 12.2021
- Contributed to the opening of Flo & Frankie's first South Island store, providing hands-on leadership and support to a team of nine through setup, merchandising, and training.
- Drove sales by example, consistently achieving weekly, monthly, and annual targets.
- Cultivated a loyal customer base with high referral rates.
- Oversaw stock operations, including processing, transfers, online orders, and shipping.
- Curated and styled weekly in-store displays across fashion, homewares, and footwear to showcase new collections with a cohesive presentation and high visual impact.
2IC / Fashion Consultant -
Caroline Sills (Sills & Co)
Merivale
10.2017 - 10.2018
- Facilitated launch of brand's first standalone store.
- Provided personalized fashion consultations, achieving consistent sales of premium capsule collection pieces.
- Cultivated and maintained a loyal high-end client base.
- Assisted with merchandising and visual presentation to highlight brand identity and seasonal trends.
Store Manager -
Silvermoon
Barrington
06.2016 - 09.2017
- Successfully launched Silvermoon's Barrington Mall store, overseeing recruitment and operations from inception.
- Achieved 25% increase in first-year revenue forecasts through strategic sales initiatives.
- Managed daily store operations and ensured smooth workflow among team members.
Showroom Manager / Designer
Brides of Merivale
Merivale
06.2011 - 06.2016
- Oversaw daily showroom operations, including scheduling and display of gowns and accessories.
- Conducted personalized gown consultations and bespoke design services, guiding clients through selections.
- Handled client inquiries and provided tailored bridal consultations, achieving a high lead-to-sale ratio.
- Collaborated with owner on brand marketing initiatives and strategic buying of wedding gown collections for the store.
Wedding Gown Designer / Managing Director
Kate Dowman Couture Ltd
Auckland
07.1996 - 07.2011
- Designed and delivered bespoke bridal gowns and ready-to-wear collections, consistently exceeding client expectations.
- Recruited and managed a team of couturiers, overseeing production and quality control processes.
- Developed strong relationships with local and international suppliers of fabrics and materials.
- Provided personalized fittings and design adjustments to ensure garment satisfaction.
- Managed advertising, photoshoots, brand identity, and media launches.
- Showcased a new collection at NZ Fashion Week 2011, marking the inaugural inclusion of wedding designers.
- Achieved media coverage on TV1, TV3, Shortland Street, featuring gowns worn by celebrities.
- Established business growth strategies that positioned the brand as a top choice for brides.
Education
Trade Certificate - Apparel Manufacturing
01-1997
Diplomia - Office Systems
01-1985
University Entrance And School Certificate -
01-1984
Skills
- Relationship management
- Sales strategy
- Brand storytelling
- Customer loyalty development
- Visual merchandising
- Effective communication
- Revenue generation
- Sales expertise
- Team building and leadership
- Cross-selling and upselling
- Fashion design and manufacturing
- Sales presentations
Accomplishments
NZ Fashion Week 2011 - Auckland Viaduct - launched Kate Dowman 2011 Bridal collection
References
References available upon request.
Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeTimeline
Sales Consultant - - Qestral Corporation
03.2022 - 10.2025
Store Manager - - Flo & Frankie
11.2018 - 12.2021
2IC / Fashion Consultant - - Caroline Sills (Sills & Co)
10.2017 - 10.2018
Store Manager - - Silvermoon
06.2016 - 09.2017
Showroom Manager / Designer - Brides of Merivale
06.2011 - 06.2016
Wedding Gown Designer / Managing Director - Kate Dowman Couture Ltd
07.1996 - 07.2011
Christchurch & Auckland Polytechnic - Trade Certificate, Apparel Manufacturing
Christchurch Polytechnic - Diplomia, Office Systems
Lincoln High School - University Entrance And School Certificate,